IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION

This play , in a light way , puts forth the point that education is essential in everyone's life and Knowledge is the trust wealth

IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION

- A play by Prateeksha Khot

CHARACTERS
Ganesh : villager
   Nagu : villager
  Ramlal : Villager
                 Manilal : Panchayat Member
           Prakash : School Teacher
                Geeta : Manilal's daughter
         Arjun : Manilal's son
                    Friends : Ramesh, Karthik, Payal
               Moti : Manilal's pet dog
An old woman
Four more Panchayat Members


SCENE 1

( A village scene. Beautiful scenery. A group of people are gathered around a big banyan tree. Sitting under the tree is a group, of five old men , listening deeply. This is the Panchayat - in India, a Panchayat is a group of wise men who help in rendering justice and giving decisions and opinions in the villages. In front of them the villagers are seated while  two people are standing.........)

Ganesh : So you see, this is what happened and now he refuses to stand by his       
             promise.

(Panchayat discusses. The head, a rich portly man Manilal silences the crowd with his hand to give the decision..)

Manilal : The Panchayat believes that Nagu has indeed broken his promise and  
             hence he is ordered to return the goods to Ganesh within the next four
             days.

Villagers : Hear ! Hear !

Caller : Next ! Mr Prakash- the school teacher.

(A tall thin man in Khaki clothes and a 'jhola' stands up and comes forth to speak).

Manilal : Hello my friend . What grievance do you have? Surely no one would dare
             cheat or trouble a school teacher?

Prakash : No, no. It is not a personal problem. It is to do with the school.

Manilal : The school?

Prakash : Yes . Our village school has only the primary sections -til the fourth
             standard- and I believe that that much education is not enough. Those
             who want to pursue higher studies have to go to the town which is a bit
             far away. I was thinking that it would be a good idea to expand the school
             to include the higher classes as well , so that it would be beneficial to the
             children of this village. But for that ,there will be expenses, so I game to
             the Panchayat to request for a grant.

Panchayat Member 1: I think the children are getting enough education. There is no
                               need to spend more money. Instead we can use that for
                               something else.

Panchayat Member 2: That's absolutely correct ! What is the use of spending money
                               and educating the kinds when they have to work in the fields
                               at the end ?

Prakash : Education is not taken for job purpose. Education is for gathering
             knowledge , so become more aware and knowledgeable so that no one
             takes undue advantage of you.

Manilal : Dear friend, that is all bookish words and has no practicality. Education
             does not serve any purpose. Look at me, I am not much educated but still I
             am rich and hold such a high position. Nobody can fool me. So, I am sorry,
             but we can't spare any remuneration.

SCENE 2

(A small classroom. 4-5 students are gathered around Prakash. Among them are Geeta and Arjun- Manilal's children, Ramesh, Karthik and Payal)

Payal : But Sir, that is totally unfair. I want to study higher and there are no classes
          here. My parents wont send me far, as I am their only daughter.

Karthik : They should have at least asked us what we want !

Arjun : But we have to do something. We cant just accept their decision like that.

Ramesh : Cant you two convince your father to give the decision in our favor ?
              Everyone knows he is the head and the most influential person in the
              Panchayat to make the decision.

Geeta : We cant throw a tantrum. We have to do something to convince him that
           education is important and without it, even a rich and influential man like
            him can be fooled.

Prakash : But how do we do so ? (thinks) Well.... there is a plan and we can surely
              succeed. But I need your help. Especially , Geeta and Arjun.

All : Of course sir ! But what do we have to do?

Prakash : Listen carefully............

SCENE 3

(A beautiful garden in front of the house. Geeta and Arjun are sprawled across the lawn busy writing and drawing something on the chart papers. Crayons are scattered across. Moti comes towards them, bounding across the lawn. Manilal follows the dog)

Manilal : What are you do doing since morning ? Its Sunday, shouldn't you be playing
             outside ?

Both : No, we have to prepare the charts by today itself. The other kids are doing
          so as well.

Manilal : Charts ? What for?

Geeta (winking at Arjun slightly) : For the school assignment

Manilal (staring intently) : What does it say? I have studied Hindi and you know that I
                                     don't know English.

Arjun (barely controlling his laughter ) : 'CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS '

Manilal : Good. Carry on. I wont disturb you.(goes away)

Arjun : You think this will work ?

Geeta : Well we will come to know tomorrow. Hope for the best. And hope that
           Moti carries out his part well.

SCENE 4

(Evening time. Village crossroads. Prakash and the students gather around and place the chart on the stand. The chart reads :.....)

COME ONE! COME ALL !
A Unique Competition for you all !
We present :
THE CRYING COMPETITION
Come and cry to your heart's content.
The person who cries the longest wins the prize : Rs. 100!
Entry fee : Rs. 5

Prakash : That does it. We have finished everything from our side. Now we wait and
              watch.

(Soon a large crowd gathers. Prakash tells them about the contest and explains the rules. Many villagers get excited and participate.)

Prakash : Ramlal, you are the first contestant. Your time starts now...

Ramlal (weeping) : Hay Bhagwan ! Yeh Kya kiya !...........

(All the participants come one by one. Geeta and Arjun are anxiously watching the left lane)

Prakash : Where is he? All the contestants are done with. Just an old woman is left.

Arjun : I don't know. This is the lane he daily passes buy during his evening walk with
           Moti. I don't know what is taking him so long.

(Just then) Geeta : Quick ! Here he comes ! I can see Moti dragging him towards us !

(Coming near them) Manilal : What is happening? Why is everybody crying? Why are you both crying?

Geeta (pretending to cry) : Prakash Sir is leaving the town forever ! Everyone has
  come here to bid him farewell. Everyone is upset and so
  they are crying !

Manilal (shocked): WHAT? My friend leaving me forever ! That cannot be !

Arjun : You see that chart there, Papa. It says : FAREWELL SIR, WE WILL MISS YOU !

Manilal (moving forward) : NOOOOOOOOO....

(He comes to the center. The old woman has just stopped crying. Manilal proceeds straight towards Prakash crying for his friend)

Manilal : Prakash ! You cant do this! how could you ! No this cannot be! No this
             cannot be!

(He goes on crying for quite sometime. Finally Prakash stops him)

Prakash : Stop Mani ! That's enough. You have won the contest.

Manilal : Contest? What contest ?

Prakash : The CRYING CONTEST

Manilal : The CRYING CONTEST !?

Prakash : Well yes ! We thought of keeping a contest to collect some fund through
              the entry fee. The idea of keeping a crying contest was of your kids
              though.

Geeta : Papa, before you get angry, let us explain why we did so. You said that
            education is not important and that no one can fool you because you are
           wealthy. We wanted to prove to you that it is possible.

Arjun : Papa, if you had been fully educated then we would not have been able to
           fool you. You could have read the chart by yourself. This was a harmless
           incident. But someone could really trick you which could lead to disastrous
           consequences.

Prakash : Here, Mani,  is you prize money.

Manilal : Keep it Prakash. This is my first contribution towards the fund which we
             will sanction for the school. You are right. EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT.

Students : YYYAAAAAAYYYYY !!!!!!!

Author's Note

This is based on a story which I had come across in Tinkle Digest and I had written it in play format for Teacher's Day in 8th grade, which I had directed and enacted in too.

Reviews

[Erin]

lol this is awesome. its actually the first screenplay that ive read, and this is awesome. Great job. Keep it up!
PBP

[hello1]

nice play with a simple, nice message

[fernwort]

That was a great play. Writer, poet, playwright, director, actor...........? You seem to be exceptionally multitalented.

[dont_know_me]

Simple stories are hard to find. And I haven't come across a play on this site yet. Great job.

[MilanRealWorld]

nice piece of work. Giving a simple but important message

[K@lp@n@]

that was very nice. Which Tinkle Digest was it in?

[Rochser]

simple and message giving. liked it a lot.

[hello]

that was well written

[Faheem Akhter]

good effort