ACT 1 (Expanded): "Utsav Se Uljhan Tak"
Scene: Jallianwala Bagh — Baisakhi Mela, 13th April 1919
• traditional clothes
• Dhol beats in background, kids flying kites, vendors calling out
• Families are laughing, food being served
• A freedom song can play softly in background (e.g. instrumental “Ae Watan”)
( A mother with her daughter and son observe the celebration from afar)
Mother (laughs, clapping hands):
“Arey wah! Mere sher ne toh kite ko aasman tak uda diya!”
Son (excited):
“Maa dekha? Peeli waali patang toh main hi kaat ke laaya!”
Daughter (mock-teasing):
“Haan haan… kal toh kaagaz ki patang bhi tujhse nahi udi thi!”
Mother (playfully pulls daughter’s cheek):
“Tum dono toh mere dil ke tukde ho. Tumhare bina toh yeh tyohar bhi suna lagta hai.”
Son (suddenly serious):
“Maa… Angrez log hamesha humare jashn ko kyu todte hain?”
Mother (pauses, then softly):
“Kyunki beta… woh humari khushi se darte hain. Ek din aayega… jab yeh zameen humari
hogi. Tab hum itni zor se hansenge ki Dilli tak sunai dega.”
Daughter:
“Main bade hoke krantikari banungi!”
Son:
“Aur main bhi! Main toh General Dyer ko hi uda dunga!”
Mother (smiling but teary-eyed):
“Bas… itna yaad rakhna… apne desh se kabhi gaddari mat karna. Azaadi ka sapna dekhna,
lekin nafrat se nahi… pyaar se. Humara pyaar hi toh sabse badi taqat hai.”
(She hugs both tightly. Background music swells slightly with soft patriotic tune.)
Villager Leader (claps hands):
"Suno suno! Aaj sirf Baisakhi nahi… ekta ka tyohar hai! Aayiye, ek naya sapna dekhen!"
(He stands on a stone and begins his speech. Crowd gathers. Dhol slows down to let
speech be heard.)
Villager Leader:
"Bhaiyon aur behno! Aaj hum yahaan sirf jashn manane nahi, apni ekta dikhane aaye hain!"
"Angrez humari aawaz dabana chahte hain. Lekin aaj, hum saath hain. Hindu-Muslim-Sikh-
Isai, sab ek hai. Azaadi humara janmsiddh adhikar hai!"
Crowd chants loudly:
"Vande Mataram! Vande Mataram!"
Another Villager (shouting):
"Inquilab Zindabad!"
(Music rises again. Dhol beats resume. People start dancing in circles. Someone distributes
jalebi and pakode. Children laugh.)
Mother (feeding jalebi to Udham Singh – quiet boy):
“Beta, tu toh sabse shaant hai. Apne bhai-behen ke saath kyu nahi khelta?”
Udham Singh (softly):
“…Bas sabko dekh raha hoon, maa.”
Mother (smiling):
“Achha! Toh tu toh kalakar banega! Sab yaad rakhta hai, na?”
Udham Singh (nods slowly):
“…Sab kuch.”
(All music stops. Silence. Only faint marching sound in the distance. People look around.
Confused murmuring.)
Villager Leader (concerned):
“Yeh awaaz…?”
(Enter General Dyer and 90 British soldiers from both sides of stage. Guns ready. The
crowd begins to panic but no one moves yet.)
MY SOLDIERS! MOVE FORWARD!
Dyer (coldly, stepping forward):
"Tum log yahan… kiski ijaazat se bheed ikattha kar rahe ho?"
Villager Leader:
"Sir, yeh toh sirf tyohar hai. Shaanti se jashn mana rahe hain-…"
Dyer (ignores him, raises voice):
"Shaanti?(laughs for a bit and instantly gets angry) Tum logon ki shaanti mujhe pasand nahi.
Jab ek gulam hasta hai… to woh baghawat hoti hai!"
(He scans the crowd, smirking.)
Dyer (mocking):
"Hahaha… toh khushiyon ki barsaat ho chuki? Toh ab… khoon ki barsaat shuru karte hain!"
(Raises arm and gives the command.)
Dyer (roaring):
SOLDIERS! Inme se koi bhi zinda nahi bachna chahiye, inhe dhund dhund ke maaro. FIRE!
ACT 2
Dimly lit stage.
Wooden table, chair, dusty diary, Indian flag in the background.
A black-and-white photo or shadow of Jallianwala Bagh on the wall.
A lone lamp or lantern illuminates the center.
(Udham Singh enters slowly. Now an adult. Hair slightly long, wearing simple Indian kurta-
pyjama. Quietly walks to center stage.)
(He sits, takes out an old diary, flips through pages slowly. Every movement feels heavy.)
Udham Singh (low, to himself):
“Itne saal ho gaye…”
(Pauses. Looks up, directly at audience.)
Udham Singh:
“Main udhar hi tha… Jallianwala ke kone mein. Maa ki laash ke neeche chhupa hua.”
“Log chillaa rahe the… bachpan ro raha tha… aur maut muskura rahi thi.”
(pauses)
“Par main zinda raha. Shayad isliye, kyunki maut bhi jaanti thi — mera kaam abhi baaki hai.”
(He walks slowly toward audience)
“Main maa ko gale nahi laga saka. Behen ke aansu nahi poch saka. Bhai ki cheekhein… ab
tak kaan mein goonjti hain.”
(voice breaks, fists clenched)
“Lekin mujhe sab yaad hai. Har goli. Har chehra. Har naam.”
(He slowly picks up a revolver from the table and reloads it like a boss Holds it with trembling
but determined hands.)
Udham Singh:
“Dyer! Tujhe laga tumhara kaam khatam ho gaya?”
“Nahi… abhi ek kahani baaki hai. Ek jawab baaki hai. Ek goli baaki hai.”
(He steps to the front of the stage, looks out at audience like addressing the nation.)
Udham Singh:
“Jis din tumne maa ke haathon se roti cheeni thi… us din maine aag chakh li thi.”
“Jis din tumne Bagh mein laash bichayi thi… us din main mard ban gaya tha.”
“Azaadi ka sapna ab sirf sapna nahi… yeh mera iraada hai.”
ACT 3
Year: 1940
Location: Caxton Hall, London
Minimal set: Just a podium, a few chairs, a painting or symbol of British empire (for irony).
Dim, cold lighting — a contrast to the warmth of India shown before.
General Dyer enters the stage. Two British officers walk with him. They greet a small group
— mime or silent background characters.)
Dyer (smugly):
“Gentlemen… I still remember the look on those brown faces when I ordered the fire. They
scattered like rats. Never seen such efficiency!”
“Jallianwala Bagh — my masterpiece!” ( while holding out open arms)
(Dyer adjusts his coat, proudly.)
Udham Singh enters quietly from stage side. Simple coat, sharp eyes. Walks to Dyer,
removes his hat slowly, respectfully.)
Udham Singh (calm voice):
“Excuse me… Mr. Dyer?”
Dyer (turns, irritated):
Tum kon ho? (mocking tone) dikh nahi raha ki mai busy hu?
Udham Singh (steps closer):
hmph itne sare Masoom logo ka khoon haath mai lekar tum kitne shauk ki Zindagi jee rahe
ho!
Dyer (pauses, confused):
“Kya..? Tumne abhi kya kaha?..”
Udham Singh (removes coat, revealing Indian attire underneath):
“Mai tujhe yaad nahi hu, lekin mujhe SAB yaad hai”
Dyer:
“Tum Bhartiya log wapis agaye rone? Jo zaruri tha vo maine kara, tum log janwar se kaam
nahi the”
Udham Singh (voice rising):
“HAM BHI LOG THE, BACCHE, MAAIYE , PARIVAAR”
Dyer (stepping back, nervous):
“Guards! Guards!”
Udham Singh (raises revolver):
“ Idhar koi guard nahi hai, Sirf tum, mai aur 1000 aatmao (souls ) ka badla
Dyer (stammering):
“Maine unhe warning di thi!”
Udham Singh (interrupts):
“Aur ye meri warning hai!”
(GUNSHOT. Lights flash. Dyer falls dramatically, eyes wide open. Silence.)
(British guards mime rushing in. Udham Singh raises both hands slowly and surrenders.)
Udham Singh (looking at audience as if addressing India):
“Main aatankwaadi nahi hoon. Main shaheed Udham Singh hoon. Yeh goli badle ke liye nahi
thi… nyay ke liye thi.”
NARRATOR
“Udham Singh was arrested and hanged by the British Empire in 1940. But in that one
moment, he gave voice to the silenced. The man who lived through death… became death
for the man who brought it.”
“This is not just a story of revenge — it is a story of courage, memory, and justice. A salute to
those who gave their lives, so we could breathe free.”
(All actors enter in slow motion, dressed in white with Indian flag ribbons. A patriotic song
plays softly: e.g. “Maa Tujhe Salaam” or “Ae Watan”).
(They form a line, facing the audience. One child actor holds the flag high.)
ALL (in unison or lead actor):
“Shaheedon ki chitaaon par lagenge har saal mele…
Desh yaad rakhega woh naam…
Jo mitti ke neeche bhi azadi ke geet gaa gaye.”