Le Mashale (Take the Torch) is a riveting mono-play about the life and struggles of Irom Sharmila Chanu of Manipur who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the past 14 years to repeal the draconian AFSPA Act, which has worked as a shield for the army as innumerable atrocities continue to plague the North-east.
Interestingly, the play has been written, directed and staged by a woman from the other end of the country. The Pune born and bred Ojas S.V. first performed Le Mashale two years ago, as part of a peace rally, on the 10th anniversary Irom Sharmila’s struggle, at Chaitala, the defence minister’s constituency. Staging it for the 168th time, here in the city, she points out why she continues to invest her time and energy in this specific play: “It’s the history of our generation and no one knows about it.”
After completing her MSc in Biodiversity, Ojas juggled between her research and theatre for a while until word about the play spread across the country and she made it her full-time commitment. As the play includes a lot of Manipuri folklore and traditions, she credits those who inspired her while writing it. “It is inspired by the writings of Civic Chandran, Anshu Malviya, Deepti Priya Mehrotra’s book on Irom Sharmila, as well as Irom Sharmila’s poetry,” Ojas shares.
She fondly recalls her lone encounter with Irom Sharmila in 2010: “We didn’t have permission to meet her but the home guard brought her out. We caught a glimpse of her from outside the gates; she was so touched that she burst out crying.”
Ojas insists that her play isn’t part of any structural movement. “The play gives me a lot of energy and that’s why I keep at it. But I dream of the day when the AFSPA is repealed and I will no longer have to perform it,” she remarks.
