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GANDHI, AMBEDKAR AND THE FOUR LEGGED SCORPION, A Play On Untouchability
The play introduces both Gandhi and Ambedkar through significant events in their lives. In an opening scene Gandhi is shown to have been thrown off a train with his baggage. The very next day he is physically assaulted by another train official on another train. A lesser known train journey in Babasaheb Ambedkar’s life also proves to be life changing. The play shows Babasaheb as a young boy descending from a train, and how he and his siblings cannot travel to see their father because no cart driver is willing to take them there – all because they are Dalits.
In the second Act the play moves on to show Gandhi and Ambedkar having matured and become great leaders, the one of the Indian nation and the other of the Dalit community. The Poona conflict between the two great men on the issue of separate electorates for the Dalits sought by Ambedkar and granted by the British thereafter ensues. Gandhi goes on a fast unto death unless the proposal is withdrawn for he believes that this will divide the country. Ambedkar, on the other hand, asserts that he will be hanged from a lamppost rather than betray the cause of his people….
To give the play a contemporary feel and edge, in the opening and concluding scenes three middle-aged intellectuals – a Dalit judge, a Muslim vice-chancellor and a Hindu politician – discuss the above events. A parallel fictional story line involving these three characters, who happen to be old friends, adds to the modern day relevance of the play.
In the second Act the play moves on to show Gandhi and Ambedkar having matured and become great leaders, the one of the Indian nation and the other of the Dalit community. The Poona conflict between the two great men on the issue of separate electorates for the Dalits sought by Ambedkar and granted by the British thereafter ensues. Gandhi goes on a fast unto death unless the proposal is withdrawn for he believes that this will divide the country. Ambedkar, on the other hand, asserts that he will be hanged from a lamppost rather than betray the cause of his people….
To give the play a contemporary feel and edge, in the opening and concluding scenes three middle-aged intellectuals – a Dalit judge, a Muslim vice-chancellor and a Hindu politician – discuss the above events. A parallel fictional story line involving these three characters, who happen to be old friends, adds to the modern day relevance of the play.
- GenresFiction
185 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 3, 2022
Not very often do I come across a contemporary written piece that discuss an important aspect of Indian history. Gandhi, Ambedkar and the Four Legged Scorpion by Rajesh Talwar is that rarity. This play set in pre-1947 and is based on real events, expressed to the readers through writer’s imagination.
The play introduces both Gandhi and Ambedkar, both are important figures in Indian History and politics, through significant events in their lives. In an opening scene Gandhi is shown to have been thrown off a train with his baggage. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s life also proves to be life changing.
The play shows Babasaheb as a young boy descending from a train, and how he and his siblings cannot travel to see their father because no cart driver is willing to take them there – all because they are Dalits.
Some of my readers may not be familiar with but the Indian society is negatively impacted by a long running battle of casteism. Consider it as another form of racism, a subset of very same. The difference here is that, people are discriminated by their names, family names etc. Till date, even in the modern India a country that surely posses more than 1.2 billion people, haven’t come over it.
The play is divided into three acts and to give the play a contemporary relevance, the story is narrated by three middle-aged intellectuals who belong to different communities: a Dalit Judge, a Muslim vice-chancellor and a Hindu Politician.
The book starts with a great introduction that will educate you enough on the topics it touches in three acts. The narration is strong and intense with fictional relevance to move the story ahead and retell a tale to the modern audience. This intense voice will help you read this play in a flow and with a pace and understand it better and appreciate the writing style. I think the writing style is professional and the strong narrative voice is the outcome of the author’s command on the storyline. Fictional characters evolve with the timeline of real incidents, however with only three acts there isn’t much for the characters to display.
I think India needs writers like Rajesh Talwar or more of his writing. He has professional and effortless way of writing that will have a lasting impact on reader’s mind as on mine. I am looking forward to read more of his works.
4 out of 5
The play introduces both Gandhi and Ambedkar, both are important figures in Indian History and politics, through significant events in their lives. In an opening scene Gandhi is shown to have been thrown off a train with his baggage. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s life also proves to be life changing.
The play shows Babasaheb as a young boy descending from a train, and how he and his siblings cannot travel to see their father because no cart driver is willing to take them there – all because they are Dalits.
Some of my readers may not be familiar with but the Indian society is negatively impacted by a long running battle of casteism. Consider it as another form of racism, a subset of very same. The difference here is that, people are discriminated by their names, family names etc. Till date, even in the modern India a country that surely posses more than 1.2 billion people, haven’t come over it.
The play is divided into three acts and to give the play a contemporary relevance, the story is narrated by three middle-aged intellectuals who belong to different communities: a Dalit Judge, a Muslim vice-chancellor and a Hindu Politician.
The book starts with a great introduction that will educate you enough on the topics it touches in three acts. The narration is strong and intense with fictional relevance to move the story ahead and retell a tale to the modern audience. This intense voice will help you read this play in a flow and with a pace and understand it better and appreciate the writing style. I think the writing style is professional and the strong narrative voice is the outcome of the author’s command on the storyline. Fictional characters evolve with the timeline of real incidents, however with only three acts there isn’t much for the characters to display.
I think India needs writers like Rajesh Talwar or more of his writing. He has professional and effortless way of writing that will have a lasting impact on reader’s mind as on mine. I am looking forward to read more of his works.
4 out of 5
April 15, 2017
‘Gandhi, Ambedkar and the Four Legged Scorpion’ is a play on Untouchability in India during the pre-1947 era. Its not a novel or a regualr story. Its based on real life incidents with a little bit of writer's creativity thrown in.
A Warning: First things first. This book is NOT a novel and not a story. It relays a part of history – about Bapu and Babsaheb – in the format of a play. It took me some time to get my head wrapped around the ‘stage / theatre / play’ format but once I got into the groove, I enjoyed it. It was indeed refreshing to read the play. It has been a long time since I have seen a play and would love to see soon. So don’t be discouraged when you are slightly uncomfortable reading the play format. Give it time and you will enjoy it.
Yet Another Warning: The summary or book blurb tell you everything about the main theme or plot line of the play that you are about to read. And the introduction and preface and other things that appear in the book ‘before’ the play begins repeat the theme and its details and other aspects of the storyline. So much so, that there is nothing you get by reading the play except details. The book/play is intended to convey a message, enlighten the reader about an aspect in history. The play does that effectively BUT in the book format, this is spoiled by everything else that the reader reads before reading the play.
If you are going to pick this book, skip through the initial pages and go straight to the page where the play begins. DO NOT read the introductory pages. Read them AFTER you have read the play.
There is too much repetition in the introduction and there is a lot pre-content which should have been at the back in the book as notes for those want to enact the play and want a deeper understanding of the same. The stage notes also should have been at the back.
Point to be Noted: Don’t go literally by the title of the book. There is Gandhi and Ambedkar but there is literally no scorpion. The concept behind the scorpion is explained in introduction /preface of the book BUT it never comes up in the play. So if it was a play that people were watching in the theatre, they would leave wondering what happened to the scorpion unless the team enacting the play took liberties to modify the script and introduced the relevant explanation of the scorpion by way of narration or a monologue by one of the characters.
And finally the Book/Play: By itself, the play was written nicely. Not perfectly but nicely. There were quite a few places where the choice of words and language used did not sit well with the time period or the characters. It seemed like some modern slang slipped into the dialogues unnoticed by the author.
The author manages to convey the conflict between Gandhi and Ambedkar during the freedom struggle but at the same time, it does seem a bit superficial. There are those incidents incorporated which played a role in shaping Ambedkar in the role that he played for the Dalits but that was not enough.
I would have expected a lot more monologue by Gandhi as well as Ambedkar; as it is through monologues that the personality of a character is built and not though interactions with other characters. Wish the author would have taken that route to give more meaning and impact to the characters of Gandhi and Ambedkar. It would have been meaningful to see the characters evolve through their life incidents and monologues
A Warning: First things first. This book is NOT a novel and not a story. It relays a part of history – about Bapu and Babsaheb – in the format of a play. It took me some time to get my head wrapped around the ‘stage / theatre / play’ format but once I got into the groove, I enjoyed it. It was indeed refreshing to read the play. It has been a long time since I have seen a play and would love to see soon. So don’t be discouraged when you are slightly uncomfortable reading the play format. Give it time and you will enjoy it.
Yet Another Warning: The summary or book blurb tell you everything about the main theme or plot line of the play that you are about to read. And the introduction and preface and other things that appear in the book ‘before’ the play begins repeat the theme and its details and other aspects of the storyline. So much so, that there is nothing you get by reading the play except details. The book/play is intended to convey a message, enlighten the reader about an aspect in history. The play does that effectively BUT in the book format, this is spoiled by everything else that the reader reads before reading the play.
If you are going to pick this book, skip through the initial pages and go straight to the page where the play begins. DO NOT read the introductory pages. Read them AFTER you have read the play.
There is too much repetition in the introduction and there is a lot pre-content which should have been at the back in the book as notes for those want to enact the play and want a deeper understanding of the same. The stage notes also should have been at the back.
Point to be Noted: Don’t go literally by the title of the book. There is Gandhi and Ambedkar but there is literally no scorpion. The concept behind the scorpion is explained in introduction /preface of the book BUT it never comes up in the play. So if it was a play that people were watching in the theatre, they would leave wondering what happened to the scorpion unless the team enacting the play took liberties to modify the script and introduced the relevant explanation of the scorpion by way of narration or a monologue by one of the characters.
And finally the Book/Play: By itself, the play was written nicely. Not perfectly but nicely. There were quite a few places where the choice of words and language used did not sit well with the time period or the characters. It seemed like some modern slang slipped into the dialogues unnoticed by the author.
The author manages to convey the conflict between Gandhi and Ambedkar during the freedom struggle but at the same time, it does seem a bit superficial. There are those incidents incorporated which played a role in shaping Ambedkar in the role that he played for the Dalits but that was not enough.
I would have expected a lot more monologue by Gandhi as well as Ambedkar; as it is through monologues that the personality of a character is built and not though interactions with other characters. Wish the author would have taken that route to give more meaning and impact to the characters of Gandhi and Ambedkar. It would have been meaningful to see the characters evolve through their life incidents and monologues
April 18, 2017
Not very often do I come across a contemporary written piece that discuss an important aspect of Indian history. Gandhi, Ambedkar and the Four Legged Scorpion by Rajesh Talwar is that rarity. This play set in pre-1947 and is based on real events, expressed to the readers through writer’s imagination.
The play introduces both Gandhi and Ambedkar, both are important figures in Indian History and politics, through significant events in their lives. In an opening scene Gandhi is shown to have been thrown off a train with his baggage. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s life also proves to be life changing.
The play shows Babasaheb as a young boy descending from a train, and how he and his siblings cannot travel to see their father because no cart driver is willing to take them there – all because they are Dalits.
Some of my readers may not be familiar with but the Indian society is negatively impacted by a long running battle of casteism. Consider it as another form of racism, a subset of very same. The difference here is that, people are discriminated by their names, family names etc. Till date, even in the modern India a country that surely posses more than 1.2 billion people, haven’t come over it.
The play is divided into three acts and to give the play a contemporary relevance, the story is narrated by three middle-aged intellectuals who belong to different communities: a Dalit Judge, a Muslim vice-chancellor and a Hindu Politician.
The book starts with a great introduction that will educate you enough on the topics it touches in three acts. The narration is strong and intense with fictional relevance to move the story ahead and retell a tale to the modern audience. This intense voice will help you read this play in a flow and with a pace and understand it better and appreciate the writing style. I think the writing style is professional and the strong narrative voice is the outcome of the author’s command on the storyline. Fictional characters evolve with the timeline of real incidents, however with only three acts there isn’t much for the characters to display.
I think India needs writers like Rajesh Talwar or more of his writing. He has professional and effortless way of writing that will have a lasting impact on reader’s mind as on mine. I am looking forward to read more of his works.
4 out of 5
The play introduces both Gandhi and Ambedkar, both are important figures in Indian History and politics, through significant events in their lives. In an opening scene Gandhi is shown to have been thrown off a train with his baggage. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s life also proves to be life changing.
The play shows Babasaheb as a young boy descending from a train, and how he and his siblings cannot travel to see their father because no cart driver is willing to take them there – all because they are Dalits.
Some of my readers may not be familiar with but the Indian society is negatively impacted by a long running battle of casteism. Consider it as another form of racism, a subset of very same. The difference here is that, people are discriminated by their names, family names etc. Till date, even in the modern India a country that surely posses more than 1.2 billion people, haven’t come over it.
The play is divided into three acts and to give the play a contemporary relevance, the story is narrated by three middle-aged intellectuals who belong to different communities: a Dalit Judge, a Muslim vice-chancellor and a Hindu Politician.
The book starts with a great introduction that will educate you enough on the topics it touches in three acts. The narration is strong and intense with fictional relevance to move the story ahead and retell a tale to the modern audience. This intense voice will help you read this play in a flow and with a pace and understand it better and appreciate the writing style. I think the writing style is professional and the strong narrative voice is the outcome of the author’s command on the storyline. Fictional characters evolve with the timeline of real incidents, however with only three acts there isn’t much for the characters to display.
I think India needs writers like Rajesh Talwar or more of his writing. He has professional and effortless way of writing that will have a lasting impact on reader’s mind as on mine. I am looking forward to read more of his works.
4 out of 5
April 19, 2017
I greatly enjoyed reading this play, but I would really love to see it performed on a stage. An introduction to an important part of Indian history, one that often is overlooked in the western world. The class system, and the idea of 'untouchables' is ones often glossed over in the history books of the Western world. Although many know of the result of the work these two powerful figures, few know the story of what led up to the men the world knows. I highly recommend this play, to read or to perform.
Received for review
Received for review
April 23, 2017
Please visit http://www.guptakaushal.in/2017/04/bo... to read the complete review of the book.
The Indian freedom struggle was a long one which spanned across, almost, a century and saw the rise and fall of various individuals and leaders. Leaders who lead not only from the front, but also on the front with people who supported their vision for the freedom.
First of all, Gandhi, Ambedkar And The Four Legged Scorpion is not a regular book wherein you read a genre specific narration, it is an actual play woven around the incidents that took place in the lives of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.
The entire play in the book is divided into three acts with multiple scenes and the fictional writing of the book is kind of thought provoking and relevant to the current time, the intensity of the conversations coupled with intelligent anecdotes that discusses the topic of untouchability.
I would recommend this historical fiction play to anyone interested in reading about the prevalent caste system in India and the two ideologies.
The Indian freedom struggle was a long one which spanned across, almost, a century and saw the rise and fall of various individuals and leaders. Leaders who lead not only from the front, but also on the front with people who supported their vision for the freedom.
First of all, Gandhi, Ambedkar And The Four Legged Scorpion is not a regular book wherein you read a genre specific narration, it is an actual play woven around the incidents that took place in the lives of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.
The entire play in the book is divided into three acts with multiple scenes and the fictional writing of the book is kind of thought provoking and relevant to the current time, the intensity of the conversations coupled with intelligent anecdotes that discusses the topic of untouchability.
I would recommend this historical fiction play to anyone interested in reading about the prevalent caste system in India and the two ideologies.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews