Of women, war and peace

IT IS a fervent plea for peace in a strife-torn world.' Her Voice' is the cry of women against conflict and the culture of violence. And how is the message conveyed? Through an imaginative collaboration of contemporary dance and puppetry. Bharatanatyam dancer Geeta Chandran and puppeteer Anurupa Roy delve deeper below the `Of women, war and peace' surface using the two art forms to raise questions about the need to understand gender roles in peace and conflict resolution.

Based on a familiar tale from the Kurukshetra Battle in the Mahabharata, the artistes, through the central character Draupadi, give expression to their conviction that war is futile.

The metaphoric `battle for dharma' is looked at from the eyes of a woman who is also the key protagonist - Draupadi. Though she is the instigator of revenge, she eventually realises that it only perpetrates pain and misery.

Traditionally referred to as `Kritya' or cause of bloodshed. `Her Voice', in contrast, presents a vulnerable Draupadi who is distressed by her personal losses on the battlefield. She is distraught not only by the death of her favourite son Abhimanyu but also by that of her enemy Karna. If Duhshasana's death avenges the insult she has suffered, the act of bathing in his blood fills her with disgust. While human instinct forces her to seek revenge when Ashwathama secretly kills the last of her five children, she also realises that killing Ashwathama would bring sorrow to his mother by depriving her of a son. And so, she allows Ashwathama to live. This empathy with the sufferings of others is the essence of `Her Voice.'

The performance-dialogue revolves round the terrible costs that conflicts inflict on women. Why are women always the victims in the patriarchal game of war? Does militarism reflect a masculine identity? Can women's participation and representation in the dialogue for peace make a difference? These are the issues that have inspired the work. Produced with assistance from WISCOMP (Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace), a forum that provides women a role in promoting peace, `Her Voice' was first staged during the first International Summer symposium on Human Security held by the organisation in August, 2000 in New Delhi.

The relationship between dance and puppetry is unique &151; the former being vibrant and animated while the latter, lifeless and inanimate. But, in `Her Voice,' the dancer plays a mellow role while the puppets become animated. While she portrays Draupadi she also depicts eternal human consciousness. The puppets represent our alter-ego; silent spectators to the course of events.

Scripted by Rajiv Chandran with music by Shyam Banerji, the production involves Geeta and members of her dance school Natya Vriksha, and life-size puppets created by Anurupa Roy and her Kat-Katha company. Geeta is an eclectic blend of traditional training in dance, modern aesthetics and contemporary concerns like gender equity and environmental protection.

The Arangham Dance Theatre in association with the International Women's Association will present `Her Voice' on September 22, 7 p.m., at the Museum Theatre, Chennai. Besides the visual treat that is in store, `Her Voice' sends out a powerful message that is sure to be heard.

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