Scene from the play ‘Message of peace in Drama’ enacted by the CTC – CCPRA students at WTBC on Sunday, February 2, 2014.
Morung Express News
Wokha | February 3
Wokha | February 3
“Today in every step of our life we find rivalry, jealousy and vengeance. The wheel of violence keeps turning leaving the people in the clutches of distress, misery and hatred which is plaguing our society. If people do not stand together armed with love, forgiveness, compassion and determination to stop this germ of violence, our society will come to the brink of annihilation.
We need to be humble and honest in acknowledging our wrong doings, our faults and limitations that we have committed to hurt others. Unless this vicious notion is erased from the minds of the people, life in our community will always be one of tension, hatred and conflict. So let’s give peace a chance, celebrate the gift of God’s love and together herald into a new era of life and peace.”
--- Temsuzenla, an actor from Clark Theological College drama team.
The message of peace, reconciliation and peace building rang clear as the Clark Centre for Peace, Research & Action’s (CCPRA) drama team enacted a Naga conflict scenario between tribes and villages at the Wokha Town Baptist Church (WTBC) on February 2 evening during a ‘Peace Festival’ hosted by WTBC and organized by the CCPRA on the theme: Building Peace, the Gift of God’s Love.
The WTBC was filled with people from all walks of life from Wokha town and the proramme was attended by DC Wokha, Vyasan R as special guest. Two busloads of drama actors and a choir from the premier theological institute in Mokokchung, Clark Theological College (CTC), descended on Wokha and enthralled the congregation with a nearly three hour programme of songs and plays, encircling the theme of ‘Peace’.
The CCPRA drama team has been in the news for its powerful plays on peace and the clean election campaign – they enacted street plays during the 2013 Nagaland State assembly election which was well received by the people.
While the CTC choir enthralled the congregation with their trademark melodious voices, it was the drama team that kept the audience entertained while spreading the message of peace.
The script is set in a typical Naga society, its constant conflict zones especially between villages over land and other issues. The script writers and actors did justice in propagating the importance of peace in Naga society.
“There are twenty-four actors and four script writers or script directors in our CCRPA team for this Peace Festival event,” said Onentiba Jamir, one of the script writers. “We took three weeks for the development of the script and one full month for practicing and rehearsing the play.”
There were powerful moments when the play showcased the plight of women in conflict situations and of uncertainties of the communities during conflict set in Naga scenario.
The play, though looks simple, connects to the everyday life of the Naga people and the socio-economic, political and religious life of the Naga society. The underlying message was clear: for peace to prevail, we need to confess our mistakes, accept that we are wrong, forgive in the name of Jesus Christ, make accommodations for peaceful correlations and finally live as one in harmony.
For those who appreciate the art of theatrics, the peace movement initiated by the CCPRA would come not only as a source of entertainment but also as a means of education about the importance of peace in the society through the powerful means of theater. The CCPRA has plans to conduct such programmes in different districts to propagate the message of peace, but to fully appreciate it, one has to witness it.
