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Veteran theatre artiste Lushin Dubey to perform in Arvind Gaur's new play “I Will Not Cry” at India Habitat Centre this Saturday.
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The objective is not just to sensitise the audience about the shameful number of child deaths but also to make them understand their social responsibility towards the issue
To sensitise people about child mortality and raise funds for it, a play titled “I Will Not Cry” will be staged at India Habitat Centre here this Saturday.Written and directed by Arvind Gaur, the play has veteran theatre artiste Lushin Dubey as the solitary actor. But given her enormous experience in performing live before an audience knowledgeable about the nuances of theatre, she will be more than a handful. There will be background music to ensure that the monologue does not become monotonous.
Through the play, child rights organisation Save the Children seeks to reach out to the powers that be and the public at large to advocate a change for the country’s children.According to Save the Children campaign manager Pragya Vats, a part of the proceeds would be utilised for child health and nutrition programmes in ten States including West Bengal, Odisha as well as the urban poor in Delhi and Jaipur. “The focus is not on generating funds but creating awareness about the issue. The funds would not make a difference in the lives of children, but nevertheless it is a noble gesture that needs to be acknowledged, applauded and encouraged.”
Describing the reported child deaths in the country as shocking and alarming, Arvind says a number of children are dying due to diarrhoea, pneumonia and birth-related complications. “But sadly and shockingly, this is not a priority for us. Economic policies are our priority, but children figure nowhere in them. Schemes, plans and funds are all there, but they do not reach their destination. Ultimately, it all boils down to corruption.”The objective of the play is not just to sensitise the audience about the shameful number of child deaths but also to make them understand their social responsibility towards the issue. “The play is predominantly in English but 10 per cent of it is in Hindi because if we have to show an old bedraggled woman or a street child speaking the Queen’s language then it would look hilarious,” says Arvind.
The play highlights the issue of child survival in the country and seeks to evoke our collective responsibility as a nation and a society to act together.Lushin says the play is basically a satire. “Child mortality is a burning issue and we will present the play in a manner that it would lead to awakening. We have two types of Indias existing – one is Bharat, which is 50 per cent of the country, and the other is India. Bharat is trying to catch up with India.”The play has already travelled to Jaipur, Kolkata and Lucknow and will be staged again in Mumbai. After the shows in different cities, it will travel to international destinations.
