A scene from Ee teiraba numit

War and women make an intriguing combination which has inspired reams of academic sleuthing but comparatively fewer stage productions.

A Manipur troupe made one such daring attempt, using Mahabharat as a platform to raise some potent anti-war and feminist slogans.

Called Ee teiraba numit (The blood-bathed sun), this new play written and directed by Nandakumar Moirangthem was staged on 14 November at the prize distribution ceremony of the Theatre Centre Manipur at the auditorium of the Manipur Dramatic Union.

The play takes a slice from the Mahabharat and revolves around the venerated Devabarta or Bhishma who decides to lead the life of a celibate to fulfil the wishes of his father, King Shantanu.

Story goes that when Bhishma becomes the general of Kaurava army, he abducts princess Amba from a swayambar.

But soon after, Bhishma rejects Amba, goaded by his promise to remain single.

Though Bhishma is worshipped for his wisdom, few care to remember Amba’s plight — an expected oversight in male readings of the epic.

The battle of Kurukshetrabegins, spelling destruction.

Rather than capturing the much-known chain of events, the play concentrates on the war-induced crimes which affect women who have little to do with the battle.

Women are widowed by the hundred, girls are raped by soldiers and unwanted children crave for a father’s identity.

Making a strong case forwomen’s rights violation in war, the play ends with a striking slogan: “Don’t turn earth into ashes and don’t make the earth a planet of widows”.

Cosmopolitan Dramatic Union, which presented the play, scored in terms of both teamwork and presentation. Actor Th. Kunjabihari as Bhishma won the best actor and Theatre Centre Award, 2009.

Romola Yensembam as Amba was good.