Le Mashale Comes to Jaipur

We have been lucky enough to host the performer Ojas as she has come to Jaipur to perform Le Mashale, her remarkable play about the famous activist Irom Sharmila and her decade-long fast to bring justice to Manipur.

The play is a one-person performance which uses drama, multimedia, and other elements to tell this important story. Irom Sharmila has been fasting for over ten years to protest the AFSPA and other unjust elements of the armed forces' actions in Manipur.

Ojas, a native of Pune, has been performed this play over 90 times, in all regions of India. She has spent the past week in Jaipur to spread this story and message to audiences throughout the city. PJI, in collaboration with PUCL, Sarthak, and Sangram has facilitated performances in IIIM, SWRC Tilonia, Sankskar School, JKK, MGD School, and SV Public School from April 22nd-25th. Jaiveer, Ashutosh, Abhishek, and Akshay worked intensively to make these performances possible.

The performance has generated rave reviews and taught many people new things about this important issue. Information about acts of violence and brutality by the Indian military has been spread in this innovative manner, and has led to many audience members adopting new viewpoints about the topic.

Ritansh Pandey, a PJI volunteer, said "The play was really nice and really touching. We got to many things about the northeast that we never knew before, things that are not covered by the media. We got to know the really inspiring and touching story of Irom Sharmila, and it inspired us to join hands for the movement."

PJI has also facilitated question-and-answer sessions and discussions with Ojas after many of the performances. These discussions have allowed audience members to learn even more about the conflict and better understand different aspects of the performance.