Anjana Khatri
The phrase “Hiuko Prithvi Yatra” refers to a journey taken by a person to the Himalayas and back. The journey is significant because it is a way of highlighting the problems of climate change. The Himalayas are one of the most beautiful places on Earth, but they are also one of the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, melting glaciers, shrinking snow cover, and changing precipitation patterns are all having an impact on the Himalayas. This journey is a way of raising awareness about the problems of climate change and the need to take action. This play, which was staged at Shilpee Theatre Nepal, was previously shown at the Kalebung International Theater Festival and has been staged 12 times outside the valley.
The theatrical adaption of “Hiuko Prithvi Yaatra” by Amjad Prabej and Ghimire Yubaraj is being staged at Shilpee Theatre Nepal. The play reflects on the sufferings of living beings on the earth due to climate change and calls for political sympathy towards the citizen.
Yuvraj and Amjad Prabej, who are concerned about the effects of environmental exploitation including the screams and upheavals after natural exploitation, have brought it to the stage through ‘Hiunko Prithvi Yatra’. The drama conveys the message that the exploitation of nature created by human beings can result into drought and drying up of rivers leading to the end of existence of living beings in nature.
The country has policies and rules and laws. However, it has also raised questions about whether those policies and laws have been properly utilized or not?
This play highlights various problems faced by the world’s climate. The flowing river and human life are at the center of the story. The play begins with the intro song in the Tharu language and the rivers being personification by Prabitra khadka, Jyoti Pokharel, and Govinda Oli, come out of the white clothes and narrate their journey as a river one by one, “Pouring and flowing again, A new path is being taken again,’ one river cheerfully tells another river. Rivers were moving in their own rhythm on the stage. The dialogue of the dolphins is kept in the drama about the exploitation of nature, and the inequality it creates.
Due to climate change, it has not rained. The village has become inadequate. Kusum’s family is waiting for rain. Kusum’s father, mother, grandmother, and brother drink water by counting drops. After damming the river above the house, the river in front of the house has dried up. It is a pleasure to get electricity from the water stored in the dam, but more than that, water is needed. In the name of creating the concrete world, we are ignoring the real world. While waiting anxiously for the sky to rain, a thunderstorm intervenes. However, it does not rain. Not only this family but also many other creatures have been killed by the heat. The mice are out of the den. The plants are dry. Elephants have started entering the slums. As the river dries up, Kusum’s father, professionally a fisherman, sees his business collapsed.
The play has advanced the story of the river and human life together. This event realize the importance of water and its uses. In one scene, in response to a question from her lover Saroj (played by Rabin Pariyar), Kusum (played by Sangita Uranw) says, “We are building a concrete city by manipulating nature. But in return, do we have to pay a big price or not? This earth is not only for humans. It belongs to other creatures too.”
How many times have we thought for other creatures apart from our own life? Have we ever become serious about the impact of our activities on them? The life of the river, dolphins, and elephants seen on the stage makes you think once. It puts a damper on human activity.
In another scene, a river says, “What a great responsibility we have on this earth. We irrigate all the land by flowing.
Plants and birds quench their thirst by giving it to us”. Another river adds, “How many creatures are there within us? If we dry up, it will be difficult for the animals. How many creatures will die? We are worried about this.” Before the river ends, the other river says, “How many living beings’ lives are meant for us to flow? But people see that we are drifting away and say that it is wasted. Are we really wasted?”
We are manipulating nature and asking for many things but we are not aware of what she wants from us. Are we on the path of development or deterioration? Do you want to enjoy the scenic view of nature or a pile of concrete? What exactly do we humans want? Many themes are brought together in the play. Not only climate change, but also politics, love is shown in ‘Hiunko Prithvi Yatra’. It has shown the politics of the people in disaster. Human life is not only shown in the play. The lives of other creatures are also included. The experience of dolphins is shown. Trying to include so many stories, the journey of the river seems unclear.
The use of props and the symbolism of rivers, elephants, mice, and dolphins play an interesting part in the play which gives a very big lesson too. Making a play on such a serious subject is a challenging task. Yet, every character has given proper justice to every plot.
The living beings who are waiting for the rain to come represent the real suffering of Nepal, especially in the Terai region.
The mountains seem to be shrinking as the number of snow decreases. When there is a need for water, there is often none, but unnecessary floods and landslides can destroy everything. This is our reality.
However, the issue raised by the play is serious among the challenges of presenting the life experiences of rivers and animals on the stage. Sweet music, beautiful props, original dialogues and actors’ performances have presented a complex subject in a simple manner.