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Gandhi Godse Cast Offers Charity Shows for Kargil Jawans

S Sarma in Atlanta

Actor Paresh Rawal and his 11 co-artistes have offered to perform free benefit shows of the hit play Gandhi Godse to raise money for the families of Indian soldiers killed in Kargil.

Communities should take the initiative and arrange for the benefit shows at least 120 miles away from the venues where the shows are being staged, he said.

Following standing ovations and full houses in California, the controversial Gandhi Godse is being staged in at least 10 cities across the United States from July 16 through August 8, with the possibility of an extended tour. In many cities, Gandhi Godse reportedly drew more people than the hit Jaya Bachchan play, Maa Retire Hoti Hai.

In New Jersey, the play will be staged on July 31 at 2000 EDT in the newly opened Strand Theatre in Plainfield, and on August 7, New Yorkers can see it at 2000 EDT at the Hindu Temple Auditorium in Flushing.

"People are not only applauding an outstanding actor Paresh Rawal, but also discussing the issues raised in the play," says H R Shah of TV Asia, the national grand sponsor. "We have not seen him live on stage for several years. That is one of the biggest appeals of this play."

Shah also believes the importance of the play is that it dares to ask questions that many people would like to gloss over. The promoters believe the play offers for the first time in America an opportunity for Godse's character to explain what made him turn against Gandhi, his one-time idol, and take the drastic step of ending his life.

Some of the play's promoters said many people who admired the Mahatma have seen the play in California. "They came back still admiring Gandhi," said one organiser. "But they also found some humanity in Godse. And many of them wondered why the play was banned in India at all. There are no disturbances here, no ugly controversies. People know this is not a play which seeks to create sensations."

Following is the schedule. Please contact the organisers for the venue, time and ticket information in the cities listed below.

July 16, Atlanta, Ga, Paresh Munshi (404) 276-9995/ 636-9995 July 17, Charlotte, NC, Paresh Munshi (404) 276-9995/ (704) 521-9680 July 23, Cleveland, Oh, Rakesh Sood (419) 547-9565 July 24, Columbus, Oh, Venu Gopal Reddy (614) 766-9007/975-7399 July 25, Chicago, Il, Ketki Parikh (630) 964-6061 July 31, Plainfield, NJ, Hitesh Shah (201) 653-6471/659-1349 August 1, Los Angeles, Ca, Chandan Oza (213) 387-1979/(562) 860-1135 August 6, Orlando, Fl, (407) 876-4220 August 7, New York, NY, Hitesh Shah (201) 653-6471/ (201) 659-1349 August 8, Boston, Ma, Vimi Verma (978) 443-2968

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