Faith, Pain and Relief

An old man of my locality , ( he had no issue) about fifty years ago well known mainly amongst the local people and neighbouring places for his knowledge of the native Pantheon evil spirits and ghosts . To me he was a repository of our old culture, custom and tradition. Often he conducted rituals to ward off the ghosts and evil spirits from the homes and persons possessed by them and to cure people of the illnesses mostly due to the sacrilege committed. One day his wife fell ill, yet, he did not call doctors instead performed the rituals , sought what the deities would tell for the cure in his sombre dreams. Of no avail , she died after prolong illness. But he felt the pang not for long . "What we the humans can do if providence so destined ? “ he asked. The old man lived long looked after by a close relative never consulting a doctor nor taking pharmaceutical drugs not having faith in their efficacy and sanctity. (The poem dramatised under the title FAITH, PAIN by People's Arts and Dramatic Association ,and directed by Laishram Randhoni Devi was the Second Best play in the Creative Directors' Short Play Competition 2022 organised by THEATER CENTER under the aegis of SANGEET NATAK ACADEMY,NEW DELHI.In all the play won seven different awards )