By Dipali Trivedi and Rohit Chandra
WATERTOWN, MA— After four successful shows this fall, SETU brings back Mahabharata-based play “Andha Yug” on Dec. 15-17 at Mosessian Theater in Watertown, MA.
The Mahabharata, one of the world’s oldest and most revered epics, provides profound insights into the human morality, dilemma, and the consequences of war. At its core, the Mahabharata highlights the futility of war, showcasing how conflict often leads to devastating outcomes, both individually and societally. In examining this ancient text, we can draw valuable lessons relevant in our modern world, where the echoes of warfare persist.
A part of the Indian diaspora settled in the western world has historically been associated with building a bridge between culture and community, art, and activism. For 20 years SETU (Stage Ensemble Theatre Unit, Boston, www.setu.us) has been doing that and more, largely focusing on Indian social issues and Indian heritage.
SETU is bringing back its an English translation Dharamvir Bharati’s original Hindi play “Andha Yug” (The Age of Darkness), directed by Subrata Das, this December in Watertown.
As we navigate a world that continues to grapple with the consequences of armed conflict, the Mahabharata serves as a timeless reminder on the futility of war. By reflecting on the pyrrhic nature of victories, the destruction of relationships, the never-ending cycle of retaliation, and the cost of hubris, we are reminded of the urgent need to seek alternative paths to resolution. The epic challenges us to embrace empathy, dialogue, and cooperation, offering a profound blueprint for a world that aspires to move beyond the futile embrace of war.
“Andha Yug” is set in the immediate aftermath of the Mahabharata, one of the most significant events in Indian mythology. The dynastic war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas has ended, but it has left behind a landscape of destruction and despair. The play opens with the fallen warrior Gandhari cursing Lord Krishna for allowing this great tragedy to occur.
At the heart of the Mahabharata lies the tragic conflict between family members, tearing apart the fabric of relationships. The epic vividly portrays how war shatters the bonds of kinship, leading to irreparable emotional wounds. This resonates with the modern understanding that wars often breed animosity and sow the seeds of future conflicts, emphasizing the futility of using violence to resolve disputes within families, communities, and nations bases on race, religion, or any other identities.
Andha Yug shines a glaring light on the leaders who, for reasons related to control over people, appetite for land or money, or enjoyment of conquest push for a war. As the aphorisms go, “war is hell” and is often a “rich man’s war, poor man’s fight,” reflected in the conversation between the two ordinary guards of Andha Yug. Jingoistic propaganda about what a people deserve or indignation about some slight is used to convince a populace of the righteousness of the cause but, as casualties mount, the bitterness of the people at the loss of loved ones grows, and the Pyrrhic nature of the conflict begins to sap their will to fight for whatever cause or principle they have been led to believe in. This play doesn’t provide easy answers or moral absolutes. Characters like Ashwatthama, Yuyutsu, and Yudhishthira grapple with their actions and the moral dilemmas they face. The play asks whether there can be any morality during such chaos and explain the futility of the was as we witness now on world stage.
SETU is a 501(c)(3) fully non-profit theater group in the Boston area, co-founded by Subrata Das, Jayanti Bandyopadhyay, and a few other theater enthusiasts back in 2003. SETU means “bridge” in several Indian languages and its mission is to build bridges between Indian and Western cultures through the medium of theater. SETU selectively produces plays in English to project the ways of life in India in a global context. SETU is Celebrating 20th anniversary with this unique production Andha Yug this December in Watertown, MA. Tickets and further details are available at https://www.setu.us/
Dipali Trivedi: Dipali Trivedi is a MIT graduate and a serial Tech entrepreneur. She is currently working as Chief Technology Officer and Head of Product of Everyday Life, an insurTech platform that serves middle-income families with innovative insurance products and financial planning. She volunteers for various non-profit organizations in USA, India, and Africa including SETU and serve as board advisor. She is an influencer for D&I and advocate for Women in Tech to break glass ceiling and fight gender bias. She lives in Belmont with her husband and two kids. She loves traveling, fashion, fitness, and hiking.
Rohit Chandra: Rohit Chandra is a child psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Chelsea Healthcare Center, faculty at Harvard Medical School, and a member of the Boston-area acting troupe SETU. He judges for the India International Film Festival Boston and serves on the boards of Indian non-profits Volunteering for Seniors, Teen Mental Health Initiative (part of the Wholistic Health Alliance), and Young Indian Professionals of New England.
