,11

; ,4.Cf 'JWO
~ ] aut bY hypnotislll I onlY
56 SILENCE! THE COURT IS IN SESSION
~
, , Ii
, . nothing-you know----<>nlY
,1H, BENARE. If you like, I'll give you the names and add s--it was _
resses 1
"(
'' 1
,;I . twenty-five more people with whom I am alone at ti of ,notistn.-: ·· · . .
l. 1 1118' hi1" sU,] pO sit down! It's aJI Just a Joke,
'1 Holding a trial, are you? Suspicious, indeed y Illes.
ij
?i)
. ou don' 1 •• don't stoP• Lei the case go on. Well,
ii even understand the meaning of simple words!
/;I [KARNIK. signals to PONKSHE.] , ,.i,at do you think. eh? "
, 11
~•-
t·l '[be whole affair's waDJlUlg up nicely.I
!~ SUKHATME. Milord, since I consider that statement t
0 be
l~I
H too valuable, the prosecution requests that it be n t d .
. 0 e lQ
~ t,;,.e unagined ... Sukhalnle, don't stop; catrY
l~
i,; evidence. · ·
KAsHIKAR [picking his teeth.]
.
Which statement-'Youd~I, [encouraged by all this.] Mr Rokde, you may
even understand the meaning of words'?
witness-box. ·
• . ·. . • · "'· " ' , 'I
SUKHATME. No-'the names and addresses of twenty-five
a sigh of relief at this and comes out of th~
'j
people' -with whom she sometimes-
BENARE. A little while ago, Mr ... Mr ... Samant and I were
;togo s1raight into the inner room.] " _, _, _ .
1
ii 'i; amalit ,;,, ·
quite alone together. Go on, write his name down too.
'ngup, distrustful and confused.]
. - Me? iDid
, .•
you
Why don't you?
SAMANT [rising suddenly, in con.fusion.] No, no, this lady • • . • ·.. it.
behaved in a most_exemplary manner. We just talked of \\r\ ·;
magic shows-hypnotism and the_like-that's all- the,witness-box. SAMANT comes· and stands in
,,1fl SUKHATME. Milord. I request that the reference to hypnotism, 1 r: ( : ./.,:-:. ..: ~-' •
!
I
i
._i._: d\
,.j l f-
1!•1 being mo~~ important, sh~uld b.e ~oted in evidence.
p cLYou just have to answer-:·· I
1111!:1
KAsmKAR [picking his teeth.] But, Sukhatme, to what extent
I , j, _, • ! ) "
1estions l'ni asked. ·· ., , . · ;.' ' ·· t
_·is all this within the jurisdiction of the court?
How very clever you are! 1, · ,'. - • · •
i
KARNIK. Thi~ is j~s~ a rehears~}, in case. Just a rehearsal.
-~ There ·are no odds and ends to remember.
1
lllli
Pm~~HE. This is just a game. A ga~e: that's all! Which of
•· us is serio~s about th~ trial? It's
.
Sukhatrne! Do goon.Ml, ' ·is just a practice trial. The real one is tonight.
. '
[To KARNIK.]
. . . ,.
·
-:•·· { :
, indeed.-It's at night. I'm not at -all scared. I .
. H~
I say, this chap seems to be a good enough lawyer. :!t ~onfused, that's all. [to SUKHAnm.] I'll take
I it that his practice is so small? IUSt for practice.
Ill" .\
 il l
1.

59
11
,,: I!
1
I, !:
, , ·· . Act Two ,
!,,:11 58 SILENCE! THE COURT IS IN SESSION
,l ofcourse! But not all that WeJI. After aJI,
11
SUKHATME. All right. Usher Rokde! ou get t~ JcnoW a person in two hours or ·
[RoKDE is absent.] . q;iainted with her, She's a very nice lady. ·
SAMANT. I think he's gone there, inside. I'll do it myself. opinion. or .the tavo"!"ble iropreSsion
[At a bound, goes andfetches the dictionary. Placing his hand
.ed of her, cannot be regarded as reliable in
j: on it.] ("; • i" . r l • .. ,_
t;d: : -·,. -
I, Raghunath Bhikaji Samant, do hereby swear to tell the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. True
No, no, why not? Of course it can: My
. '
111!: be able to s~ up aperson's wo!1b' in.just
Ir enough for the trial, I mean. Of course, what's true for the
tri~l is quite false really. But I'm just taking the oath for from one's face! Now the.poor thin.g'can't .
I . ,. . ,._ ., . ' ; . . , ,
_practice. ,. •' ~"s grown too old. · : ' · ,.- · ·
;; ,·. -· ; ,··,. - . ·- ··- - . -,
,and takes up his position. BENARE is sitting
, , , -' -
. [His hand is still on the dictionary.]
You see, I don't want the sin of falsehood . eyes closed and her chin proppe~ up t,(ime
·1, : ·.: . . . . -· !-· .
[In apologetic tones.]
• :'\ ~~-- , -·· ·f. . \_ ; '._•. . ' ·'· . . •·. -)_·}>
I'm quite religious ... the oath's over. Now. have fallen asleep, Miss Benare, I mean.
[Enters the witness-box again.] .t~... - . . .,. :: ! . '~-,· { '. : _: ;. ,:~ , . : . ·:: _;:
•es shut.] I'm awake. I can never, never sleep
Goon. : ; ,; • : ·_.; l ·, • • j ' ·, ·, . (_ f ,' '·..
iant to. Never.
[This is to SUKHATME; then, to MRS KAsmKAR.] ' (:' ' :.~.--~ .· !1, '. '.~ ....-:. •.i' ~: ' •. ;_,: ' ; ; !
111i •.
t have that problem. I .can sleep any time I
, · You see? I'm not frightened. I just get confused because
1.'
t , • • • ·' ;• I , : , , • ,; i
I'm new to all this. [to SUKHAtME.] Well, you may go on. , ;_; ~ -.: l ·. ~·, :--,}I 1 1....•
SUKHATME. Name--'--Occupation-that's all dealt with. J.-' .:. ' -:.· .1,)'. : 7 ';\ ,: .: . . t, ~ ' / • ', . :· -~ '.
SAMANT. No. Do you want to ask all that? Then go ahead. :g~? ·.. , , , . ..-\ ·,' ,,,_ ·,, .'• !
SUKHATME. No. Now, Mr- :sJ;~ping habits, ~re qu_i~e d.i~e~ent. I
SAMANT [proudly.] Samant. Sometimes people forget my asleep, it happens in a flash. Otherwise, I "" ' , . . . ., I ,,. ' ., f I' >• .._ .. ,
surname. That's why I have to tell it. . qurs at a stretch: .
• - •' • a • ' .: • , . l ..,.J : '
SUKHATME. ·It's all right. Mr Samant, do you know the ig(d_ng his teeth and ews.] Put ~ome com oil
, prisoner, Miss Benare? · Sukhatine, ~drub -it well i~. That's ·what
wer important social problem there may be,
 61
60 SILENCE! THE COlJRt IS Act Two .
IN SESSION . . ..
What more do you
. ·magmary.
com oil gives me peaceful sleep B . ..;.,,e l·tself 1s 1 . .· ·
· as1caUy if 'fbe c,u.. . that's what it is.
calm, your brain's bound to be so t B ' Your sleep• · ; all i01agmal1;' ···
00. Ut if S
not calm, how on earth will social p bl Your brain's
ant? Its sed is real! ' .
fl "'"1Y the accu , N rm in a mess.
ro ems b o~· v~ .· HJKAR,] There! ow .
Most important things, your brain d e solved?
. . an Your d' [to MRS 1W . ,
Both of them! . . igestion.
·stJIOIAT)Ol.] . I reached Professor Damle s
SAMANT- Yes. [to SUKHATME.] Let's get th . · (TO . After half an hour,
. h ose questions over All right. ?. . .
wit . . . 1'.11. What next. .. .:
, SUKHATME [picking up the thread withfresh JOO . you tell us that.
: , . . energy.]Mr-- SolllAT?dE· . I tell you?
SAMANT. Samant. ,,. . . .••• 1'11'. How can .
SAJIU". . · · ·11? ·
Then who w1 . . r
SUKHATME. Mr Rokde saw the accused-Miss .Ben . StJIOIATME· . ·1•11 have to. But it's bard. The pnsone
. . . are-m That's true.
Profess.or Damle's roo,i_n in the evening when it was quite SA}tfANT• am1 Room ... evening•··
dark. and Professor D e.
.' . It was quite dark. · · .
SAMANT. That's right ... f~pIB Half an hour after that, In other words, when _it
SUKHATME. On that occasion, there was no third person there ~ -·• .. dark Through~ut the college grounds, complete
was very ·
with Professor Damle and the accused. I • • • ~. •

. silence .. . •. • . . .-. ?
SAMA.NT. Corr~ct. But ~~w, do ask me something.
[sudde,nly.] Go on, ask me-so I reached there, eh.
SUKHATME. That's just what I am going to do. Half an hour I re~cbed there and-and what happened was--.the door
after that, you reached there. :
. . ' ' (

was locked!
SAMANT. Where?No, no! Why, that room's inBombay!And
I SUKHATME. The door was locked! .
I I was in this village. Hardly! It's silly-I don't know your SAMANT. Yes. The door was locked. Not from outside. From
!I
Ii Professor Damle from Adam. How could I get to his ~id~. And I banged on the door. No, that's wrong. I rang
·room? Isn't that right? What are you up.to? the bell. The door opened. An unknown man stood before
S~TME. You reached there. . me. Guess who it ~as. P;ofessor Damle! I was seeing him
• ,,l - , , ·' ' '

I I SAMANT. You've got it all mixed up, counsel... king Jorthefirsttime. So he'd be unknown to me, wouldn't he?
SUKHATME. Mr Samant, for the sake of the trial, we're ta ·poNKs!:ffi. Br~~o, Sama~t!
some things for granted.
i
l'
 62 63
SILENCE! THE C~URT IS IN
SESSION Act Two '
MRs KAsmKAi [to KARNiK.].Oh •. h, , . . • .Why? Because the crying ·was soft. Th~t is~
beautifully! ·· ·, .· ' · ' ,, ,
' e s giving h'is evide
Y· . hy would anyone cry secretively
. . ,. nee etive. Now, w .
SAMANT [gaining confide~ce.] Damle ? Thtnking over all this, I stood where I
h . .. , ' , , was before m house. . . . . .,
e saw me, he said with an annoyed , . . e. When ; 1 hea~d some words. · ' · ·- · ·
· Wh express 10 , en, . ,.. :
om do you want?' . n, 'les?
... ' r: l • i • . Some words? ' · ' · ·
PONKSHE [to KARN11<.] He'~ des 'b• . . - .
en ing Damle to the lifi ' poNKSHE· Who spoke? ; · ; . ,
SAMANT. I answered, 'Professor Damle' H . e. ' .t tut' You're not supposed to ask> This
· • e said 'H , t-tu - . .
at home.' And he slammed the ·ciao ..h ' e s not 'the counsel~will ask me. ,._
. ,,. ,. . rs ut. For a second
stood there stunned. I began to think h '1 Who spoke? ·-· : ·· ·" ·,.- ,
s ould I go home , _ ,

or press the bell once more. Because I had .

1

. . . . . , . ,. . , . an important . m.an', of course. The..one. inside.

e,wo ,
errand. · .. · '· G • -·" '-· • ., • • . ,_ . : , , .

Good heavens! Tell us, do tell us, who was

i
I. SUKHATME. Whatf '''; ":· ... ·, · 1 : · " ' ' ' ' '·
•
''_'·•;
• - • i

i1 l
/I SAMANT. What?-
. Well, let's say-'::..'.s6m~thing. Let's SU 0 ~nsciously at BENARE.] '
PP se
o:
I
• • , • • , , .•• , ., •• _
1
- that I wanted to arz:ange a lecture by Professor Dam!e. He will ask me-the counsel will. Not you.
He does lecture, doesn't he? I only ask, ·b~cause he is a . I'm asltjng. Tell us, quic~, Mr S_a~ant. What
Professor-so he must lecture at times. So I stood there words you heard? Don't waste time. · ·
t - - ' : 0

wondering how I could go back' without arranging the

•• C • '

' . ' . • , . .· ' ..•. ': I

'ck~Mr Samant...Lbe quick! ., J · •• · •'

.. lecture: At that mome~t, .I h~ard a ·vague sound from the e words were-shall I tell it all?
room. Of someone crying. , . Whatever you can remember~but tell us! ·
1
MRs KAsHIKAR. Crying? ··· ·· - •· • ·• ' :
rri~dly looking ~ta book'in his hd~d.] 'If you
Yes. An indistinct'so~nd of crying. It was a woman.
. '\ ' . '

SAMANT. me~ this condition, where shall I go?'

SUKHATME [excitedly.] Yes? · ·: '· · · ,: .r:;·• rs. tense:] •:-. ,:~ · ,, ,: '-
SAMANT. For a moment he stood where he was. 'He' means . Is that really what she said? ' .
··:, ~e. He~I m·ean I~ciuldn;t ~derst~nd who was cry~ng. ow can I tell you?' '. ' '· '' · ;
1

' . ~You will

ask· m~' why i did~'i thinl{ it'was some·female [snapping at him.] Then who else on earth can?
_ member of Professor Damle ,s family.
' ·· • ·
Well, from the way o,'no!
.. , I'm telling you th~ Professor's answer. .His
.
the woman was crymg, . ' t seem to be a member
she d1dn
 I
l I
!
64 SILENCE! THE COURT IS IN SE
SSION Act Two
65 ·

I SUKHATME. Oh, I see.

. '

f course not. . .: '

:ll SAMANT'. 'Where you should go is entire! · ~- 0 de up! It's a he. ,
"i . y Your Prob!
I feel great sympathy for you. But I can d . . enq S _,.v.a. It's all ma_t . n'ght' . .
1 · _ . o nothin 1 ]3BI""'- 'fhat's qui e . . . . '
prot~ct my reputation.' At that, she said , h ,g. illUst .••1111'. 11· g barefaced hes.
. ' t at s au S _
can talk about, your reputation? How he rtl You ,.,It l O
Qtfl\l~• .
·
?
a ess You v~: What else. · •- · . ]
He replied, 'Nature is heartless.' are!' s~· . . k hidden behind him. and shows it.
KAsHIKAR [picking his ear fast and furiously] 1 tthe boo h' I
.. . see, I see (Brings ou rything I'm saying is out oft 1s. .
SUKHATME [staggered] Amazing-:-amazing! · you see, eve .fy•ng laugh ... What happened
MrSamant,atem 1 .•. - ' .
SAMANT. 'If you abandon me, I shall have no ch . b s~ure.'. -. a ' ' •

o1ce ut to
take my life.',~Then do that. I also have no choice. If You after that? ys one.word after this, I- · .I'll go away!
m.iAREifanyonesa
B-r,;:,.,. . ·- . . ,• .-· _.,· . .
. , kill yourself, I shall be in torment.' .
SUKHATME. Simply thrilling!
· nre: Mr Samant .. ~, . . . . . .·
S~ · , h ~11 this! I'll smash it all to b1ts-mto
BENARE· I ll smas up . -. ! . , . . . "
SAMANT. 'But this threat will not make me budge an inch
from my , considered course of action,' -he said. She Mas~:
little bits! . , . . . ·· .
But my dear Benare, as your conscience lS
replied, 'Bear it in mind that you will not escape the guilt cl~,\ vby ar~
you flying into such a violent rage? -
of murdering two'-:--:-two?---:-I'm wrong-no, I'm right .... BENARE·. Yo~;vtta1ldel1berately ganged up on ~e! Y_ou'~e
'Two living beings.,', And then there came a terrifying plotted against me! . _
laugh. .,. SAMANT. No:no, dear madam, really it's nothing like that! .
BENARE [with sudden passion.] That's enough! SUICHATMB. Mr· Sam~nt, . ~nswer.'· Professor Damle _gave
I c ,
KAsHIK!Jl [banging his gavel.] Order, order! Kte~fying laugh. Then what did the unknown woman
BENARE. It's all a lie! A complete lie! 'inside the r~om say? .
PONKSHE. Of course it is. So? L
. &~ · [hurriedly consulting his book.] Wait, I'll find the
KARNIK. Even if it is a lie, it's an effective one! page and let you know.
MRs KAsmKAR. Do go on, Samant. , · _ IBBNARB. ·Samant, if you say one word more-I'll-just-
BENARE. No! Stop all this!, Stop it! ~ou'Wait . 1· • , • ·• - . · · .· · •

SAMANT [in con.fusion.] But what's the matter? . S~ ~ -[in a~· appropriate!; soft and threate~ing ~o~e.]
·
BENARE. This has got to stop! Not a word of it· is· true ·
1
Mrsamant ::.
 67
66 Act Two
SILENCE! THE COURT IS
h we must
hts alone are not enoug '
IN SESSION
.
SAMANT. It's quite a problem. I just can't fl ;\Ild if thoug
11f8· h Karnik?
SUKHATME [to KASHIKAR.] Milord th nd the Page, S~ _JC! Action! E ' .
, e occurren deeu->·
been related, speaks so vividly fi . ce as in. 1J$O Action! • ·
. oritself that ther . ' 41 ~res.
any need to ~dd anything over a d b . eis hard!
n a ove it Th·1 ) --~- ].tight! 1: are not enough. We must all get
statement should be noted d · s enr po~~. 11ere, fee mgs
.. . , . -, . , . own as part of o . tre stJ1Clllt weinustact. . :. . . ?
against t~e a~cused. · ·· . . : ur ev1denee
, iogetltef• . . But whatever' s happened, really.
~IIlKAR. Requestianted. _·.:. · · .. ·_ . t' What could have happened,
I{eep qu~e . . - .
BENARE. Note it down. ·Note everyt
· h'
- - · mg downt J ? What's your guess?
down note after note! · · US! lake . sukhatllle[. ifhe has a fair idea.] That is the mystery!
" .
S ~ QSl . ·.
[Her eyes are-;~ddenlyfulfof te~rs. Her ·v _. . tands there dismayed.] , • ·, . - , , ·- ·
. . . .. ozce zs choked Sh
[SA?,fANT s ' · I
_zs ag~t~t~{.!he_~, with tearful defiance.] · e And think we know the answer to this mystery• .
1
What can you do t~·me? Just try{ .·
-u •·.
[Te~rf fi,ow f:eel1,fr~": her eyes. Exits into the wings.] P ~ •~,-
[Deeper _s!lenc~.. f~ceptJ.~r.S~r~_e~~ry?ne 's expression &9~ ·:, ...·:1
_ch~n?es: A peculiar
- .
and. cautfo~s
... .
~xcit~~ent .bre~ks out on
. ,_, ., ' . '
~ • i) '.
each face.] ~- · · · · · · · ·
.; •,

~-
; . {
.. _,
·: "- (. "..a• . r_i -
.. /_>;·:· "'. ! : . - , :

SAMANr : [sympathetically.] Dear, oh dear! Whatever's [BBNARBcomes ofthe inner room and stands in the doorway.]
..~app~ned.so s~ddenly to th~ ·l~dy? · . SumA.n.m [unconscious ·,. of this.] Well, children, _the
l<Mim~ [picki~i hi~ - ~a~.-] It;-s. become quite
... • .,_ ·-
\n ,.
,1,_ -, .
·~ ion's obvious. There's some substance in what Mr
unexpectedly enjoyable-the whole fabric of society is ~ t sfli.d. Even though it came from a book. It holds
· being ;oiled these days; Sukhatme: Nothing is undefiled ~! .' . ; :'. ." -: : : . . . . ' ' ' 'i ; -·

any more. , . ,i. . _ Mt~

D
: Do you m~an that
-
Miss Ben~e and P~ofessor
SUKHATME. That's why thoughtful peopie like us, Mr
Kashikar, should consider these matters seriously and · Yes. Beyond; a shad~; ,o f doubt! ~;~er~'s no
n about it. :
. responsibly. This should not be taken lightly: -•·
· Good gracious!
MRs KAsHIKAR. You're absolutely right! . ;'
w very daring.] I knew it all along!
 68 SILENCE! THE COlJRT IS 69
IN SEss10N Act Two h.nk
SUKHATME. Ssh! - .c . •
. ]It 1
h concentration.
[Seeing BENARE in the doorway, a//fi . · - . - his ears wit the case should
a11 silent l'h _ [cleaning
. .•..,~tances,
Mr Sukhatrne,
at her. She comes in purposefully and . · eya11 . ~ - , c~c.,....., · l
purse. She goes towards the other d Picks upher hag ~!
1
tb31 iJJ tbe_. . : . n with a complete y
. oor and Unb o.tilllle· . in legal fashzo ,
are watch mg. The door does not oip S 01ts it. i, eo [bowzng . . ,· . d
. en. he Pu// ., _.-A.'J1dB ] .. 1 t the accuse
will not open. She starts tugging at it ha d l . sat it,1 Sv...--
e e;cci .
·1ernent. . •·' ' • ] Milord, e
- ..
1
/eammg. . ,
. r . t IS locke
outside. She bangs on it with vehemence A d dfo~ JPilord. [his eyes g th•-~ witne~s-box. . '.
· · n loud yes, be suiu-
....,mooed to .. '
is locked A peculiar joy begins to show on er.B~i herself .
but SAMANT ,s.] . . everyone's ff(;. T,

SAMANT. ·There! It's happened! The bolt's slipj)ed

outside. That's always the trouble with this doo s~
r.
[Gets up and goes forward. Struggles with the door.]
If you don't pull the bolt properly to one side when Y~
·' · come in, and then you c!ose the door from inside, you\i
had it! The door's locked from outside. It's always If;
. . . '. .. -:
case. Try as you will, it just won't open. And what's mo~ \ ·./

the offices are closed. So there won't be anyone ou~i~ I I 'f

just now:•\ j

[He bangs 0 ~ the door again and again.] ..

It's .no use. [to Miss BENARE, who is by him.] Madil l\
. 'when you pulled th~ bolt you did it the wrong way. Yoi
should have pulled it back fully.
II ·/
i I
..
[He 'tries giving the .door
. . another thump. It 's no use. Th~
,,11 coming and standing at one side.]
:1
· -It's locked! ' · ·. · h b cktot!e
!' b h
[BENA.RE is still standing '.J'. t e cl,
O or.
with
.
er a .
others.]
i,· ..
 Acl'l'
[The sa,ne
. scene z:,
lilltt . .. , · Act Three , ·
· .eve · 71
Were in at th nzng. The
e ena of Act l' Cast in th -dJ Mr Samant, Mrs Kashikar, Ponkshe, Karnik,
. . \Vo.] e Positi% S~IJWII'• , .

KA.sarll' A ..... r_ . · 1hey -.yourselves there exactly as you should. _ ·,, .• ,_ -

' . IPZCkin h· · ·
W. . g zs ear ] p .
. [lie straig. htens up' closes his eyes and meditates for a while.
itness-box E . . . . ·.. risoner tr Then. slapping himself piously on the face, he raises his
[B · nter It, i.1v11ss
K· · ,
· iss Benare
ENAR.Estands h . ·., Benare. · ,enterth l,ands to his forehead in prayer twice or thrice.] -· , .
w ere sh . e
Incredible! Su h. e zs.] - My father taught me the habit, Kashikar, of praying to om:
- . c Insolence.
the accused to the w·t In court! DsherR..okd
family god at_ the beginning of any new enterprise. How
RoKDE [/ri I n~ss-box.. e, conduct pure it makes one feel! The mind takes on new strength __
ghtened, trembZ- .
[B · zng a lzttle]. iK [He takes one or two steps in the manner of a wrestler who
ENAR.E stands still.] iv1e?
has gained new strength.] · , ; · : ,. , : '. ·., ,
MRs KA.smKAR w. , - Good! Now to business'. Let the accused take the oath. ::
. ait, I 11 take her Wh
[She starts pulling BEN · Ydo You need him? [ROKDB comes and stands in front of BENARE with the
ARE alongforcibly.]
Come on, now' Benare. dictionary. BENARE is silent. Like a statue.] .

-[She puts BENARE in the witness-box. BENARE' fi · KAsHIKAR [adjusting his cap.] Prisoner Miss Benare, take
· the oath! ·
the terror of a trapped animal.]
S ace reveals
[BBNARBissilent.] : ;,, _,·;;; . -_·; . ··: . ,_. , ,, ,
SUKHATME [looking at BENARE as he puts on his gown
SAWl?,ii,[soflly.] Why not get it over with, Miss Benare? It's
ceremoniously.]
allagame. , .,,·.· "· ,-. 3 -,_.". _.-,
Milord, in consideration of the grave aspect which the case lB~u silent.] .':· ; , i ., . . . ,'

before us has assumed, it is my humble submission that if MR§~ [coming forward.] Give it to ~e, I'll~~~
yo~ lordship.himself were to wear your gown henceforth, her take the oath; just wait. : ' .- " _ .
[T'aNiJtii • • . .
it would appea( more decorous. B g'ff1fe d,ctionaryJrom ROKDE ] ·
. -... ·:· . . . .
.
KASHIKAR. Exactly. Rokde, give me my gown. ..i, JJ~ sa~, 'I hereby swear to tell the truth, the whole
~~!,11.f311.<f nothing but the truth.' ··
[He puts on the black gown that Ro~E unIJJacks and hanw
[IJ iilent.] '·•· . :;;!• · •
.
to him. After . and d'igm•ty increases.]
that, his gravity This is the limit. :,.:: <!; '
 TTHI
il i-'!irl
;I,i,l ')!~. .~I
I ., 72 73
!I:. \ SILENCE! THE COURT IS IN SESSION Act Three
! ·1' i 'Thank you,
' I MRs KAsHIKAR [giving the dictionary to R_ .,,,. ] . What do you mean,
il .i1: 0 Wait. , h
'WE, let• I• rf .c;f!J{V\R· ' Th ccused has not yet told you er age.
:I, she's taken the oath. Her hand was on the di . s
r,.;- hikar? ea 1
. on, ask her what you want, Sukhatrne. C1IOoary· WS J(aS . fully. Prisoner Benare, your age.
·sten1ng care
I':~
1was li
'l
KAsinKAR'. Prisoner B<Ilare, the court hereby~.. y,, · wKAR· But I- ·
Henceforth there must on no account be any cond MJtS I().S . t the custom of any court to accept
.~ It 1s no . .
1:I · Uct~ J(>.Sffll(AR· when the accused is questioned.
. constitutes contempt of court. Go ahead, Sukhatmei one else's answer
KARNIK. F.rre away .' . . · some . . t' Prisoner at the bar! Answer! your answer
Don't 10terruP · . .
SUKHATME [walking around in front o/BENAREawh·I
_ I e, lli1Q please!
suddenly, pointing a finger.] -' ,,
[BENARE is silent.] _
Your name is Leela Damle. . The fact is-it isn't t~ought-courteous-:-to ask a
s ~. . . .;,,.,,: . -
SAMANT . [at once.] No-no-Be-na-re. Damle is 11iJ lady her age . . . . . . ..
Professor.·. ·. .,· IWHIKAR: This is intol~rable _ru?ei:iess!_No ~"'.er to any
, '

. MRs KASHIKAR. Do listen, Samant. Let her answer. · questi~~,! Is·this a ofla~, or ~h~t is it? _-, _
. - ' '• • l • • ' ~• . - •

SUKHATME. Miss Leela Benare- , [Bangs the table for _effect.] _ ,

1 1
1. !,H [She tries not to listen to or look at him.] PoNKSHE. Exactly. This is contempt _of_~ourt! _
·~ n:·-1
Jil~
,,lr:], SUKHATME. Please tell the court your age. ·., 'l ,. KAsHIKAR. , We , will_have to take steps to deal with th~
' '! t
[He has struck an attitude, ,confident that she wj/l not tellu. , prisoner's refusal to answer. This is a matter of the court's
1~ f
H;:~
:I
l ,,. BENARE is silent.] dignity. The accused will be granted ten seconds to answer.
I
I KAsHIKAR. Prisoner Benare, it is your .responsibility to [Holdinghiswatchinfrontofhim.] ~" ;,. , , '. .· - ~,
,· answer any question put to you as a witness. , No nonsense, please. _ , , ., .. , -, : '.'.,.:
[Pausing a little.] , .. : ,, . · ·, SUKHATME [in a_melodramatic manner, rat the end of the
• . ·1·· ? Answer ilie tenth second.] .. . · ,,, : ·t ·, >, i
Pnsoner Benare, what are you wa1 mg 1or.
question'
•• '. • . ,..
. , ,.. ,, ·, , " , ,: · ,, . .. ., . , ", 1· , ,. . · ? ICJll . , Milo rd•-·I withdraw the que~tion. The accused by her
MRs KAsHIKAR. Why should she have t~ tell,her,age. silence
. .' has as good as answered me. '
· . . mW-
guess it. Say ... it's over thirty-two. Ayear . ~ ~_. -~ll righ~. She's ~ot les~ than thirty~four: I'll give
. . it to you
lil w .f ' . . . . . , - .' ,
perhaps, but not less. Just look at her face! . r · . , - . . -~ mg. What I .say lS, our society should
ev1ve the old . . . . . ,, .. ..
SUKHArME. Thank you, Mrs Kashikar. , custom of child mamage. Marry off the
,,
(I i"
I 11(
 !IJ
i! ~,i I

'f l
I\ I
. 74
} SILENCE! THE COlJRt IS ,, 75
I 1
"SEss10N Act Three
ljil; girls before puberty. All this promiscu·ty .
1i!1
' I
. °llle to,
full stop. If anyone has ruined our so I. W11lc Next witness.
11

and Dhondo Keshav Karve. That's m ; ciety It's Agarkat• ~ - Mrs I{ashikar. ·
! .i11 S~'[1dll• · I(ASHJKAR eagerly enters the witness-box,
t Sukhatme, my frank opinion. Y 1rank 0P..n10~
1
_,_ ·1_, 'I oTlce, MRS • ,, und herfussz·ty as she goes. ]
'.
Li,,! ~I• SUKHATME [with a lawyerlike bow.] yes, tnilord. [/J
. her sari, 0
II !'Ii 111cking [to SlJKHATME.] Look. That's eagerness for you!
:,I11·i1
, I
[ROKDE has meanwhile hastily written down KA$
l lt~ sentence in his notebook. BENARE is sileni . h 111¼.'s ~hardly called her, and there she is!
·box.] . . · in t e Witness· you"ve
., • .utT(AR You needn't be like that!
1\:l:,1· MJlS l\i"''....--. .
rU
i~r l [Going behind BENARE, suddenly.] Miss Benare. [Then, talking like a stage witness.] .·
~\ 11i [She starts jerking away from him.] have already taken the oath. Benare and !-;-let's say, .we
H:1 1
Can you tell the court how y~u came to stay 'unmarried took it tog~tber. And of course I'll tell the truth. Who's
. to such a mature-:such an adva~ced-age? [w~its; then.] scared? . ;·:
· Let me frame my question somewhat differently. How SlJI{l!ATME.
Very well. Mrs Kashikar, can you give. me
many chances of marriage have you had so far in Your . some information, please? How did Miss .Benare remain
t life? And how did you miss them? Tell the court. unmarried till such a late age? .
, il 1
,11,! KASHIKAR. Answer him!
•'! ii( ! MRs KAsmKAR. That's easy! Because she didn't get married,
•ti''
li111,1
if'' [Takes out his watch and holds it in front of him. She is of course. . .:
;i ( silent.] ' SUKHATME. That's it. But, Mrs Kashikar, at the age of thirty-
··· This is really too much! two-- ,:,,:
MRS KASHIKAR. It seems she's decided not to behave herself KAsHncAR [interrupting.] Thirty-four--,-count it as thirty-
and answer properly! . four! ,- ,r .:-.1 .. ..
[BENARE is silent.] SUKHATME. How is it that, till the age of thirty-four, an
SUKHATME. Milord, I close the examination of the accused ·educated, well-brought-up girl- . ··.
, for the time being. It could be resumed at the appropriate MRsKAsmKAR. Girl? You mean 'woman'! If you call her a
time. girl-;-you'd better _call me young lady. _:· ·, ·. .
[BENARE leaves. the witness-b~~ ~nd goes to the door. It is SUKHATME. All right. Let's call her a woman then. But, why
.'z~cked. PoNK~HE blocks the way, so,~he turns aside. By then, isn't she married? Can you explain that? · , :i < .,; :
'•, ·• I I
M~ KASH!~ .·!"~aught hold ofher, .and leads her 10 the MRS KAsHii<AR. Damn the explanation!·Any~ne who really
dock.] · · · wants to, can get married iri a flash! ~
. ••.::. '.- ~· . )
 r
ji11I

77
76
SILENCE! THE COlJRt IS IN SESSION Act Three
l
I
I bout the others. Have you any proof
j SUKHATME. You mean that Miss Benare didn't"·
'J1dl! forget a .
.\1I MRs KAsHiKAR. What else?·That's what happens"ant
th to...._ s# .. aenare is concerned? Any proof? Tell me if
when you get everythmg .
. without marrying. They . Ys wbere ~1ss
I:
)i,; ,l..I
Ii . JUstwant ubave. What. better proof? Just look at the way she
yo~-
I ,;,: comfort. They_ couldn:t care les'_'bout "'i'Onsibili~ 1<
1 .~ M!lS don't like to say anything since she's one of
i
me tell you-m my time, even 1f a girl was snub
·nosed t,ehaves. I
sallow, hunchbitcked, or anything whatever, she couldstH; US· Should therebe no limit to how freely a woman can
get married! It's the sly new fashion of women earning t,ehave with a man? An unmarried woman! No matter
that makes everything go wrong. That's how promiscuj~ )loW well she knows him! -Look how loudly she laughs!
, . has-spread throughout our society.
}low she sings, dances, cracks jokes! And wandering
[ROKDE is jotting it down. To ROKDE.] Finished Writing? alone with bow many men, day in and day out!
[To SUK.HATME.]
sUJCHATME [disappointed at the proof.] Mrs Kashikar, at
.·~ ' Go on. Ask me more . .
111'.·1 the most one can say all these show how free she is.,
SUKHATME. y OU said that this is what happ 'f
'111~··
I.J . . ens ' you get MRS KAsHIKAR- Free! Free! she's free all , right-in
'•1· 1~ everything without marrying.
1 ~n1
everything! I shouldn't say it. But since it's come up in
{~A.I' MRS KASHIKAR. Yes, I did. .
··1 court, I will. Just hold this a minute.
SUKHATME. What do you mean by 'everything'? Give mean
It [She puts her knitting into SUKHATME 's hands.] ,. _
· instance .. ' , ·' ·
Why must she have Professor
· Damle, and Dam!ea1one to
MRS KASHIKAR. Well, really! [she looks embarrassed.]
see her home after a performance? Tell me that' :_ '
KAsHIKAR uiicking his ear.] Come on, don't pretend to be
[BENARI! is deliberately silent.] ·, ·
~ .· shy, at yo.ur age. Just answer his question. You've grown
i:i l
SUKHATME [brightenin u ] I .
•, old, but you haven't grown any wiser! Professor Darn! g IJJ. see-so Miss Benare needs
· 1l11r:
1 [PoNKsHE and iu:;:ee he~ home after a performance?
MRs KAsHIKAR. My age has nothing to do with it!
KASHIKAR. Answer him! . MRs are signalling to each other.]
MRs KAsmKAR. 'Everything' means-everything in this life. . . What else? Once w
it was just last S e-my husband and I-
SUKHATME. Don't you feel that to say this about the accuseo ll',--
'""3ttlKAR N .
eptember-September, wasn't it d'ear?
· opromf . •
might be unjust? ·· · . h want! -. . p mg the witness! You say what you
too many sue
MRS KAsHIKAR. I don't think so. We see
examples.

ill1111p
 Act Three 79
om:n saia Ro KDE [weakly.] Yes .. . no . ..
MJtS I(f.SJ-IJ'lCA.R• Yes, . it was September .
SAMANT [to KAR.NIK.] No, no, she was alone with me a little
•Corne, we'll drop you,' since she was to go home alone.
while ago, and .. .
· But she very slyly went off with Damle. We looked for
[KAR.NIK silences him.]
. her, but she'd vanished! SUKHATME. Mrs Kashikar, you may step down. Your
slJI(llATME [in a 1awyer 's voice, sounding pleased.] Peculiar!
evidence is complete. Milord, I submit that Rokde be
MRS I(J.SJ-IIKAll· Just a while back, she was protesting, 'It's a
called once more to give evidence.
· lie! It's persecution!' Now how she's struck dumb? That [ROKDE cringes where he is. SUKHATME strolls over to stand
shows you can't suppress the truth. Give me that wool. near BENARE. In confidential tones.]
slJKHATME [handing over the wool and needles to '.ss Benare, the game's really warmed up, hasn't it?
MRS I(}.sJIJI(AR-] ·
Mrs Kashikari Professor Damle •is a family man. E hesitantly goes to the witness-box without looking
MRS KAsHIKA.R-'. Yes. He has five children. IARE.]
,Then how do you know Miss Benare doesn't
SlJKHATME- KAsHIKAR [as he passes.] Balu, speak the truth! Don't
· _seek his company ·innocently, as ·a responsible elder ..be afraid.
•'-•
.T ME [going towards the witness-box.] Mr Rokde-
person?
MRs KAsJ-IIKAll• .Then . do you mean to say that we-mY ·outve already taken the oath. Well, Mr Rokde, in the
husband and I-are just·vagabonds? And Damle maybe lQI"Se of her evidence, Mrs Kashikar has made a most
·sturbing statement about you and the accused.
an older man, but what about Balu?
begins to shake his head]
[Ro KDE gives a great start.] , ::HIKAR'. Balu! Didn't you tell me so?
SUKHATME [growins--alert.] What about hi~, Mrs I(ashikar?
._ Mr Rokde, whatever happened after the
What about Rokde? . ance _ that night, good or . bad, pleasant or
[BENA.RE'S expression ·is tense.] ft 0other ant, tell it all to the court. That is your duty. The
MRS KAsmKAR. ,That's what I'm telling you..A too
er aIn (he ce ended. What happened then?
h
performance, .Benare made overtures to ttll · ly.] I - I -
· dark. It was he who told· me.
. Didn' t you, Baiu?
d s¢11'ri~
' . -After the performance all of us left the hall.
[l<ARNIK excepted, there is commotion all aroun ·
is radiant.]
 ;i , ,'
i
. '
ii
•· j /
;I 80
,, 81
! SILENCE! TfIE Co
Tc• --
---~
lJJlr IS r,... S"
. ,, "SS!o Act Three'
I<. And only these two ·re . N
MRs K'.AsJ.Jnr. - T . llla1ned behi .
I'll do soJiletWng to you. 'fhat'S
·, - ~ . hen It seems h nd. If yoll tell anyone, . . . .
· I· mean· - , s e took h1·s h
'
·:.
~- and io~s- 'd to me, j\1llla· . . . .
. ~IaU's, bBt she sill d ? . .
PoNKsHE. Gosh! · · • ,,... WfieD did this 1,appeo, Mr Rok e. . . _ .'.
., S~ ·gh ~"'ys ago when wO bad our shoW at Dorob1vlt.
SDKIIA- TME. And then? What did h · ·.. ·
.· . s e do the ll t~
J!O ,.. jl{ilord this' ,neans that the accused
. coIDfiUtted
.
more did she do? What next? n, l\0kde? What S ...-,go
. ' - b. 1·ik R ' kd h
in a lonely spot, on a oy ,· e . o. e,. wuc
MRs KASHIKAR. I'U tell you! t%f1,'
all
,.,.,. tbJl!l ber.-.-.Jn>ost like her younger brother. Not
No/you Won't Let him tell it. Do ' .
only thal, but she (hreatened him with consequences if the
the time! -. : .. :. n t interrupt~/
,natter~Cto light She tried to cove'r up her silrlitl deed!
SVKHATME.·Yes, Mr Rokde, tell it bravely don't b . fr . r,IJSK,S!DKAR- But the ~th will be out · · ·. · ·•. ·'
· - ' ea aid.
KAsHIKAR. Afraid? Why should he be? There's some o, si,,,,mffl. So Ro~ the accuS~d tbtea~ed to harin yo~
\,·and order here; isn't there? •·
S!)IJIOhOW, ":'."" ~ext? What happened th01l'? .\
[ROKDE takes stock of the situation. Then, realizing he has RoKDB [unconsciously raising ·one .hand to h. . ' . J-
' .
1siappedber! , rs cheek.]
. enough protection.against BENARE, he plucks up courage.]
ROKDE [bravery.] She held my-my hand. PoNKSHa'What? : . . . ..! . ..
•. ': . • ' . . . '.• ·'" "
i
i
SUKHATME.· Yes. ·, .. , 7.':' . :_.Ji _; KARNJK
R . . How' melodramatic' .... ,.,. . c:, , ... :·.· .' .. , .. . . .'
ROKDE. -So, then-
· So then I said-'This isn't proper. It's OKDB. Yes-Isai'd ' ,.' ·, . tak
. . ,.. . · . •.· . - .' . '
· , Whatdoy
not proper!-
. I~I don't like this at·aJ1_:_it doesn't become you like! I won't sta . o~ .. e me for? Do.what~v .
· hikar· . Y qu.1et.·about th'lS.., Th ,' ". ' . . . ': .er ·.
you., That's-that's' what I.said! ' ' ,,.:,r.,'/
Mrs Kas . :. yes, that'S \Vb · • ,·\, , .at 8. why I told.
"""1tllMK. G _.. ····· .•· .-. y. · · '' ' ., ,, . i •
·. . . ·-_oon,tellh - _,,.·,·~··· ., ' ·-• ·. ·. .. ·-·. . • . , .•
SUKHATME. And then? r \." •:,: . 'd 'Don't anythin ,,•.',
., · .
.
::. er everythin- ."
. g to me! · · " .' • , ._,g, Rokde· d 0 , ··
RO KDE. I freed my hand. She moved away, She sal ' RoKDa .... ~zn.3.•
-··u1Stinctl
··:·. •· · _]
·. . "'
. .. ~.•... , ·.. t tell
':·,.:; .. ' ·'·.,'·•.!. n.''-''·•i
Ji tell anyone what happened.'
qiou~ · ·,., ·., .:, ?'· · 1:m so .,·"'·'·'· -•~·-"··, ··: ,
. 'j BENARE. That's a lie! , ,, -~ · · thought -.~·,, ny,
..,,wr..-."!-1 · · Anna
· · I was ".·, . )_· .,," ·· -~
sI<ashikar
... ·... ' ., ' m any c··· .. ·•.~; . · , ., : . wrong ··1
..,,.. 'h . , . . ase you'd. , .. ' .
KAsHIKAR [banging the gavel.] Order! The accused is sternly Sui//,(
Mr . · . ere, I · · • •. , find · · ' ·:
; ' •.·.· ·-nm·.Whath ' .. mean-so · · I- . . . . out-from .. , ··
reprimanded for disturbing the proceedings of the court. .~ .'2 . appenedne~t R:e: •,::·, ', ··:. •
' 1·
·!·.. . J
DKD11,; .,,,....-th ·
·~;..,•,; ennothin·'•· • ·,,·, okde?
. .- What· · · ·· ··''
,,i1
Continue, Rokde, continue: · ' · · g Th · , ·
i :, • • ' • •. •a •
. - at's. .. all. · Can
• .· ·.··. . J .gnext?
.·o? , .·
' '1 ; .. ·. .
;I ' ,··· ', ~.:'. 1 1:{._,', "-''' · •,:
I
ffl."-r.. ::~:
·.. \1 · (
83
82
SILENCE! TliE , .Act '[hree
COlJR.r IS IN
SlJKHATME. Yes Mr R k SEss1ol'I
- '
[Takes a scrap of
o de
. •,.<f.tl!{i\R·
What wore now . . ''
rful bedbug poison. It's farnous .
, . Paper out o• h.
lt, muttering / d', . , . 'J is Pock r,,fJtS IV""-
. ...-~Jlll· '[batts• a po-we he was taking it borne.
. ou ,y, Eight d et and
· D b' ·,
.
·-
om zvh Ro KDE h . t ·1 l
aysa lVlj
go, the Pe"'- te,i pol"""
_,,N'I' [to _,. ;,Nll( Jperhaps s
l'--1"-"'-- • :Mr pookshe, boW and when
.
. as l y eaves th .
at a distance, wiping th
'JOl?n
e Witness.box <lnce ~ s.wv
sv<l""''·.
can you tell us, .
h t the accused was carrYing sue
ha
. e sweatfrom h. ands~
lS ca/lll_ and satisfied] is face. His ex r % ftrSt found out t a . .- . .
MRs · -, : , Pess1~ you , . . , Tik-20 in her purse? .
terrible poison as . . ' , , ,- . .
KA.smKAR. _But you hadn't told m~ . has tensed completely.]. , . --
--: about slapping her! _, this lastbi~B~ [BEi'!¢ e of her little.pupils stays 111 rny tenernent.
NJ(SI-lfl Yes. On .. . .
SAMANT [tcj PONKSHE.] Impossible! j can'tb·. 1· po .t days ago, .she came to ine and said, 'Our
· -· e 1eve ·1 About en . . . . ,. : . ,.
[A pronounced excitement is in the : ] · 11·
. . air. teacher's se~t you this.' .. . .
Po~S:I_E ffrpm his seat, puffing ha;d at hi . ]
. . .- . . , . . .· , s pzpe. Sukbanne I(;.SHJKAR· Tik-20? _ . _ _ . _, _ , _ . _: .
~y ev1~ence now~~I! _me ~s? "'.itness! Call me now! ,r poN<SJlll. No, a nob: in 3sealed envelope. I opened it. Inside
[Hzs l[afe zs ?~ the ~apl~ss BENARE. ,.. His tone is i~patient] there was another envelope. That to·o was s ealed. There
Just call me! was a slip of paper in it, which said, 'WiUyou\ neei'Ill~,
KAsHIKAR. Sukhatme, call Ponkshe. Let's he~ him ... call pJe,se1 I have something' ttl disCUSs will;' ai cdin~ .
him now. Let's hear him once and for all! · quarter past one. w~it in the ydupi -~e~~~ant j~st beyond
' '
SUKHATME. Mr Ponkshe be called to the witness·box! the school.' Of co~se, I di<ln;t lik~ it at ~11. -B~t' I- said
' ,
ROKD~. N~xt :witne~s,' Mr,Ponks~e! t
myself, let's see what her game is. "So -~ 'Yent alo~g. JuS
[PONKSHE enters the witness-box.] it.
for the heck ·of Five-~inutes later, Miss Benare cam(?
PoNKSHE. Shall I take the oath ag.ain? I he;ebyplacemyhand
therehurriedl;,l~okini .quite guilty. , .. - ·_f_
' upon the Oxf~rd English Di~ii~hary, and swear thatl-
[BENARE has tensed still more.] "'; . '
KAsHIKAR. It's understood. Sukhatme, proceed. ,
SUKHATME. I see., , . ,- . . -,
S~T~rn~Mr Ponkshe, th~ a~cused, Miss Benare~ . , ;.· --.; _, ;:_ 'I ;' -
KAsH!KAR. Then? What happened then, Ponkshe? ·
Po~HE [g~ing at BENARE:]__:._is what I have somethin!
important to tell you ab~ut. ,, ..
PoNKsHE. She said, 'Not here-in public--:--:-someone'll see
us-let's go into a family room.': -, . , , _,
"'
I-
[BENARE ~tiffe~s where·jhe ·;;:] 'k 20 in
, • ·· - k bottle of Tl · MRs l<AsHIKAR [sarcastically.] Magnificent! ;
Just ask her this. Why does she eep a
;:;
:1
·,,
her purse? [BENAREjlinches.]
I
i
84

~ -
SILENCE! THE COURT IS IN SESSION

. " -- -- --=-~ :-'.'. ...: -·•. ._. • • r ..,

. ·: .'•_: iG . •
. . . . ga . -·- ·
S0 we sat in a 'family room'. We Ord Act Three :T !::DVE!JIZ . .c: ~' ': ·.. ; :: '\... .
PoNKSHE.
Mi
"'ui., . ·_· , . -~ :·:.~:tr.~.::
ss Benare's problem had been discu · NI(SHE, Miss Benare made me promise n.e~ej®.~l~ _. •:·:::. :.\;~: :: ·
Whendh '"-•iii,
opene
er purse to take out
it there rolled a small bottle-
her handkerchief A-d
. •-.i om~
pothe name of the man who-so she .said~ had~ ~~er _" . ~'::\(·-~-.:~?
_pregnant. So farl've kept my word.-.rl ..w _IbT JI.A)IIH21/1 : _
~·--: _::_ \.·_
,::·
[For a moment, there is silence.]
St,vmTME A bottle ofTik-20! Good! But Mr Ponksh
MRs KAsmKAR. But who was it? · •~;; -.,•::2 1o 1~ttsm s 2i _.. ·-:<
~>:
u.lUll\ • e, What l{ASmKAR. What'll you take to shut up? The?cat&i.life~ _- : .:·':·: -
had happened between you and Miss Benare before th ,
\he bag soon, anyway. Don't be so impatient} ]:fut,Iwfia,t)t .. __
at. I
mean, what was the thing sh; wanted to discu, With Yo,i
haven't told us that · 8
· . _don't understand Ponkshe is, if Miss Benare\ vit&~~t
., by one man, she expressed a desire to niarr/aiioffldf.Lt -.
is shaking her.head With silent vehemence, telling ·. mean, to marry you! - -
him not to do so.] _ ''·"·~:'l,:ro--uov.
PoNKSHE. Exactly. · · · ::'•\;<::',,,·:] --i.:-ur.3 H
PoNKSHE. She made known her desire to marry me.
Kmmc. What? .
SUKHATME. What was your answer, Mr Ponkshe? Were you
. •. . -· \ . ' . . . ,,. -~'
' . . . . . . . . . ·. . . - . 1.; •. ~-
KAsmm.What? . prepared tci take a broad view of things for the.· sake-' of
; . , , ~,
[Roxoo .and the others are astounded.]
'
humanity, and accept the child along with the mother?'
PONKSHE. The answer is quite clear. . _:~,_.j(J}'Jl
KAsmm. This appears terribly interesting, Sukbatme. . . :;i . . . . .· , ·. •:- ,: ·G
StituA'fMa TIUe, milo;,i, it i; and it will be. ... SUKHATME. You weren't prepared, of course. :. :, \ :
: t , -• ' · !, ., ·l- - .. . . ., ' . .. •. ••
PoNKSffiij:~o, I ~'asn't. : . --, . ._r_ . • : :.- •
[His Jamished lcnrye~ 's gaze is on BENA.RE.] 1
· Did she tell you she was in love with you, etc.? S~TME. And it was after this, Mr Ponkshe,
!. 'i •,--· ·: .,. :' ';'· '.•,:,. '· ;
th~t ·the b~h1e ·
'· · : . .-', e • ., s
ofTik-20rolled"outofMissBenare'spurser . - .,_·- ~. ,·:
PONxsJm.No. But she told me she was pregnant. •. . ,· ,. ·• . \
PoNKsHE. Of course! I myself picked it up and returned it t~
lSen..atio~ BENARE is sitting like a block ofstone, droineJ1 •• , • 1 ;- .. ,. , . .; • ,• • • •. ' ' ' .,
colour and tot~lly desolate.] : her. Shall I give you the whole conversation? If you ·w·an_t
I'll tell that too. .
0
-~ · • • \ • ·
Are you lolling the truth, Ponkshe?
BENARE lsh-ooting up on ~o her fe~t.J No! N~! _
I',
~ - What do You think? That I'm lying? l<As~·lb~nging his g~el.J Silence! Mr Po~he, give .
-~ - Who was the father-continue, ponk,he, us the conversation. (to S~T~.l Now ~fll hear the
Scontinue-(ion't stop there!·.
name- . ..
Ulc!iAn.in. Mr Ponkshe- · • 1·, " , ••
BENARE. No! You pro~ised, Ponkshe! ·
/' r
 # -r-- -.•Jj
/
SILENCE! THE COURT IS IN SESSION Act Three
86 87
.,...., Mr Ponkshe, what indeed could the con por-O(SffE. first, we chatted aimlessly. 'Sukhatme's a good
S1.JICHAunu. Versar
for Miss Benare to be so agonized?· 10n
bave been, an, -but he's smothered by ill luck, poor chap. His
v ,......,AR. Tell us, Ponkshe-don't wait-tell it qu· k
111
~- IC ,___th' ractice is poor-he just sits in the barristers' room
is a matter of soc1a . 1impo
· rtance. IS
:laying patience.:._they say it's well known that if you
PoNKSHll: But she won't like it. . _
take your case to him, it's jail for certain!-he just goes
KAsffIKAR [banging ·the gavel.] Who is the jud
ge here dumb before the judge ... '
nkshe? Since when has the question of the a '
. Po . ccusect' 8 SUKHATME [swallowing his rage and sense of insult.] I see
likes and dislikes being adrni~ed in court? When?
- . . 1say10 ... yes, go on-·
you-continue!
poNKSHE. ' . . . Kashikar torments poor Rokde. Because he
BENARE [coming in front o/PONKSHE.] Ponkshe-
.I . constantly suspects an entanglement between him and his
KAsmKAR [banging_ the
- - gavel.]
· Order! The accused to the
i
• wife. Because they have no children, you see ... '
dock! To the dock! R,-okde, conduct the accused to the MRS KAsHIKAR. ls that what she said?
dock! -
[Highly offended, she looks daggers at BENARE.]
[ROKDE moves forward a little and halts.]
, :....••·· •" l • MR KAsHIKAR f.picking his ear vigorously.] Go on, tell us
i BENARE. Just you tell it and you'll see, Ponkshe-
more, Ponkshe-
l<AsmKAR. Pris~~er, at th~ ·bar, go to th~ dock-Rokde, take PoNKSHE.After some talk of this nature, we came to the real
her to the dock .. . ·
issue.
MRs KAsHIKAR [co~ing Jo'rward and gras;ing BEN.W's KARNIK. Wait. What did she say about me, Ponkshe?
' . -·: .... •,•
hand.] . . PoNKSHE. Nothing.
First stand over there. Come on, Rokde, hold her hand. ~K. She must have said something-that I'm a rotten
I
( [ROKDE lingers behind them.] actor or something. I know what she thinks of me. I know
Come, Benare; come on. it well.
i
1
\!. ' [She drags her to the do ck. MRS KAsHiKAR and Ro KDE stand PONKSHE. She asked jokingly, 'Well, are you fixed up
r . guard.] . somewhere?' so·I said, 'Unless I find someone j~st to
r1:;:
i
i -

.
i
Discipline means discipline. · my ta~te, rm not interested in marrying.' So she asked,
'What exactly do you mean by "to your taste"? What do
KASHlKAR. Speak, Mr. Ponkshe, What was your conversation you look for?' I replied, 'On the whole, girls are silly and
,I
I
about? Where's my earpick? [he finds it.] Go on. frivolous_:__that's my opinion. I want a mature partner.' '-_,
l
I, Mr Ponkshe, what was it about?
~11t
 SJLl!NCBI THJ! COURT IS IN SESSION
Act Three
89
'Don't you think that maturity th
. __,..,_,1
she . - at is fBO~I:IB- No. First she said, 'Please don't call him a
developed understanding-comes to a person On\ '
iScoundrel. He may be a good man. He may be very great
.......pen·ence?' 'I don't know,' I replied. She then .Y
- . . s~d and wise. She may have fallen short. She may not have
...YN'lrience comes with age, with a slightly u '
,-r-- . nusua1
of life. And this ~ort of expenence is never happ b een able to convince him how deeply she feels for h"Im.
leasing. It gives pam to the person who gains it. An~ . The woman is not the crucial factor. It's the baby that
ny intolerable to others. But will you bearw1th
• , L ... ~, .. . comes first.'-
~ ...,.......
it? 1 mean. supposing it is a really mature person. Older SVJCHATME. And then?
rtb.m you and more educated?' 'I haven't yet thought poNKSHE. Then she said, 'She worshipped that man's

seriously about it.' 'Then you should,' she replied. So intellect. But all he understood was her body.' She added
1
asked whether she bad some promising bride 1·n mind . other things. On the·same lines. How she couldn't find a
She said, .'Yes. I feel she's the kind you want y 0 . · . place in Damle's life. His-

~- j
. • U JUSI
have to understand her unusualness.' I couldn't see why
.she was making this great effort to get me mame.\ ·d AIUU"u... Damle's?
asked casually,•'What sort of unusualness do you mean?' SUKHATM

She .replied, 'The girl's just gone

· through a saenng
h tt . KAsHIKAR [banging on the table.] The cat's out of the bag!
heartbreak,
• .and'-wait' I'll
. think of the exact words- PoNKSHE. To tell you the truth, I was bound by oath, not to
yes-'the fruit of that love'-here she stumbled a 1·ltile-- tell the name, but-
,. .
~S m_her womb. Actually it is no fault of hers. But her SUKHATME. Doesn't matter, Mr Ponkshe, it doesn't matter at
situation's very se · · d d all. It's no sin to break yo~ oath inadvertently, at least, not
. nous m ee . She wants to bring up the
child. In fact it's only for the child h
r· s e wants to go on
in court. So the child she's carrying is Professor Damle's?
ivmg and get married ' Sh k . . Goon, goon-
. · . e spo e some more m the same
1
vem. grew suspicious S0 . . PONKSHE. Then she .fell at my feet.
h . · · m order to get the truth out of
er, 1 said, 'Ohl poor . 11 H KAsHIKAR. I see-I see-
. is the sc · gir · er luck seems really bad. Who
oundrel responsible?' . PoNKSHE. Yes, she fell at my feet. And I said, 'This doesn't
SlJI<HATME Th . .
. ereupon she 'd. become you, Miss Benare, It's an insult to have asked
sai It was Professor Damle!
me this at all. Do you think I'm so worthless?' When she
 SJLBNCBI Tl

•
~ sbepked, •0on'1
Rol(l)E [in a whining
Act Three

tone.] What business is 1·t of yours ?.

91

• tiallY developed under .

J(ARNIK [stagily.] Because, by chance, I happened to be a
wifhexpenence?' 'I dot
witness of what was said and done on that occasion.
•Aid experience comes
I(AsHIKAR [cleaning his earpick.] Which one?.• Te11 uswat
h
rfll'J of life. And this s
you have to without complicating the issue ...
or pleasing. It gives pai
I(ARNIK [dramatically.] Life itself is a complication these
it's usually intolerable '
days. The We~tern playwright Ionesco-
it? I mean, supposing i1
I(AsHIKAR [banging his gavel.] To the point! Don't digress!
than you and more ec
Stick to the point!
seriously about it.' '
I(ARNIK.I only mentioned him because the subject of
asked whether s
complications cropped up-
She said,. 'Y
SUKHATME. What amendment would you suggest, Mr Karnik,
to what has been stated before the court, regarding the
accused and Rokde?
KARNIK. As God is my witness, I must state that Rokde did
not slap the accused.
RoKDE [whining.] It's a lie!
KARNIK. What happened was roughly like this. The accused
accosted Rokde. I saw that. So I stood aside in the darkness
to see how it would develop. The accused asked, 'Then
what have you decided?' Rokde's answer came over, 'I
can't do anything without Mrs Kashikar's permission.
Don't press me.' The accused then said, 'How much
more of your life will you spend under Mrs Kashikar's
thumb?' Rokde replied, 'I can't help it. That's one's luck.
I can't think of marriage. ' The accused said to him, 'Think
again. I'll support you. You won't lack for anything then.
You won't have to fear Mr and Mrs Kashikar. You'll be
 Ii

SILENCE! THB COURT IS IN SESSION Act Three

90 91
saw my face, she got up at once, and said, laughing 'b· · ["n a whining tone.] What business is it of yours?
11 . h h '·. Id ROJ.<DE l
You really think I was te mg t e trut. ? It was just aJok.e1 J{AlU'IIK [stagily.] Because, by chance, I happened to be a
That's all!' Then she burst out laughmg. · . ss of. what was said and done on that occasion.
. w1tne
MRS KAsHIKAR- A joke, did she say! inI<AR [cleaning his ea,pick.] Which om,? Tell us what
PoNICSHB. But she had tears in her eyes. That made evel"\~h- 1Wou have to without comp1·1catmg
. the issue
. ...
. . , 'J'lng
nuite clear. Then she went off m a hurry saying sh [dramatically.] Life itself is a complication these
>i . e \Vas
late. days. The w e~tem playwright Ionesco-
SUKHATME. Thank you, Mr Ponkshe, for your valuable I{ASHIKAR [banging his gavel.] To the point! Don't digress!
evidence.
Stick to the point!
[PoNKSHE comes out of the. witness-box. SUKHATME takes l(ARNIK. I only mentioned him because the subject of
out the piece of paper and muttering loudly, notes dow complications cropped up-- · ·
n,
'Ten days before the incident of holding RO KDE's hand. 1 SUKHATME. What amendment would you suggest, Mr Karnik,
That's fine. Milord, this _evidence needs no comment
,,,
: to what has been stated before the court, regarding the
; ·, It's so clear and,~ may add, so self-evident. The accused accused and Rokde?
jL
:!
_ first accosted Mr Ponkshe. When she realized there was J0.RNIK. As God is my witness, I must state that Rokde did
I · nothing doing in that quarter, she committed the outrage not slap the accused.

I' .
! on Rokde. The next witness will be the accused, milord.
, ,, I
I ROKDE [whining.] It's a lie! d
:;'
[He points to BENARE. She looks half-dead.] KAR.NIK What happened was roughIY like this · The accuse
'r KARNIK [raising his hand in a stagy gesture.] Wait! Wait! I . I stood aside in the darkness_
; accosted Rokde. I saw that. So k d 'Then
:1 I have something important to disclose regarding the case. .
to see how 1t would eve op.
d 1 The accused as e ,
'I
'/

I
t:' . ?' R0 kde's answer came over,
SUKHATME. Mr Karnik, into the box. what have you decided. hikar's permission.
ii· · 'thout Mrs Kas
! [He walks theatrically into it. MR KAStIIKAR is picking his can't do anythmg Wl •d 'How much
ear vigorously.] , Th accused then sa1 '
Don't press me. e d der Mrs Kashikar's
'fi '11 you spell Ull
SUKHATME. Speak, Mr Karnik. What do you wish to tell the more of your he WI - That's one's luck.
. d 'I can't help I1. .
court? .. thumb?' Rokde rep1ie ' d said to him, 'Think
. . , The accuse .
l<ARNIK [stagily.] The evidence given to the court by Rokde I can't think of marnage. 't lack for anythmg then.
. , rt you. You won . You'll be
concerning the accused, Miss Bemire, and himself, is agam. I 11 suppo nd Mrs I(ash1kar.
incorrect. You won't have to fear Mr a . . .
 THE COURT IS IN SESSION
Act Three 93
sILBNCBl
n . MRS I(ASHIKAR, Don't speak to me at all!
, R0 kde replied, 'I'm scared. And if! rn
independent. . . . . arry
're in this condition, the whole World' Ror<DE, But Mrs Kashikar! . ..
. when you . , II
m.ud at me. No one in my farmly s done a thing like [She turns her head away. ~OKDE is still more miserable.]
.. , I(ARNIK- your lordship, I happen to know a cousin of the
Don't depend on me. Or els~ I'll have to tell Mrs
I(ashikar.' Upon this, the accused, m a rage- · accused's. I mean, I just got to know him by chance, at a

RoIDB. It's a lie! : cricket match at the Dadar Gymkhana. A common friend
I{ARNIL-StruCk Rokde in the face. of ours was playing in the Bachelors' Eleven. My friend's
{R.OIDB's hand hos unconsciously gone to his cheek.] · friend turned out t<? be the cousin of the accused-so my
ROIDB. It's a lie-a barefaced lie! · friend told me. My friend knows the_accused. I mean, not
{Mis KAsHilCAR is glaring at him.] personally; but a lot <?f people know the accused, and like
SumATMB, Thank you, Mr Karnik. This means that it is true them; so did he. I mean, he knew about the accused.
the accused was pressing R_okde to marry her. The only KASHIKAR. l see. And with ~horn are y~u chatting like this?
difference in what you say is about who slapped whom. Show respect to the court.
KAlNrK. Not just what I say, but what I saw. KARNIK [striking the attitude of respecting the court.] Yes.
SumAnm. That's so, Mr Karnik.
Well then, the cousin of the accused and I-we had just
[Showing him the way out of the witness-box.]
met-the subject casually came up. He gave me some
KAitNoc I have something more to say: .
important information.
KAsencAit If it isn't anything useless and irrelevant, let's SUKHATME. For instance?
. bear it No complications.
l<ARNIK. For instance, the ·~ccused had attempted suicide
ICARNiK.Milord-
once before.
[banging the gavel.] Orderi What do you think . .
SUKHA_TME [radiant.] That's the point! There is a precedent
I I y~u are? A lawyer? Just say 'Your lordship' like a:ny other
'witness! for the bottle ofTik-20.
I
•!
I I Your lordship--
· KARNrK. I can't say that exactly. I can only tell you what
'• f. That' . happened. My information is that the accused attempted
. . s it. -That's the . way. Speak. But no
I J
. complications1 We - suicide because of a disappointment in love. She fell in
I
RoICDB [p·r · want everything straight and simple. love at _the age of fifteen, with her own maternal uncle!
ieously toMru;
Mrs Kasbikar~ KAsHrKAR., in a soft yoice.] That's what ended in disappointment.
 SDJ!NCBI THB COURI' IS IN SESSION
Act Three
95
,,:M l~~ICAll [totally floored.] Her uncle!
gt.J1{}1ATME. Milord, considering the importance of the case
nm. Milord-her_ maternal uncle-her mother's
1 humbly submit that trad!tion should be broken to allo~
What an immoral relationship!
the judge's worshipful self to enter the witness-box.
In other words, just one step away from total
I{ASHIKAR· Permission granted.
~\'.ity. Fine, ~ukhatme, very fine!
[He comes and stands in the witness-box.]
~ - Milord, why do you say 'fine'? The present
Examine me. Come on.
~ctoftheaccused is totally licentious. We know that.
>ti\«. it now seems that he~ past, too, is smeared in sin. This [He is bursting to speak. His eyes are on BENARE.]
Not a doubt of it!
shows ii as clear as daylight. . ,;
st,:uggles to her feet and tries to reach the door. SUKHATME (striking a lawyer's attitude.] Mr Kashikar, your
MRs KA.sHIKARgrasps her andforces her back to the dock.] occupation?
~ KA.sHIKAR- Where d'you think you're going? The door's KAsHIKAR. Social worker.
-locked! Sit down! SUKHATME. Do you know the accused?
KAiooK. I've finished. KAsHIKAR. Only too well! A sinful canker on the body of
. .

[Bowing dramatically to KAsHIKAR, he leaves the witness- • society-that's my honest opinion of these grown-up
box and returns to his place.j unmarried girls.
·i KA8HIKAR. [b~nging his hand suddenly on the table as if he SUKHATME [taking an even more typical lawyer's pose.] Do
has all ofa sudden remembered something.] not give your opinion unless you are asked, Mr Kashikar!
There's no doubt at all, Sukhatme! No doubt. KAsHIKAR. An opinion's an opinion. I don't wait for anyone's
Sl.JKHATME. About what, milord? _permission to give it:
KAsHIKAR. I'll tell you Sukhatme. I wish to set aside the PONKSHE. Bravo!
tradition· of the court and ' give an important piece of SUKHATME. Don't wait for it then. Mr Kashikar, can yo~
evidence.
place before the court any important eviderice about the
SlJKHATME. Milord?
charge that has been made here against the accused?
KAs~. This case has great social significance, Sukhatme. ' that's why I'm standing here.'
l<AsHIKAR. Well,
No Joking' Im st . .
. · u put aside the practice of court and give SlJKl½.TME. Then speak.
evidence. Sukhatm . •
· e, ask my penmssion. Ask me. Ask!
r 96
SILBNCEI THE COURT IS IN SESSION
Act Three 97
l
[looking at BENARE.] I often have caus
., • ..uTll"AR
MR Ask me, Sukhatme, how I'm so certain.
~~--- . e to Vis' I(ASHIKAR-
famous leader Nanasaheb Shinde of Bomb it
the . This very morning I took over a garland of flowers to
urse, the bond between us 1s that of a commo 1
co . . n overo1 Nanasaheb's house, as it's his birthday. There Nanasaheb
social work. Besides, he 1s the Chairman of the Ed . was talking angrily to someone on the phone, 'It is a sin
. . ucat1on
Society. Well, his greatness 1s different from mine. That' to be pregnant before marriage. It would be still more
8
not the question here. But recently at his house
. ' say at immoral to let such a woman teach in such a condition!
about nine o'clock at mght-when I was sitting there to
There is no alternative-this woman must be dismissed,'
discuss some work, I heard conversation in the next roorn.
he was saying. Finally, he instructed, 'Send the order for
[BEN.ARE starLY.]
my signature this very day!'
One of the voices was Nanasaheb's. But the other voice
.
[A shock for BENARE.]
too seemed familiar.
Now who else comes to your mind? Tell me! I say it was
MRs K.AsHIKAR- Whose was it?
Miss Benare!
KAsmKAR- Sukhatme, gi':'e her a reprimand, go on. You
SAMANT. Dear, oh dear! Is she going to lose her job?
mustn't interrupt a witness! Before I could tell whose the
SUKHATME. It can't be helped. Tit for tat! As you sow, so
other voice was, the conversation was over. In a little while,
shall you reap . .. that's the rule oflife.
Nanasaheb came out. In the course of our conversation, 1
asked about it. He replied, 'A school-mistress from our [RoKDE opens his notebook and writes it down. 1

Education Society's High School had come here. She comes But Mr Kashikar, what made you think that woman was

herecontinually.Shewantsustodropanenquiryagainsther. this one-w.as positively our Miss Be~are?

She's a young woman. So I couldn't say 'no' straightaway.
I have called her again, for a quiet talk.' Of course, 1was ·
still curious who this woman could be. Though Nanasaheb
did not tell me, I have just realized that the woman, far
from being some stranger, was this one-I mean, she was
Miss Benare! I am one hundred and one per cent certain!
The same voice exactly. Not a doubt of it!
MRs KASIDKAR. Good gracious!
KAsHIKAR. My dear man, do you take me for a child, that
I shouldn't understand _such a simple thing? I've been
studying society for the last forty years. I'll have you
know! .A word to the wise is enough! There is not the
slightest doubt in my mind that I've guessed right. It was
definitely Miss Benare. Just see whether or not she gets
that order tomorrow, that's all! Order for dismissal! That's
all I wanted to record here.
 SILENCE! THE COURT IS IN SESSION
98
Hi /eaves the witness-box and seats himself on th .
[ e . . e Judge's
chair.]
The prosecution may continue.
[A small bottle is in BENARE 's hand Just as she is about to
. put it to her mouth, KARNIK dashes forward and strikes it
away. The bottle rolls towards PoNKSHE 's feet.]
PoNKSHE [picking it up and looking at it, then putting it on
the judge 's table.]
Tik-20.
[SAMANT is shocked. KAsHIKAR looks at the bottle and takes
charge of it.]
KAsHIKAR. The prosecution may continue.
SUKHATME. With this last and most important piece of
evidence, the testimony for the prosecution is complete.
Milord, the case for the prosecution rests.
[He goes and sits down in his chair, as if exhausted.]
KAsHIKAR [ with all the gravity of a judge.] Counsel for the
accused!
[SUKHATME goes and sits with lowered head on the stool
reserved for the counsel for the accused.]
Call the witnesses for your side!
8VKHATME [getting up with the gesture ofa tired man, makes
a lawyer-like bow and in equally exhausted tones, says.]
Yes, milord. Our first witness is Professor Damle.
ROKDE [acting the usher.] Damle! Professor Damle!
[To KAsHIKAR..]
Professor Damle is absent.
Act Three 99
J{AsHIKAR [to SUKHATME.] Next witness, please.
5UI(JIATME. Our next witness is Nanasaheb Shinde.
J{ASHIKAR [picking his teeth] Absent! How could he come
here? Next-
SUKHATME. The other member of this group, Mr Rawte-
J{ASHIKAR- He is absent too. Are those all the witnesses for
the defence?
SUKHATME. I wish to cross-examine the witness for the
·prosecution, milord.
J(AsHIKAR- Permission refused. Take your seat.
SUKHATME [sighing.] The case for the accused rests.
[Goes and seats himself on the stool kept for the counsel for
the accused.]
KAsHIKAR [spitting out something.] Good! Now counsel for
the prosecution, plead your case. Don't waste time, now.
[SUKHATME changes his place. Sits down energetically on
his previous chair. Then springs to his feet like a wrestler
and comes forward.]
KAsmKAR. Be brief.
SUKHATME [now the counsel/or the prosecution.] Milord,
the nature of the charge against the accused, Miss Leela
Benare, is truly dreadful. The woman who is an accused
has made a heinous blot on the sacred brow of motherhood,
which is purer than heaven itself. For that, any punishment,
however great, that the law may give her, will be too
mild by far. The character of the accused is appalling. It
is bankrupt of morality. Not only that. Her conduct has
F I()()
SILENCE! THE COURT IS lN SESSION
all social and moral values. The accu . values of society. Na stri swatantryamarhati. 'Woman
blackened . sect is
. my number one. If such socially destru .
pubhc ene ctive
·es are encouraged to flourish, this country a d .
tendenc1 n its
Culture Wl
·nbe totally destroyed. Therefore, I say the COlirt
roust take a very stem, inexorable view of the prisoner's
. e, without being trapped in any sentiment. The charge
crun
against the accused is one of infanticide. But the accused
has committed a far more serious crime. I mean unmarried
motherhood. Mo~erhood without marriage ~as always
been considered a very great sin by our religion and
om traditions. Moreover, if the accused's intention of
bringing up the offspring of this unlawful maternity is
carried to completion, I have a dreadful fear that the very
existence of society will be in danger. There·will be no
such thing as moral values left. Milord, infanticide is a
dreadful act But bringing up the child of an illegal union
is certainly more horrifying. If it is encouraged, there
will be no such thing left as the institution of marriage.
Immorality will flourish. Before our eyes, our beautiful
dream of a society governed by tradition will crumble
into dust. The accused has plotted to dynamite the very
roots of our tradition, our pride in ourselves, our culture
and our religion. It is the sacred and imperative duty of
your Lordship and every wise and thoughfful citizen
amongst us to destroy that plot at once. NQ allowance ·
must be made because the accused is a woma~. A woman
bears the grave responsibility of building Jp the high
l
Act Three 101
is not fit for independence.' . . . That is the rule laid
down for us by tradition. Abiding by this rule. I make
a powerful plea. Na Miss BENARE swatantryamarhati.
'Miss Benare is not fit for in~ependence.' With the urgent
plea that the court should show no mercy to the accused,
but give her the-greatest and severest punishment for her
terrible crime, I close the argument for the prosecution.
J(AsHIKAR- Good! Counsel for the accused! The accused's
lawyer!
[SUKHATME assumes that character and changes his place,
rising once more with a downcast face.]
SUKHATME [ walking forward with heavy steps and in a tone
full offalse emotion.]
Milord, that the crime is very serious, I do not dispute.
But consider this. Man is, in the last analysis, prone to
error. Youth leads a person _astray. Let the terrible crime
that the accused has committed and is committing, be
regarded with mercy. Mercy, milord-for humanity's
sake-mercy.
[He has come to the judge's table. BENARE is motionless.]
KAsHIKAR. Good. Now, prisoner Benare-:-
[She is quite still.]
Prisoner Benare, before the sentence is pronounced, have
' · you anything to say about the charge that has been made
against you? [putting forward his watch.] The accused
· will be given ten seconds.
 SJLBNCBI THB COURT IS IN SESSION Act Three
102 · 103
af before. From somewhere in the and you realize the luck of having it. Guard it dearer than
. mon-ess
•__ ,
[JSierit af • _..,,., be heard. The light changes. The
. i.-1.amu,u.( music .,.... . life-and it only seems fit to throw away. Funny, isn't it?
~ · J,:eezeS, in the positions they are in at the Look after it. And you feel like throwing.it away. Throw
And the motionless BBNARE stands up erect.] it away~and you're blissfully happy it's saved! Nothing
¥.-es, I have-a lot to say. · satisfies. The same thing, again and again.
~ "° loosen her arms.] [In a classroom manner.]
_.., 1 haven't said a word. Chances came
~ s.o-.many y,...,...,, Life is like this. Life is so and so. Life is such and such. Life . .
went Storms raged one after another about
is a book that goes ripping into pieces. Life is a poisonous
!:JU,'1roat And there was a wail like death in my heart.
snake that bites itself. Life is a betrayal. Life is a fraud.
But each time I shut my lips tight. I thought no one will
Life is a drug. Life is drudgery. Life is a something that's
- ~ , No one can understand! When great waves
nothing--or a nothing that's something.
of words came and beat against my lips, how stupid
[Suddenly striking a courtroom attitude.]
~ A:l}'ODC around me, how childish, ·how silly they all
, Milord, life is a very dreadful thing. Life must be hanged.
seemed. Even the man I call my own. I thought, I should
Na jeevan jeevanamarhati. 'Life is not worthy of life'.
~ ..Jaugh and laugh till I burst. At all of them .. . that's
H~ld an enquiry against life. Sack it from its job! But
aJb:iist:1augh and laugh! And I used to cry my guts out. I
why? Why? Was I slack in my work? I just put my whole
JJSedto wish my heart would break! My life was a burden
tQ,me. [heaving a great sigh.] But when you can't lose it, life into working with the children ... I loved it! I taught

you reali7.e the value of it. You realize the value of living. them well! I knew that life is no straightforward thing.
You see what happiness means. How new, how wonderful People can be so cruel. Even your own flesh and blood
every moment is! Even you seem new to yourself. The don't want to understand you. Only one thing in life is
sky, birds, clouds, the branch of a dried-up tree that gently all-important-the body! You may deny it, but i~ is true.
bends in, -the curtain moving at the window, the silence all Emotion is something people talk about with sentiment. It
. . through it· It was burning
was obvious to me. I was livmg
around-a]! sorts of distant, little noises, even the strong
smell of medicines in a hospital, even that seems full to · through me. But-uo ,.I
you know-I did not teach any . of
burstin .th Ii · l I swallowed that ht
pmson,
. . gwi fe.L1feseemstosingforyou! There's great this to those tender, young sous. th
Joy ma suicide that's failed. It's greater even than the pain . t h them' I taug em
but didn't even let a drop of it ou~ . .d· nd I made
of living. [heav _, . ·ty I cned ms1 e, a
es a ueep szgh.] Throw your life away- beauty, I taught them pun ·