The Caged Bird
Cast
Parrot
Maharaja
Chief Minister
Two royal nephews, Vijay and Virat
Pandit
Three scholars
Goldsmith, polishers, cleaners, guards
Scene 1
(A parrot pecking at a ripe guava on a tree in the King’s garden. The King is taking a walk with, Vijay and Virat, his royal nephews)
Maharaja: Look at that silly parrot! All he does is eat fruit greedily all day. He has nearly emptied my fruit garden.
Vijay: True, your Majesty! It is due to greedy birds like him that there are no fruits to be seen in our markets.
Virat: He really is a foolish parrot. If you recite a poem to him, he only squawks.
Maharaja: Of course, he squawks. He knows no words. He does not understand poetry. In fact, he has no learning at all. He is illiterate, the silly bird.
(The parrot flies off)
Vijay: Look how he flies here and there aimlessly! Does he have nothing useful to do?
Virat: Your Majesty, this is a shame. In a kingdom like yours that is famous for its wise scholars, how can the king’s garden be home to an uneducated bird? Something has to be done.
Vijay: No, no. We cannot allow this. An ignorant creature in the king’s garden! We have to educate the bird, Brother.
Maharaja: Really? Will the two of you educate this silly bird?
Vijay and Virat: Yes, your Majesty. We will make him a wise bird. Command us and we will do your will.
Maharaja: What capable nephews I have! You have my command. Turn this foolish creature into a wise bird.
(The nephews bow low before the Maharaja. They walk out)
Scene 2
(Vijay and Virat sitting with three scholars in a palace room)
Guard: May I come in, Sir?
Vijay: Yes. Have you brought the bird?
Guard (showing a cane basket with a lid): Here he is, Sire. (Puts it in front of the royal nephews and backs out of the room)
Virat (picks up the cane basket and peers into it): There he is…the foolish, useless bird. (brings the basket close to Vijay who wrinkles his nose)
Vijay: Whewww!! What a dirty smell! Not only is the bird foolish, he smells awful.
Virat (putting down the basket): Now, you are the scholars. Tell us what makes this bird ignorant?
(The three scholars circle the basket peering through the canes one by one)
First scholar: Well, let me think…
Virat (annoyed): You are always thinking. When will you decide?
Second Scholar: Sire, we must consult our books…
Vijay (irritated): No, we have no time for you to go through books. Tell us now or be ready to lose your heads.
Third Scholar (quickly stuttering): I…I… know why the bird is ignorant, Sire. See this dirty nest it is sitting on. It is just horrible! Made of straw and dry leaves! No wonder he is stinking so much. How can learning enter such a dirty place? That is the reason for his ignorance, Sire.
Second Scholar: Yes, yes. The parrot has to be kept in a clean, beautiful place for learning to enter him.
First Scholar (in a grave voice): Sire, he should be kept in a golden cage.
Vijay and Virat: Now, finally this is a solution coming from you. Good! Let’s get a golden cage.
Scene 3
(The parrot is hopping inside a golden, ornamental cage. It is biting the bars, fluttering its wings, trying to escape. A goldsmith is holding the cage up for the royal nephews to see. Scholars are peeping at them from behind curtains.)
Goldsmith: Sires, here is your parrot in a golden cage.
Vijay: That is a beautiful cage.
Virat: Yes, it is. Now that the parrot is inside a gold cage, isn’t he is looking less silly, Brother?
Vijay: So he is! So he is! Guard, give the goldsmith a pot of gold coins.
(The guard gives the goldsmith a pot heaped with gold coins. The goldsmith bows low to the nephews and backs out of the room. There is a wide smile on his face)
Virat (to the guard): Get polishers to polish the cage. Get cleaners to keep it clean and get maids to bathe the bird. Hire as many people as needed to keep the cage beautiful and the parrot looking clean.
Guard: As you say, Sir. (He bows and leaves)
(Virat and Vijay twist and turn the cage admiring it while the bird hops and flutters uncomfortably inside it. Enter a long line of polishers, cleaners and maids. The nephews keep the cage on a table covered with a golden cloth.)
Vijay: Keep this cage gleaming and clean.
Virat: Bathe the bird often. It must never be dirty.
(The people begin to polish the cage, clean it and one woman begins to pour water on the bird. Enter the Maharaja, the Chief Minister and courtiers)
King: So nephews! Have you got hold of the parrot?
Vijay (bowing): Welcome Your Majesty! Yes, we have caught the parrot.
Virat (bowing): Welcome! Your Majesty, please take a look at our arrangements for the parrot.
(He leads the way to the crowd of people around the cage. The people quickly make way for the King, royal nephews, Chief Minister and courtiers. They kneel and bow with heads touching the ground as the King passes. On a table covered by golden cloth stands the golden cage with the bird.)
Maharaja: Well! Well! (Admires the cage touching its design) These are splendid arrangements for the bird. (He goes around the golden cage admiring it, running his fingers over it)
Chief Minister (murmurs): No food or water for the bird. Hmmm….
Maharaja: My boys! My boys! (He holds his hands wide) I am so pleased. You are doing a wonderful job. You deserve some gifts. (Takes off his pearl necklace and gives it to Vijay. Takes off his diamond brooch and gives it to Virat) Good! Good! Carry on…
(The Maharaja turns to the door when Chief Minister whispers in his ear)
Chief Minister (whispering): Your Majesty, your royal nephews have made grand arrangements for the bird. But what about the parrot? How much has he learned?
(The Maharaja stared at the Chief Minister, pulling his beard thoughtfully. Then he turned on his heel.)
Maharaja: Vijay and Virat, all this is very fine. (Waving his hand at the cage) But what has the bird learned? And how is he learning?
Vijay: Your Majesty, the parrot learns every day. We will show you just now how he does that.
Virat(calls out): Panditji, please come here.
(From behind the curtains, a thin man with a long pigtail from the back of his bald head comes running. A yellow flower is tied to the pigtail that wiggles and bounces. Sandalwood paste is smeared on his forehead and hanging from his shoulder is a cloth bag.)
Pandit (bowing to the King and the nephews): At your service, Your Majesty.
Vijay: Show His Majesty, how you teach the parrot.
(The Pandit took out a book of scriptures from his bag, He tore a few written sheets from it. He tore up the sheets into small pieces. He went up to the cage and pushed his hand through the cage bars. Holding the parrot with one hand, he stuffed its mouth with the torn pieces of sheets from the book of scriptures. The bird struggles in his hand but is forced to swallow the pieces.)
Virat: See, Your Majesty. That is how the parrot is taught.
Maharaja: Very well done. I am sure the bird will become as wise as a scholar in a few days’ time. Come! (he tells the Chief Minister and courtiers) Let us leave the boys to do their important work.
(The Maharaja leaves)
Scene 4
(The Maharaja is seated on his throne surrounded by courtiers. The Chief Minister is seated on a lower chair. Enter Vijay and Virat carrying a tray covered with a golden cloth)
Maharaja: Welcome Vijay and Virat! What have you brought for me?
Vijay: Your Majesty, our work is over.
Virat: The parrot’s education is complete.
Maharaja: That is very good news. Let me see.
(Vijay removes the cloth from the tray. On the silver tray lies the parrot on his side. He is still and not breathing. The King peers at it)
Maharaja: Does it squawk?
Vijay: No, Your Majesty.
Maharaja: Does it peck at fruit?
Virat: No, Your Majesty.
Maharaja: Does it fly about aimlessly?
Vijay: No, Your Majesty.
Maharaja: Excellent!
(The Maharaja picks up the dead bird turning it round and round in his hands. Then he shakes it. A rustling sound comes from it. Taking it to his right ear, he shakes it again. Again, something rustles inside it.)
Maharaja: What is this sound? (Vijay and Virat put a hand behind their ear and lean forward to hear)
Chief Minister: Your Majesty, the sound you hear is the rustling of the scripture pages inside the parrot. In fact, what you hear is the parrot’s voice of wisdom.
Maharaja (clapping his hands): Excellent! Excellent! My kingdom will be called the most educated kingdom in the world. Not just people, even birds and beasts in my kingdom have voices of wisdom.
All at court: Maharaj, Jai ho! Hail to the Maharaja of the most Educated Kingdom in the world! Jai Ho! Jai Ho!Jai Ho!
(Adapted from Tota Kahini by Rabindranath Tagore)
All rights reserved. @Sutapa Basu 2020
