In Unity We Trust

For the first time, director MK Raina presents Gandhi on stage — and he has four plays

“The arguments and counter-arguments would resonate with many of us today who are concerned about burning sociopolitical issues,” says MK Raina.

In a small cellar, a few men are waiting for the hour of murder. A great man has to be killed but, as the minutes pass, one of them begins to have doubts. What follows is a mock trial on the activities of their targets, from his insistence on the equality of religions to his use of fasting as a political tool. “The arguments and counter-arguments would resonate with many of us today who are concerned about burning sociopolitical issues,” says MK Raina. Last year he had staged Kafan-Kafan Chor, based on Munshi Premchand’s Kafan and Kashmiri writer Amin Kamil’s Kafan Chor, with Three Arts Club, Delhi’s oldest theatre group. He returns to the group for Hatya Ek Aakar Ki, written by Lalit Sehgal. Excerpts:

Different Views

I am doing four plays on Mahatma Gandhi this year — Stay Yet A While; Hatya Ek Aakar Ki; Satyagraha Ashram: Bawla to Bapu, and a fourth play that we are still finalising. The idea was to look at Bapu from various perspectives. Stay Yet A While (staged on October 2 in Delhi) has intellectual shades to it as it is based on letters exchanged between Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore. Hatya Ek Aakar Ki has contemporary shades to it because we are talking about issues such as communalism. Satyagraha Ashram: Bawla to Bapu is directed for children.

Father’s Words

I have not done a play on Gandhi before but Gandhi is my rock star. I have been reading him and books on him for many years. I do a cultural course at IIT Bhilai and IIT Hyderabad in which I look at the diversity of India. I tackle this through theatre and start from the Bhakti movement, go on to the 1857 movement and, then, the non-violent movement and freedom struggle. One thread that runs common is the idea of pluralism. All religions and races were fighting together. While 1857 was a violent movement, Gandhi’s struggle was the most non-violent one.

Let’s Talk

We don’t get into a play straightaway. We have four actors in Hatya Ek Aakar Ki, essaying the roles of the assassins. I went through a workshop with them. We discussed and read the material and news of contemporary political and social problems. The play is the last stage. Before that, we talk about all kinds of things and the history of our country.

Think Minimal

I believe that a play should be easy to roll up and travel to whatever venue we get. This play is conversation driven. The set is made up of three chairs and one table. It is a small room, like a den, where the assassins are hiding before they go to kill the man. We have attempted to create the look of a cellar with lights. Hatya Ek Aakar Ki will be staged at SRC on October 6 and 7, at 6.30 pm. Donor passes: Rs 200 and Rs 100 at venue and Bookmyshow

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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