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Long-lost love restored; revenues abound

Whispering memorized lines, a boy dons a khadi kurta, adjusting the gold skirt between the seat of his chair and his immobile legs. He closes his eyes, changing character, becoming someone else. He is now Rupa, a young singer in love with Shaju but cursed by gods and goddesses to leave heaven and enter earth with a sorrowful heart and an unattractive appearance.

The Sapmochan portrays the heartache of separation and the joy of reunion.

The Kiwanis Club of Calcutta, India, staged an evening of cultural theater, culminating with a performance of Sapmochan, a drama about love, separation, and reunion. Making the performance even more poignant was the cast. The boys and girls of the Udbhas Spastic Welfare Society—some in wheelchairs—danced and awed the crowd of more than 800 patrons. The souvenir program featured advertisements, which added to the club’s service fund. This past year, the publication collected 53,000 rupees.

The Kiwanians added the proceeds to the club’s service fund, which has been used to create a park for children who have physical and mental disabilities, pay tuition for a student who has a mental disability, sponsor a blood-donation camp, and renovate a school.

“Our club’s goal is to provide community service that can particularly help in the development of children,” says club president A.K. Shome. “We raise funds by organizing cultural functions.”

This cultural event was unique because it featured the Sapmochan.

“This performance,” A.K. says, “gives not only a morale boost to the children, but it also allows a forum for the spastic children to present their talent to an audience.

“The drama was liked by the audience very well. One organization announced its desire to donate an audio set for the children of the Spastic Society.”

As the drama unfolds, Shaju discovers Rupa’s curse and prays to be born on Earth for a chance to reunite with the singer. She is born, however, into a different part of the world and as a stranger to her lover. But one day, while attending a musical recital, Shaju hears a lovely, familiar voice. They are reunited, the curse is lifted, and Rupa regains his attractive appearance.–Ashley Clark