**Title**: **”Dahej ka Daanav”**
**Characters**:
1. **Sutradhar (Narrator)**
2. **Aasha** – The Bride
3. **Aasha’s Father**
4. **Groom**
5. **Groom’s Father**
6. **Groom’s Mother**
7. **Neighbours & Friends**
8. **Police Officer** (Optional)
**(The play starts with a group of people singing a powerful slogan-based song on dowry)**
**Sutradhar (Narrator)**:
*(In a loud voice, walking to the centre of the stage)*
“Jeevan ka hai ek kathor sawal,
Dahej ek abshap hai, ek maha janjal.
Maa-baap ki mehnat, beti ka astitva,
Dahej ke aage sab kuch hai vyarth!”
(Sutradhar walks back as the scene begins)
**Scene 1: Aasha’s Home**
(*Aasha and her father are discussing the wedding preparations*)
**Aasha**:
“Papa, sab taiyyar ho gaya na shaadi ke liye? Aap itna pareshan kyun lag rahe hain?”
**Aasha’s Father**:
“Beti, sab kuch to theek hai, par ladke wale jo mang rahe hain, wo samajh nahi aa raha hai
kaise poora hoga.”
**Aasha**:
“Par Papa, kya aapne mana nahi kiya unhe? Dahej lena aur dena dono hi galat hai.”
**Aasha’s Father**:
“Maine samjhaya tha, par wo nahi maan rahe. Ladke wale keh rahe hain bina dahej ke
shaadi nahi hogi.”
**Scene 2: Groom’s House**
(*Groom’s family is talking about the dowry demand.*)
**Groom’s Father**:
“Arey bhai, ladke ka rishta hai, kuch to humein milna chahiye. Car, paisa, aur ghar ka
saman to maangna banta hai.”
**Groom’s Mother**:
“Haan, humne to isiliye shaadi pakki ki thi ki ladki wale ameer hain. Ab agar itna nahi de
paaye to rishta kaisa?”
**Groom**:
“Arey chhodo maa-papa, ye sab shaadi ka ek hissa hai. Sab karte hain, to hum kyun nahi?”
**Scene 3: The Wedding Day**
(*The bride’s family is ready, but tension arises as the groom’s family demands dowry
before the rituals begin.*)
**Groom’s Father**:
“Humein to car chahiye, warna ye shaadi nahi hogi.”
**Aasha’s Father**:
“Kya ye zaroori hai? Humne apni poori zindagi beti ke liye jo bhi bacha tha, sab diya hai.”
**Groom’s Father**:
“Ye to hamari shart hai. Dahej ke bina shaadi kaise hogi?”
**Aasha**:
“Kya aapko sirf paisa chahiye? Aapka beta mera saath kaise nibha paayega, jab abhi paisa
hi mahatvapurn hai?”
**Aasha’s Father**:
(*With teary eyes*)
“Beti, humari sabhi umeedein toot gayi hain…”
**Scene 4: The Stand Against Dowry**
(*Aasha takes a stand. She turns to the crowd.*)
**Aasha**:
“Main is shaadi se inkaar karti hoon! Dahej ek samajik rog hai, aur main is rog ka hissa nahi
banungi. Humari zindagi paison se nahi banti, sanskaar aur samman se banti hai.”
**Neighbours & Friends**:
“Haan! Dahej ek paap hai! Is par rok lagni chahiye!”
**Sutradhar**:
(*Steps forward*)
“Beti ka jeevan khilauna nahi hai jo paison ke liye bech diya jaye. Aaj hum sab milkar dahej
pratha ka virodh karte hain. Aaj se hum pratigya lete hain ki dahej ke khilaf hum ladai
ladenge, aur ise samapt karenge!”
**End Scene**
(*The whole group joins together, chanting slogans against the dowry system.*)
**All Together**:
“Dahej ka naash ho, betiyon ka samman ho!
Humari maang puri karo – dahej ka ant karo!”
**Sutradhar (Final Statement)**:
“Dahej pratha ko mitana hai, betiyon ko bachana hai! Aaj hum ne ek chhoti si kahani
dikhayi, par asli badlav tab aayega jab hum sab milkar apne gharo se is kuriti ko mitayenge.
Jai Hind!”
