LEAD KINDLY LIGHT CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF RELIGIOUS PLURALISM

Lead Kindly Light: Celebrating 150 Years of Religious Pluralism encompasses theatre and dance performed to 15 hymns dearest to Mahatma Gandhi, as it traverses the roots of the leader's multi-religious ideology.

- Sharmila Velaskar Kadne

As much a visual treat as a play, Lead Kindly Light takes up a seemingly simple yet crucial aspect of Mahatma Gandhi’s life — his prayer meetings, which encapsulated his idea of bringing all faiths together for a political cause in his time. Comprising hymns from every religion possible, these meetings were like his balm to soothe the turbulent time the country was going through. The play was first staged on 1 October 2019 at St Andrew’s Conference Hall, Bandra, in a very unique style with the help of ANDIE (Andrean Network of Dynamic and Inspired Educators), and SAPP (St Andrews Centre for Philosophy and Performing Arts) and Metamorphosis Theatre Inc.

Mahatma Gandhi or Bapuji, as we fondly know him, showed India the way to independence from British Rule. He stunned the entire world by using Ahimsa or non-violence, Satyagraha or peaceful demonstrations, the famed Non-Cooperation and Swadeshi Movements. Gandhiji vowed never to use violence or force to achieve India’s goals. He also practised yoga and meditation and led a simple and frugal life.

At St Andrew’s Centre for Philosophy and Performing Arts, Mumbai (SAPP), co-founders, Fr Magi Murzello and Dr Omkar Bhatkar, were mulling over an apt tribute for Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary. The result was Lead Kindly Light: Celebrating 150 Years of Religious Pluralism. The play, designed and directed by Dr Omkar Bhatkar, in collaboration with ANDIE (Andrean Network of Dynamic and Inspired Educators), SAPP (St Andrews Centre for Philosophy & Performing Arts) and Metamorphosis Theatre Inc., was yet another unique and wonderful concept brought to fruition in less than a month.