A JOURNEY BEYOND
(Antarjali yatra)

On the banks of the Ganges delta: a small temple in ruins and a plot of land used as a cremation ground. In this desolate spot, there is only the solitary presence of Baidu, an untouchable, whose job is to stack the wood for the funeral pyre. Satinent, the dying old Brahmin, has been brought here by his family and friends to live out his last moments. The entire Brahmin community watches over him as the astrologer announces Sitaram’s imminent death and specifies that he must take a companion with him. Satinent is a widower and must therefore remarry. A poor Brahmin is found, quite happy to mother his daughter in order to avoid the shame of keeping a nubile girl at home and at the same time to have the honour of a daughter who will glorify his name by committing the ‘Sati’, the fire sacrifice for widows, who throw themselves on their husbands’ pyres. Yashobati, the bride, goes to the cremation ground. Baidu begs her to flee and, when she refuses, he tries to kill the old man. Yashobati tries to keep him away, but the physical contact has the effect of bringing them closer together. The old man, his young wife and Baidu are trapped in this primal drama of love and passion, jealousy and hatred, fear and desire for freedom. Nature, in the form of a tidal bore from the Ganges, brings the drama to a violent conclusion.