Play on Tibetan activist Tenzin Tsundue to be staged in BKC on July 16
A new theatrical play titled 'Standing on the Indus', which dramatises the real-life experiences of Tibetan activist, writer, and poet Tenzin Tsundue, is scheduled to be staged in BKC, Mumbai, on July 16. Directed by Quasar Thakore Padamsee, the production focuses on Tsundue's experiences of being imprisoned 16 times during his years of activism. The play aims to blend humour with stories of resilience, hope, and resistance, highlighting the deeply human side of the struggle for Tibetan freedom.
The 52-year-old activist, speaking from a cafe in Versova, shared that the concept for the play developed a couple of years ago. Tsundue approached Padamsee with the idea of transforming his various incarceration experiences into a theatrical script infused with humour. As a writer, Tsundue felt that this perspective of his journey was both inspiring and profoundly human.
Among the stories featured in the production is Tsundue's three-month imprisonment in Lhasa, which occurred before Chinese authorities deported him to India. During his time behind bars in Lhasa, Tsundue had an unlikely daily visitor: a tiny mouse that would scurry into his cell. Tsundue shared his limited grains of rice with the creature, which became his sole regular companion during his confinement. Tsundue joked that if he were ever reunited with the rodent, he would tell it that he is still active in his fight to free Tibet from Chinese occupation.
Many of Tsundue's 16 imprisonments took place after he staged protests during visits by Chinese premiers to India. When Padamsee first learned about the sheer number of times Tsundue had been jailed, he suggested creating a play based on these events.
Tsundue admitted that the proposal initially intimidated him, as his background is in activism rather than acting. To ease the transition and help convey the narrative, the production team created three additional characters to perform alongside Tsundue, who will star as the protagonist. Together, the cast will bring these stories of hope, humour, and humanity to the stage in BKC.
