(A short play for children aged 3 to 5)
Scene 1: The Courtyard and Veranda (Morning)
(Mother is grinding grains. Bhailu is watching. The chorus sings. According to the song, birds appear and begin acting while eating grains.)
Chorus:
Bell goes Gham gham gham, bell goes Gham gham gham
Gham gham gham, bell goes Gham gham gham
A grain for an ant, a sack for an elephant,
Each gets as much as they can eat. Gham gham gham, the bell rings…
Morning comes and the bell rings,
Pigeons gather around our house,
Sparrows chirp as they fly,
The parrot sings a sweet tune,
Even the squirrel hums a raga… Gham gham gham…
Mother spreads grains,
The myna dances, a carnival begins,
The peacock dances in front of all,
The cuckoo coos like tabla beats,
Chana-chana calls the brother, chana-chana calls him twice… Gham gham gham…
Bhailu: These birds are so beautiful!
Mother: Yes, just as sweet and lovely as you.
Bhailu: And smart too…
Mother: Yes, smart too.
Bhailu: Look, they only eat as much as they’re hungry.
Mother: And they eat joyfully.
They eat what I grind.
Bhailu: If it’s rice, then rice. If wheat, then wheat…
Mother: Whether it’s sorghum or millet, they eat it all.
Bhailu: Chickpeas, chickpeas, chickpeas! Chickpeas are the best.
Mother: Yes, my chickpeas. Today I’m making chickpea curry.
Bhailu: That’s going to be fun! (He starts singing.)
Chickpeas, chickpeas, chickpeas,
I have so many,
Can’t do without them,
I love them truly.
(The chorus joins Bhailu in singing. Scene ends.)
Scene 2: The Kitchen (Evening)
(Everyone—Bhailu, father, grandfather, grandmother—are seated for dinner. Mother is serving food.)
Mother: Bhailu, what would you like?
Bhailu: Chickpeas. (Mother serves.) A little curry too, please.
Mother: Here you go. Eat slowly, okay?
Father: And chew your food well.
Grandfather: That’s how it digests.
See, even I, with no teeth, chew my food properly.
Bhailu: Yes, Grandpa. I’ll chew just like you. (Everyone laughs.)
Bhailu: Dad, birds eat grains—but what do animals eat?
Father: Animals don’t eat grains—they graze.
Bhailu: Graze?
Father: Yes, they eat grass and fodder.
Grandfather: But they do eat—just like us.
Bhailu: Then can we feed chickpea curry to horses?
Grandfather: No, curry…
Father: No, not curry—but soaked chickpeas, yes.
Horses love chickpeas.
Bhailu: Really!? Then I’ll surely feed chickpeas to a horse—tomorrow!
Grandfather: Good. Visit Govind, the horse-cart man. He’ll be happy.
Father: Yes. We’ll go together tomorrow. Come with me.
Mother: I’ll soak chickpeas overnight.
Bhailu: My sweet, sweet mother… and my dear, dear father…
(Scene ends.)
Scene 3: Near Govind’s Horse-Cart and Home (Evening)
(A pouch of soaked chickpeas is tied to the horse’s mouth. Govind pats the horse gently. The horse eats the chickpeas peacefully.)
Father: Look at that. He’s eating slowly and peacefully.
Govind: When horses eat chickpeas, they run better. They gain strength.
Bhailu: That’s why Mother feeds me jaggery and chickpeas every day.
Father: So you become strong like a horse.
Govind: So you can run like a horse… tabdak tabdak tabdak!
(Chorus members arrive. Everyone begins to sing together.)
Tabdak tabdak tabdak tu,
Run like a horse,
You eat jaggery and chickpeas,
That’s why you never tire,
You stay fresh and full of energy,
Run like a horse!
Tabdak tabdak tabdak tu,
Run like a horse!
Come on horse, go tabdak tabdak…
Scene 4: School Playground (Evening)
Principal: At our school, we don’t compete against each other.
But every two months, we track your progress.
Based on that, we give certificates and awards.
Sports Teacher: And this year, the ones who’ve improved most in running are…
Chhaya Shah. Please come to the stage.
(She stands on one side.)
Jay Parmar. Please come forward.
(He stands on the other side.)
And now… guess who?
(From the audience: “Bhailu!”)
Sports Teacher: Yes, Bhailu Patel… please come to the stage.
(He comes forward.)
(Bhailu stands center stage. Chhaya and Jay stand on either side. All three receive a running horse trophy and certificate. Applause.)
(Chorus enters. Govind and the horse also join. Govind starts the song.)
Tabdak tabdak tabdak tu,
Run like a horse,
You eat jaggery and chickpeas,
That’s why you never tire,
You stay fresh and full of energy,
Run like a horse!
Tabdak tabdak tabdak tu,
Run like a horse!
Come on horse, go tabdak tabdak…
Bhailu:
Chickpeas, chickpeas, chickpeas,
I have so many,
Can’t do without them,
I love them truly.
With jaggery and chickpeas I eat,
I become a speedy athlete!
Chickpeas, chickpeas, chickpeas,
I have so many…
Bhailu (to the audience):
I’ve got chickpeas—do you?
Then eat jaggery and chickpeas.
Grow strong. Stay strong.
(Everyone repeats the line “Eat jaggery and chickpeas, grow strong” while dancing…)
(Play ends)
