SHILLONG: A group of students from Sankardev College and St Edmund’s College spread the message of afforestation as well as social acceptance of the visually impaired through a short play, ‘Living Christmas Tree’, enacted recently on the State Central Library premises.
The play — written by Naomi Bhuyan, assistant lecturer at Sankardev College, and her student Reynold Jones Lyngdoh Nongbet, who was one of the actors, and directed by Bhuyan — though simple, had a strong ecological and social message. “We cut down trees to decorate our homes on Christmas but what we do not think is that it is affecting our environment. We can do the same by decorating the trees around us,” said Bhuyan.
The three blind men in the play — Ernest, Carlo and Boris — cannot see the Christmas lights and decorations but they can “understand the true meaning of the celebration and see the world through their inner eyes”, said Nongbet.
However, Bhuyan explained that the play was not just about environment “but also about those unfortunate people whom the society and family members do not accept because they are visually impaired”.
On the occasion, the theatre troupe invited a special guest, Bertina, a visually challenged student who completed her masters in English Literature. She is also a singer.
“Her story is an inspiration for all. Though abandoned by her family she never gave up and achieved what she had to,” said Bhuyan.
