Thirty-Sikh children of the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation (GGSF) in the age group of five to fifteen years recently staged two musical plays at Wootton High School in Rockville, Md, to mark the 300th anniversary of the Guru Granth Sahib.

The musicals, Yertle and Myrtle The Tyrant Turtles and Wayward Knight, laid stress on the struggle for justice and service of mankind.

Ravi Singh, coordinator of this initiative said: “Several months ago, we ventured into the unchartered territory of children’s theatre. Two professional directors, Carmel Sanders and Pooja Chawla, had trained children for over four months.”

“The highlight of the programme was inter-faith presentation of quotes, which were skillfully and artistically woven into the fabric of the play. These quotes conveyed the message of love, tolerance, harmony and peace of the Guru Granth Sahib and scriptures of other world religions. Famous writers like Leo Tolstoy and statesmen like Winston Churchill and Martin Luther King were also referred to,” he said.

Dr Rajwant Singh, executive director of GGSF, said: “With the aim of reaching out to the non-Sikh audience, Guru Gobind Singh Foundation formed the Rockville Chapter of New York’s award winning Children’s Theatre Company. This is perhaps the first initiative of its kind by any Sikh organisation in America. The effort also helped in removing mysteries about our faith.” The first play, Yertle and Myrtle the Tyrant Turtles, showcased how one can stand up to the pressures of power executed by the king and eventually bring down the tyrannical throne.

The second play, Wayward Knight, was the story of a knight who is called upon to serve the king and that is the biggest honour he can get. As he sets off on this journey he comes across various situations where many seek his aid and protection.