Yama, the God of Death, tells the story of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal to demonstrate the concepts of love and karma in Hinduism. Shah Jahan falls in love with Mumtaz at first sight and marries her after gaining his father's approval. Mumtaz gives birth to 14 children but dies giving birth to the last. Grieving, Shah Jahan builds the Taj Mahal over 22 years as a monument to her. The story also depicts the harsh life of slaves and how one kind slave is reincarnated into a better life while his cruel owner is reincarnated as a pig.

1. SCENE 1: HELL
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Yama: Greetingseveryone! Welcome toNaraka,HELL!!! My name is Yama,the God of Death and
Justice,the wisestamongall the devas.Iobserve the all humanbeings onEarthandkeepa complete
record of theiractions.Upontheirdeath,I calculate theirkarmaand decide whetherthey
reincarnate asa superiororinferiororganism.
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SCENE 2: MOGHUL PALACE
Yama: Today,I am goingtotell all of you a story,a storyaboutlove.Many manyyearsago in the
Moghul Empire of India,there livedahandsome prince namedShahJahan. He livedafabulouslifein
a beautiful palace.
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(PriestandShahJahan appears.PriestseemedtotutorShahJahan)
Yama: As a child,ShahJahanreceivedbroadeducationbefittinghisstatusasa Mughal prince,which
includedpoetry.
Priest:(HoldsbookwithShahJahan) Readthispoem, yourhighness.Followme.LAGTA NAHIN HAI
DIL
Shah Jahan:LAGTA NAHIN HAIDIL
Priest:MERA UJDE DAYAR MEIN
Shah Jahan:MERA UJDE DAYARMEIN
Yama: Shah Jahanlearntmusical instruments
Priest:My royal highness,thisiscalledapunji andIam teachingyouhow to playthis.
(ShahJahan and priestplaysmusical instrument) (presssoundbutton)
Yama: Also,he learntmartial arts.
Priest:My dearhighness,tobe a strongking,you musttrainyour muscles(showsmuscles),tobe as
strongas me.
Shah Jahan:Yes,my honourable teacher.
Priest:Now,take yoursword,Iam teachingyouthe Indianmartial artcalled‘yuddhkala’.
(PriestandShahJahan performsmartial arts)
(KingJahangirandQueenTaj Bibi comesin)
Yama: One day, ShahJahan’sparents,KingJahangirandQueenTaj Bibi came fora surprise visit.
PriestandShah Jahan:(bowsto kingandqueen) Yourmajesties.
Jahangir:Howis my sondoing?
Priest:He islearningverywell,yourmajesty.

2. Jahangir:Great job,son.I am proudof you.
Shah Jahan:Thanks,yourmajesty.
(JahangirandTaj Bibi leaves)
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SCENE 3: MEENA BAZAAR
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(PriestandShahJahan comesin)
Yama: WhenShah Jahanwas 15, he wentto a MeenaBazaar. While strollingdownthe streets,he
caught a glimpse of agirl sellingsilkandglassbeads.Itwaslove at firstsight.
Shah Jahan:(To priest) Hey,didyousee thatgirl?
Priest:Yes,Ido
Shah Jahan:She’sso pretty!
Priest:Iagree,yourhighness.Whynotyoutalk to her?
Shah Jahan:(approachesMumtaz,Mumtaz shy) Heygirl,what’syourname?
Mumtaz: (shy) Arjumand BanuBegum.
Shah Jahan:Wow,what a beautiful name.You’re beautiful (kisseshand)
Mumtaz: Thank you. (shyandmovesfar away)
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SCENE 4: INDIAN SAVANNA
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(ShahJahanand Mumtaz dances)
Yama: They fell inlove
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SCENE 5: MOGHUL PALACE
Yama: Shah Jahanwentback to the palace.
(JahangirandTaj Bibi comesin)
Shah Jahan:My majesties,Ihave animportantannouncementtotell.
Jahangir:What isit, mydear?
Shah Jahan:I meta girl calledArjumandandIwannamarry her!
Taj Bibi:Seriously?Youcan’tmarry a girl youjustmet!!!
Shah Jahan:But,but she’skindandprettyand I reallylove her!

3. Jahangir:No,onlyarrangedmarriagesare allowedinthisfamily.Thistraditionhasbeeninthe family
for generations!
Shah Jahan:Why notlet’sinvite hertothe palace.You’ll probablylike her!
Jahangir:Okay fine,findone dayandinvite hertothe palace.We wouldlike toknow herbackground
and see if she’seligible tobe yourprincess.
Shah Jahan:(happy) Alright,yourmajesty(walksaway)
Yama: One day, ShahJahan broughtArjumand tothe palace.
Shah Jahan:May I introduce all of you to the ladyI fell inlove with…
Jahangir:May we knowyour name?
Mumtaz: ArjumandBanuMegum,your majesty.
Taj Bibi:What’syour background?
Mumtaz: I am a Persianprincess,yourmajesty.
Taj Bibi:Wow,a princess.Ourson isprettygoodat selectinggirls.
Jahangir:Only royal familiescanmarry royal families.Ithinkoursonjust dida rightchoice.
Taj Bibi:I agree.(toMumtaz) What talentsdoyou have?
Mumtaz: I can dance,your majesty.
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(Indianmusic,Mumtazdances)
Jahangir:I like her,she isprettyandtalented
Taj Bibi:Most importantly,she hasagood familybackground.
Jahangir:Alrightson,youcan marry her,but youneedtowaitfor 5 years,whenyouare more
matured.
Shah Jahan:5 years??Butwhy???
Taj Bibi:5 years then5 years!!!Don’tmisobeyyourfather.
Shah Jahan:Alright.
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SCENE 6: WEDDING
Yama: 5 yearslater,whenShahJahanwas 20 yearsold,he marriedArjumand.A grand wedding
ceremonywasheld.The bride performs the Pithaceremony.She wearsinbrightyellow whilebeing
coveredinturmericpowder.
(Mumtazwearsyellowcloth,Taj Bibi putpowderonMumtaz)
Yama: Next,she wearsa nose ringcalledaNath.
(Taj Bibi wearsNath onMumtaz)

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Yama: Next,it’s the Mehendi ceremony.Hennaisdelicatelypaintedonthe bride’shandsandfeet.
(Taj Bibipaintsbride’shands)
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(presssoundbutton)
(SCREEN SHOWS WEDDING VENUE)
Yama: Afterthat,it’sthe Bharat ceremony.The groommakesa grandentrance to the wedding
venue.
(ShahJahanentersand carry gifts)
Yama: He bringswithhimthe daala,whichare giftsof clothesandjewelryfromthe royal familyto
the bride.
(ShahJahangivesgiftto Mumtaz)
Yama: The priestmakesthe bride,groomandfamilywitnessessignacontract knownasnikah-sama.
(Priestbringspaperforeveryone tosign)
Yama: Next,theypraytogether
(Everyone prays)
Yama: A grand weddingfeastisheldafterthe ceremonies.However,malesandfemalesare
segregatedfromone anotherinMoghul weddings.
(Male one side,female one side.Eat.)
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Yama: Shah Jahanawards Arjumandanofficial title.
Shah Jahan:(takesawayshroud) Fromnow on, yourname shall be Mumtaz Mahal!
Mumtaz: Yes,your highness.
Yama: Aftermarriage,ShahJahanand Mumtaz Mahal livedhappily.Mumtazgave birthto as much
as 13 children.
However,whenthe 14th
childisborn…
(Mumtazwithcloth,holdingShahJahan’shand)
Taj Bibi:Push!!!!!Push!!!!
Mumtaz: AHHHH!!! I can’t doit!!!I’m gonnadie!!!!
Shah Jahan:No,you cannotdie.Ourchildrenneedsyou.
Mumtaz: No,I can’t, thisistoo hard forme.Take care of our children,ok?(closeseye)
Shah Jahan:No,No!!!(shakesMumtaz) PLEASEDON’tDIE!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

5. (Everyone cries) (presssoundbutton)
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SCENE 7 : FUNERAL
Yama: Mumtaz dieddue to childcomplications. A grandfuneral is heldforher.
Yama: First,the priestreadsthe al-Koran.
(PriestreadsKoran)
Yama: Next,female membersof the familygivesthe deadbodyacoldbathand wrap the bodywith
a white shroud
(Taj Bibi bathesMumtaz’sbodyand coversit withwhite shroud)
Yama: A mourningperiodof 40 days isannouncedandthe kingrefusedtoattendanyaffairs.The
corpse is thentransportedtoAgra andburied.There wasa longprocessionof commonersand
slaves.
(Royaltyfamily mournsatdeadbody,slavesfollow behind)
Yama: The slavesreceivealmsand foodforattendingthe funeral procession
(Priestgivesfoodandcoinstoslaves)
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SCENE 8: CONSTRUCTION SITE
Yama: To commemorate hiswife,ShahJahanrecruitedmenall overIndiatobuildthe Taj Mahal.
Hundredsof slaveswere involvedinthisconstruction.
(ShahJahandirectsthe slavestodo work)
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(SCREEN CHANGES TO TAJMAHAL)
Yama: After22 years,the Taj Mahal isbuilt.
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(SCREEN CHANGES TO MARKET)
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Yama: The slavesare thensoldat the slave market.One day,a Vaisyamerchantcame to buya slave
Merchant: (looksatslave) Youare tooskinny,Idon’tlike!(looksatanotherslave) Youare tooold,I
don’tlike!(looksatlastslave) Ahhhhhh,thisone isjustright. Iwantyou to be my slave! (Gives
moneytopriest) (toslave) Followme!!!
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6. SCENE 9: INDIAN STREET
Yama: It is noteasyto be a slave, theyhave norightsinsociety.Theydoall sortsof dirtywork.For
example,theycarryheavythings.
(Slave carriesheavythings)
Yama: Theyclear cloggeddrains
(Slave clearingdrain)
Yama: Also,theyclearhumanwaste .
(Merchantpoops)
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(Merchantasks slave toclearit, slave carriesthe pot)
Yama: The slavesare oftenbulliedby theirowners.
(Givesslave horriblefood,slaveeats)
(Slave triestotouchmerchant)
Merchant: Shooshooshoo!!!Why didyoutouch me!!??
Slave:Got duston yourshirt.
Merchant: Justgo away,you filthyanimal,you’lldirtymyskin!!!Don’tyouknow you’re an
untouchable?You’ll degrade me if youtouchme.
Slave:Sorry,sir.
Yama: Despite the hardships,the slave isakindperson.
(Anotherslave dyingonthe street,he giveshisfoodtohim)
(Anotherslave begging,he giveshimpenny)
Yama: One day, there wasa virusoutbreak.Bothof themfell sick.
(Slave andmerchantsickand coughing)
Merchant: You see!!!!Lasttime youtouchme,now I’msickalready!!!
Slave:Sorry,sir.
Merchant: Sorrywhat sorry???Go and cleanthe toilet.Now!!!
Slave:Yes,sir.
Yama: At the end,bothof themdiedof disease.
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SCENE 10: HELL
Yama: In the Hindureligion,itisbelievedthatsoulsgotohell firstfortheirjudgementafterdeath.
Merchant: Where are we?

7. Slave:Ithinkwe are inhell.
Yama: Greetings,newcomers!
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Merchant: Who,who,whoare you?
Yama: I am Yama, the God of Deathand I have beenobservingall yourgooddeedsandbaddeeds.
It’stime for judgementnow. Upondeath,Iwill calculate all yourkarma usinga chessset.Black
representsbaddeedswhile white representsgooddeeds.
(Merchantand slave begging)
Merchant: (begs) Ohplease,please don’tpunishme,I’magoodperson!
Yama: Silence!!!(calculates) You!!!(toslave)Yourare a kindperson,youcanreincarnate asa rich
man inyour nextlife.Go!!
Slave:Thankyousir
Yama: YOU!!!
Merchant: Yes???
Yama: You evil man.Youreincarnate as a pigin yournextlife!!!!
Merchant: What??I??? A pig???? NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
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SCENE 11: THE NEXTLIFE (20 YEARS LATER)
Yama: 20 years later,afterthe twosoulshave reincarnated.
Slave:Awwwww,whatacute piggy….
Merchant: (wearspigmask) Oink! (chasesafterslave)
Slave:Don’tdon’ttouchme youfilthyanimal,shoo!!!
Yama: Thisis calledkarma. It isin the belief systemof mostIndians. Andthe moral of the storiesI
tell is,numberone,love shouldbe unconditionalandnumbertwo,we shouldtreatotherswell
disregardingtheirbackgroundorstatus.Thankyou.
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*THE END*