Papa Rao: Forgive us Narsimma, pardon us peddanna,we’ll behave ourselves.

Narsimma: Will you swear to respect dalits?

[All five nod in agreement.]

Madanna: It’s the revolutionary decree of thisadalat to tattoo ‘I respect dalits’ on both their forearms. And for better effect, let it be capital D.

[Exit: A stunned Muthyal Rao, Papa Rao, Rami Reddy, Papi Reddy and Shaukar Suryam are led away by Anna(1) and Anna(2) as the gathered applaud the judgment.]

[Enter: Anna (3) with Nirmala.]

Anna (3): Anna, this is Nirmala.

Srisailam: What’s your grievance?

Nirmala: This Narsi Reddy has raped me.

Srisailam:YeraNarsi Reddy, are you guilty of the charge?

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Narsi Reddy: Anna allow me to make amends by marrying her.

Srisailam to Nirmala: Does that redress your grievance?

Nirmala: It’s not out of remorse that he proposes. He wants to save his skin, that’s all. And the whole village knows he’s a habitual violator.

Madanna: Let Narsi Reddy face the firing squad.

Narsi Reddy: Peddanna, please.

Narsimma: Not to take anything away from Nirmala’s hurt; we may take Narsi Reddy’s youth into account. It’s true he’s willing to atone for his sin only to save his skin but still.

Srisailam: Anna, it’s not some juvenile delinquency calling for leniency. It’s his patwarimind-set to debauch dalit women that we’re dealing with.

Madanna: What is our conscience keeper’s say on this?

Renuka: It’s only fair that he serves a jail term as per law. But sadly our failed system lets him go scot-free. And that enables him to violate many more women, if not here, elsewhere . So to save the trauma of his likely victims, he should lose his life.

Madanna: Let the sentence be carried out.

[Exit: A stunned Narsi Reddy led away byAnna (3).]

[Enter: Anna (1)and Anna (2) with Muthyal Rao, Papa Rao, Rami Reddy, Papi Reddy and Shaukar Suryam, amidst a hail of bullets.]

Rami Reddy: Where is my son? What have you done to him?

Srisailam: Well, he has got his deserts.

Rami Reddy: Peddanna please let me see him.

Madanna: Yeh, Patwari, sit still till all get their due. [To Sarakka] Well, are there any more charges against these fellows?

Sarakka: I accuse Muthyal Rao, Papa Rao and Shaukar Suryam of having raped me.

Narsimma: Are you guilty of the charge?

[All the three nod in agreement}

Narsimma: Any submissions by you?

Shaukar Suryam: Annalu, we beg of you, pardon us and spare our lives.

Yellaiah (From the gathering): Maisaiah too would have pleaded for his life, wouldn’t he have?




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