It was Magsaysay award winner Mahasweta Devi who, on her visit to Ahmedabad, asked the Chhara community of liquor brewers to uplift themselves and ensure that their children did not bear the stigma associated with them. She asked danseuse Mallika Sarabhai for help.

When UNESCO asked Sarabhai to participate in their heritage project, she sold them the concept of `thought heritage' that is, thoughts too are meant to be preserved. And she decided to involve Chhara children in a play that would stress the importance of preserving Mahatma Gandhi's thoughts.

But it was not easy for Archan Trivedi, the director of the play, to prepare these children. ``They have never acted before. They knew nothing about the stage. When they first came to Darpana, it was hard to make them even talk. Their language, Bhatu, is different. I started being friendly with them and made them act as if it was some game. Slowly they started to react, and then act.''

``But they were very obedient,'' says Kishor Jani, the music director of the play.

The staging of the play has brought a revolution of sorts in Chharanagar, near the airport area of the city, where even today 90 to 95 families sell illicit liquor for a living. Children here do not know a childhood; they get into the business early. So it was for the first time the artistes knew that they could do something other than selling liquor -- and that people would come to applaud them.

The youngest of them, Dipti and Ankur, who are 11 years, and the oldest, Tushar and Chetna, who are tenth standard students, just smile when they are asked to explain what the play has done for them. They are far too happy with their achievement.

Very slowly, Chetna says, ``I never knew anything of acting, but Sir (Archan Trivedi) worked very hard on us. The first time I went on the stage, I was scared to see so many people. But seeing everybody excited, I went on.''

Another artiste, Alkesh, was happy that some of his friends have enjoyed his performance. ``I will like to do more plays,'' he says confidently.

Even the little Ankur says, ``I was not afraid. It was very enjoyable. My mother also enjoyed it.''

Children who had not participated in this play are now asking if they can be accommodated in any way. The parents, who were a bit apprehensive even suspicious about what the project was all about are now excited about it.Says Tushar's mother, ``I couldn't believe my eyes. The way my lazy boy was charged for this play!''

But perhaps the impact of the project was summed up rightly by Dakshin Bajarangi, who is working for change in Chharanagar, ``If you would have met them a month back, these young ones would not be able to look up to your eyes or utter a word. But now see how confidently they are talking.''

The play will be staged more in the city, and the children are rehearsing on their own now. Perhaps staging a play might not change their lifestyle overnight, but the self-confidence it brings them may allow them on their own to decide the path they want to take in life.