NEWBORN DILEMMA

FIRST DRAFT: INDIA- BURMA

? sepoy: In his late 20’s, north Indian married.
Major General Victor joseph: late 40’s, Basutoland, divorced.
Pranay Banerjee: translator, scholar from Bengal/Calcutta, 10 years of marriage.
Phyo/zin: nationalist, humble, from Karen.

Synopsis
India was highly motivated for two tasks, under Southeast Asia Federation policy. The First
of them was to rapidly increase decolonization of Indonesia and the second was to help newly
independent countries from internal and external strife thus protecting their very own
existence. After the independence of Burma on January 4, 1948. The country was on the
verge of extinction because of several economic and political factors, the most prominent
reason was a newborn internal riot or civil war. Burma asked for help from commonwealth
countries and unions. INDIA and The AFRICAN union responded. Resulting in sending their
personnel to help Burma. They established their base in Calcutta for the time being, Calcutta
will be acting as a sailing port to Burma. India had good relations with the commonwealth
countries so when Burma pleaded, India answered in the highest manner possible they asked
all the countries of the union to provide economic and ammunition aid to Burma. The First to
revolt were The Burmese communist party, they launched an armed struggle on March
24 ,1948. Main motive was to turn democrats into communists. India together with the
alliances of Ceylon, The African union and Pakistan are planning their next move, they have
sent a bunch of their personnel to examine Rangoon……...
Under Major general Victor joseph with a translator Pranay Banerjee and a section of
soldiers.

Major characters and characteristics

^Sepoy: ~curious – neutral – charismatic – positive mentality – full 0f hope-generous-
unorganized-endurance-cooperative-sense of responsibility.

Sepoy was from a remote village in northern India. He was feeling a sense of responsibility
as he was about to become a father, his wife was 5 months pregnant. Two years back he was
a teenager with no aim, or schedule, he used to help his mom by grazing cattle in the morning
in doons of Lower Himalayas and in the evening playing by the riverside. He had deep faith
in God. He had very high expectations and pure intentions for his baby and wanted to raise
his baby with proper nourishment away from the diseases.
^Brigadier General / bauila mahu khayupa ZIN:
-positive, - humble, -nationalist.
Zin was from The Karen community (an ethnic group with Tibetan origin) his father was a
proactivist and was killed by the people of his community his father was betrayed by his
mom and his grandma committed suicide because of the shame indulged in her by the acts of
her daughter in law. Zin worked hard under the influence of his older sister and got selected
in Myanmar armed forces. Atrocities of his people always followed him, whether it was
about trust, friendship, or relationship issues.
^Major General Victor Joseph
-negative aspects of life, -divorced – away from his children -lost custody of his son.
Victor Joseph was from a small landlocked country, Basutoland, he was a true nationalist.
After all his dad actively participated in the first Boer war. He lost his mother at an early age
which shaped his overall personality (cold, humorous, victim mentality). His country was a
financial burden on the African Union, resulting in various racial slurs and biases during his
teenage. He got separated from the love of his life and lost custody of his son. Which was the
second event that completely shattered his kindness and developed victim mentality.

^Pranay Banerjee
-neutral, - logic, -intelligent, -balanced lifestyle, - upper middle class of society,
Pranay was a scholar from Calcutta, he had a neutral personality, and never saw too much
comfort or sadness like Victor or Phyo. He had a taste of elements like joy and sadness, a
perfect combo. His father was a professor at the Hindu College Calcutta in the 1870’s, he
nurtured the hard-earned nature of Pranay. He had been married for 10 years and was living
near the Hooghly River in their sweet little home with two kids.
Character How they perceive Burma
Sepoy A newborn baby is starting to learn and flourish. who needs
support and nourishment from his allies, comparing his future
(Token character + main kid to Burma how he wants his kid to be.
character)

Victor joseph A kid who got separated from his parents blames Burma
and Anglo forces just like he got separated from his kid.
Thinks they can’t survive without his presence. Wants his
kid to learn it the hard way.

Pranay Banerjee Being assigned to a higher official he can’t really put his
thoughts on this but is rather neutral than negative and
compared Burma to his 5- and 7-year old’s whom he has
watched over past few years and realizes that everything is
important for an entity to grow but there was one condition
it should be balanced with proper proportions.

Phyo/zin Phyo is going to be constant source of positivity. Nation is

what he stands for, hope is what he represents. He is
unmarried but wants to have children some day with very
few expectations he is ready to give him/her all the resources
he didn’t have while growing up and wants him/her to
flourish in peace.

Sepoy represents all the eager and curious young

generation/ audience seeking help from millennials or
people in adulthood. asking how to aim, think, enjoy,
experience life. Will he succeed …….
Story:
“When joy takes leave, friends betray.
Fortune frowns and spring departs.
When you are left to your dismay
Alone to face and shattered heart.
When things are no more the same,
Try once and play the game.
Wipe the tears and stop the cry.
Sky is the limit if you try!”
Failing to tie his shoelaces sepoy gets a little bit tamed by Victor. Little chaff
won’t hurt, victor was a veteran in being pessimist. On the contrary all the
others on the boat were neutral, non-balanced. Some of them were afraid of the
portfolio he held. He had some of the most controversial thoughts on life……
Everyone thought he needed negativity like humans need oxygen. Not everyone
knew why he was like that … “Was it the racism he faced while climbing the
upstairs of his ranks nevertheless he withstood that”,” Was it the constant
pressure of his ancestorial bloodline” no…. It was all because of his separation
from his children. Losing the custody of his beloved. On the other hand, sepoy
was a bit overwhelmed by the idea of exploring a new country on his first major
transfer. Sepoy constantly forgot to tie his shoelaces it symbolizes how as
younger generation are full of chaos and mess, but with the help of a boomer in
this case Victor and others how sepoy will prevail as an individual. The official
translator Mr. Banerjee couldn’t do anything but agree because of victor’s high
profile. They had some conversations on Burma some were beautiful lore some
were horrendous myth. The crew was filled with negativity until they were
received by bauila mahu khayupa zin, it looked like he was the aftermath of
Victor like, if divorce never happened. Zin was from the Karen community in
Burma. They were famously known for their crimes. Karen community
launched the first armed rebellion of independent Burma, even though their
regional heads were all woman they committed severe hate crimes towards
women rape, murders etc. zin’s mom was a regional head she even killed his
husband because he spited to police about their whereabouts. Zin was
completely opposite of the idea of a Karen …. Victor and Zin had some
conversations on Burma, its stability, life etc. There was war between the
philosophies of both individuals. Ob their way to Burma/Rangoon sepoy was
curios and confuse whom to listen and whom to not …
Seeing the eagerness in sepoy’s eyes victor was flabbergasted it was just like his
kid wanting something from him., at this moment a shot hit victor his whole life
flashed before his eyes, his heart converted he murmured some words to sepoy
….
Sepoy had a different philosophy what is it...?

Setup:
The story exploits aspects of life. In this story, the main character {sepoy
unnamed} is representing our generation, he has one thing that he always
forgets to tie his shoelaces representing constant chaos and mess in younger
generation. He lives in constant chaos as a part of it. Sepoy often seems
confused and unbalanced asset. He lives under the influence of firstly his mom
then for some time Victor and then under Zin and Victor like a rolling stone. He
eagerly asks and presents his ideas were highly influenced by his six months
old. World full of a bubble how will he/she survive, how should it survive etc.
He has some questions on life and Burma who he correlates with as his
newborn. Victor joseph represents the negative side of this society who
constantly drags younger generation down. But... but... negativity has its reason,
its time and situation which has made negativity the villain … time and
situations are the only two things which are ever wrong, people are the victim of
it. Major General Victor Joseph throughout his life was a victim of bullying,
racism, fraud etc. Then he got divorced, that’s why he is so negative.
Mr. Banerjee represents our parents. Who are helpless because of society ‘s
negativity and can only either agree to its bits or balance it. just like a godfather
Banerjee wants Burma to grow with both negative and positive aspects
developing Ying-yang. These three with some personnel are off to Burma, to
examine the situation better there. The first half is filled with negativity. Victor
almost influences all of them thinking that Burma’s entire existence Is a
question………………

Confrontation:
They’re in Burma harbor, they’re well received by Bauila mahu khayupa Zin
he adds positivity to the scene with his persona and character. Even with those
horrific incidents that occurred to him he constantly directs younger
generations, earned respect among his locality and comrades. He indulges with
Victor in conversations and tries to balance the drama. He creates confusion in
sepoy that what is balance between chaos, peace, and drama.

Resolution:
Victor dies in the end teaching the sepoy what balance is
and what Burma actually requires, pointing at sepoy’s
shoes ….. The dilemma is still alive for that baby, of
Burma.

Dummy script:
On a cold Friday morning, the Commonwealth union decided
to send their personnel to examine the situation at Rangoon.
The team was under the wing of Major General Victor Joseph.
(Scene starts when victor and everybody were sailing to
Burma on a boat)
(Victor told sepoy. )
“Boy your shoelaces are wide open”,
(Seeking mercy from Pranay, glancing at him for help).
Sepoy: “Pranay dada” (pointing at his shoes he answered
silently)
Sepoy: “Oh, sorry sir I forgot.”
(Quickly ties his laces)
Victor: “A soldier shouldn’t be this messy.”
(Grins after taming him a bit)
Victor was a little bit excited after he saw sea (Bay of
Bengal) for the first time, as Basuto land is landlocked. He
was mesmerized.
Victor: “Look at that boy, isn’t it beautiful.”
Sepoy was confused for a moment but after looking at general
Pranay and he nodded. It was also a special moment for Sepoy
as this was his first posting. A year back in time he was
grazing cattle and goats In the Himalayas with his mom and
now he was with one of the best officers, sailing in the same
boat.
Victor: “What do you think Pranay?”
(Pranay was confused, so he helped)
“About Burma, will he survive.” Burma should’ve been
given back to India it cannot survive on its own.
Pranay: Sir, I think these sorts of challenges are what build
the foundation of great nations. A balance of everything is a
necessity.
Victor; what about you boy?
Sepoy: sir me (he was astonished and surprised by the fact
that an official had asked his opinion), I think it’s like a
newborn infant, who’ll make some mistakes while growing
up, learn new aspects of life and if lucky enough he will live a
healthy life.
(At this moment sepoy was heavily influenced by his 6
months pregnant wife)