The caste system is real. We might not understand it in our cocooned existence in an urban milieu, since we take something as simple as shaking hands for granted. But hit the hinterland, and it will stare you in the face. Forget about shaking hands if there's a caste division. Forget about sharing food. Forget about marrying. People instead tend to be drunk on pride and high on prejudice. That's what ails a large part of the Indian citizenry. And a play called Lassanwala that will be staged this week tries to remedy the situation in its own way by holding up a mirror to society, showing its ugly face when it comes to the treatment of the "lower caste".

It's called Lassanwala because the plot revolves around Kallu, a Brahmin who sells garlic. His belief in the caste system is so strong that he doesn't consume his own wares, since garlic is forbidden fruit for his ilk. He has a son, Dhanua, and a daughter-in-law, Rani. Both feel that he is wasting his time growing a product that ultimately won't feed their stomachs. But Kallu is staunch about his profession. "My forefathers have done it and hence I must carry the family tradition forward," he feels.