“Inherit the Wind” – A Timeless Echo of Conscience and Conviction

Directed by Jagadish Raja | Rehearsed Reading at Jagriti Theatre

"He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind, and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart."

— Proverbs 11:29

This past Friday evening, I had the privilege of witnessing a stirring presentation of “Inherit the Wind” — a powerful play brought to life as a rehearsed reading at Jagriti Theatre under the thoughtful direction of Jagadish Raja. The performance was staged to commemorate the centenary of the historic Scopes Monkey Trial, a moment in history that continues to echo in today’s world.

Set in Tennessee in 1925, the play dramatizes the trial of a schoolteacher, Bertram Cates, who is accused of violating the — a law that prohibited public school teachers from denying the Biblical account of creation and from teaching evolution. What begins as a courtroom debate soon transforms into a deeper clash between tradition and progress, faith and reason, and most importantly, between freedom of thought and enforced conformity.

The courtroom becomes a crucible for two towering figures: the celebrated liberal lawyer Henry Drummond and the staunch fundamentalist Matthew Harrison Brady. Once friends, now ideological adversaries, they engage in a fierce and poignant battle — not merely for the verdict, but for the very soul of human curiosity and independent thinking.

Drummond, eloquent and composed, reminds us time and again that it is not Bertram Cates who is truly on trial, but the right of a human being to think. Barred from calling scientific experts to the stand, he instead calls Brady himself — a surprising and dramatic turn. What unfolds is a gripping intellectual duel — a battle of beliefs wrapped in dignity, sharp wit, and the ache of a strained friendship.

In the end, Cates is found guilty and fined a mere $100, but the cost of dogma proves far greater. Brady collapses and dies while attempting to make one last statement. And yet, in that final moment, what lingers is not triumph or defeat, but the quiet grief of Drummond — mourning a fallen friend, perhaps the last tether to a shared past.

What touched me most deeply was how, despite their bitter opposition, Drummond and Brady never let go of a thread of civility and mutual respect. Their conflict was fierce but never cruel. In Brady’s final moments, Drummond’s sorrow felt like the closing of a chapter in which conviction and compassion still found room to coexist.

I had only a faint understanding of the Scopes Trial before this evening — my son, an avid reader of trials and stories of justice, had shared snippets with me. But this performance made the history breathe. It reminded me that ideals, when carried with grace, can still leave space for empathy — even in dissent.

Following the performance, Jagadish Raja joined the cast on stage and spoke with quiet urgency. He shared how, while envisioning this play’s revival, his son in California mentioned that even today, there are instances where teachers are discouraged from teaching evolution. Raja also reflected on how, here in India, critical elements like the periodic table are vanishing from school syllabi. His words rang clear: this play is not merely a retelling of a 100-year-old trial. It is a mirror — and a warning — for our times.

“Inherit the Wind” is more than a courtroom drama. It is a call to cherish thought, to question boldly, and to remember that progress never comes without courage. I walked away that night moved — not only by the brilliance of the performance, but by the enduring relevance of its message.