A play on Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, scheduled to be staged in Delhi as part of a global seminar on Dara Shikoh, has been cancelled because of ‘objections’ by organisers who are now replacing it with a performance by a troupe from Pakistan.
‘The play Aurangzeb was cancelled at the last minute because some representatives of the host organisation have objected to its staging,’ K S Rajendran, director of the production by New Delhi Theatre Workshop, said.
The play was to be staged during the three-day seminar organised by Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Urdu (Hind) from Friday.
Rajendran said he received an email from Ather Farouqui, general secretary of Anjuman, informing him of cancellation. ‘It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that we will not be able to host the play Aurangzeb... Some representatives of the Anjuman saw a recent performance of the play at the IIC and expressed their reservations about the play and its relevance to the present seminar. ‘From the platform of an organisation like the Anjuman, the matter of your play gains extraordinary sensitivity, hence this decision...,’ the email said.
Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Urdu (Hind) is an organisation founded in 1903 in Aligarh for promotion of Urdu language and literature.
Its media coordinator Jawaid Rahmani said, ‘...There are some internal reasons due to which the play has been cancelled.’ Aurangzeb originally written in Tamil in 1974 by writer Indira Parthasarathy, explores the psychology of the two characters. ‘It deals with ideological and religious differences between Aurangzeb and his brother Dara Shikoh. Dara was for secular India, but Aurangzeb believed in only one religion and according to historical facts and evidences, he did carry out atrocities in India,’ said Parthasarathy.
‘It is very sad that it has been cancelled. Freedom of speech and expression are the fundamental basis of our society and we should not forget it,’ said the playwright from Chennai.
‘The play Aurangzeb was cancelled at the last minute because some representatives of the host organisation have objected to its staging,’ K S Rajendran, director of the production by New Delhi Theatre Workshop, said.
The play was to be staged during the three-day seminar organised by Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Urdu (Hind) from Friday.
Rajendran said he received an email from Ather Farouqui, general secretary of Anjuman, informing him of cancellation. ‘It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that we will not be able to host the play Aurangzeb... Some representatives of the Anjuman saw a recent performance of the play at the IIC and expressed their reservations about the play and its relevance to the present seminar. ‘From the platform of an organisation like the Anjuman, the matter of your play gains extraordinary sensitivity, hence this decision...,’ the email said.
Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Urdu (Hind) is an organisation founded in 1903 in Aligarh for promotion of Urdu language and literature.
Its media coordinator Jawaid Rahmani said, ‘...There are some internal reasons due to which the play has been cancelled.’ Aurangzeb originally written in Tamil in 1974 by writer Indira Parthasarathy, explores the psychology of the two characters. ‘It deals with ideological and religious differences between Aurangzeb and his brother Dara Shikoh. Dara was for secular India, but Aurangzeb believed in only one religion and according to historical facts and evidences, he did carry out atrocities in India,’ said Parthasarathy.
‘It is very sad that it has been cancelled. Freedom of speech and expression are the fundamental basis of our society and we should not forget it,’ said the playwright from Chennai.