Finally, Pakistani play Kaun Hai Ye Gustakh staged in capital

When the play Kaun Hai Ye Gustakh, was staged by Pakistani theatre group Ajoka in the capital on Wednesday night, it brought back some bitter memories for the city’s theatre lovers.

The play, based on noted Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto, was cancelled by the National School of Drama (NSD) two years back owing to tension on the India-Pakistan border. The play was to have taken part in NSD’s Bharat Rang Mahotsav festival.

However, the director, Shahid Nadeem, is happy that this time, he staged it for a bigger audience. Nadeem said, “The whole episode was emotional last time though Akshara theatre gave us a chance to stage the play after it got cancelled. We are happy that it was staged in a bigger auditorium this time.” The play focuses on Manto’s life, works and events after his migration to Pakistan in 1949. The play is a part of the ongoing four-day Humsaya Pakistani theatre festival organised by Ajoka in association with the NGO Routes2Roots.

If Manto’s struggle against extremism, censorship and his inner struggles were lapped up by the audience, Bulla, the play on the life and times of Sufi poet and humanist Bulle Shah, with its beautifully-rendered <g data-gr-id="31">quwalis</g>, received an overwhelming response. Nadeem felt that Bulle Shah’s message on peace is pertinent to both India and Pakistan. 

“The play was received well here because Bulle Shah is relevant to the region. He opposed injustice and hypocrisy and challenged religious fundamentalists. More than a Sufi poet, he was a rebel of the times,” Nadeem added. 

Founded in 1983, Ajoka had always challenged fanaticism and was instrumental in spreading the message of peace across the border through theatre. “Pakistan is facing religious extremism in all spheres of life. Through our plays, we always try to challenge this,” said Nadeem. Expressing concern over growing Hindu fundamentalism and threats to freedom of expression in India, the playwright said that India is catching up fast with Pakistan in religious extremism. 

The playwright added that for the last two years, a shift in the mindset of people in Pakistan was being witnessed. “Though the anti-India sentiments were waning for the last 15 years, suddenly, we are witnessing a resurgence. Peacemakers like us are seen as Indian stooges now,” he said.

However, Nadeem was hopeful that the secular forces in India can fight the evil of fanaticism. “It’s the duty secular forces to fight against the evil. I hope it’s a temporary phenomenon.”