LAHORE - Theatre is a strong medium for conveying some social message. The main reason is that the response to a performance is immediate and if it is good it leaves an imprint on the minds of the audience. The response to ongoing stage play ‘Kabira Khara Bazar Mein’ at Lahore Arts Council has been awesome. The play being staged by Ajoka Theatre highlights the importance of inter-faith harmony between Hindus and Muslims.
The play which was first staged on Tuesday will continue till today. It is about a sufi/mystic personality Kabira. The play has been designed and directed by India’s prominent theatre director Kewal Dhaliwal and written by Bhisham Sahni, who passed away in July 2003.
“Sahni was a well known and progressive short story writer and novelist. He was writer of novel and TV serial ‘Tamas’. He was born and brought up in Rawalpindi. He (and his brother film star Balraj Sahni) was educated at Government College, Lahore. This play is Ajoka’s tribute to this great son of the soil on the occasion of his birth centenary,” Shahid Nadeem, who and his wife Madeeha Gohar are the driving force behind Ajoka Theatre for more than two decades.
It brings out the rational philosophy of the medieval Indian mystic who sought to rid the society of superstition, caste prejudices, false ego, blind faith, and illogical behaviour. It touches the inner chord of the common man and convinces him that he can find the Lord within himself and does not need to indulge in useless worship and odd rituals. The resemblance between the Sufi and Bhakti message is striking. Bhakti and Sufi poets have incorporated each other’s verses and saying, in many cases word by word.
The set and props used in the play were minimal but enough to give the real life look. Lights and sound system were good. Play received a standing ovation from the audience.
“Bhisham Sahni made a thorough study of Kabir before writing this play and found his life to be highly dramatic in rightful action and thoroughly profound in practical living. He used appropriate theatrical devices to highlight the great teaching of Kabir which are more relevant even today than even before. Kabir came into conflict with orthodox Hindus and bigoted Muslims who forged an artificial unity to stifle his progressive views. They pleaded before Sultan Sikandar Lodhi, who is said to have ordered his persecution. The playwright disagrees with the popular beliefs and establishes convincingly that Kabir silenced his opponents with his irrefutable logic and won the hearts of the people as well as the rulers with his strong arguments,” Kewal Dhaliwal said.