Hyderabad: Dr. MCR HRD Institute of Telangana, in collaboration with Heritage Club of SPIC MACAY, presented an internationally famous play, “Jis Lahore Nai Vekhya O Janmya Hi Nai”, (one who has not seen Lahore, has not even born), at Dasarathi Auditorium.
The play, comprising 22 actors, was directed by Ramchandra Singh of Naya Theatre Group from Bhopal. In addition to the All India Services Officers and Central Civil Services Officers, who are undergoing the 94th Foundation Course at the Institute, the Officers, Faculty, Staff, and other trainees witnessed the play in the jam-packed auditorium.
Breaking away with the stereotyped theme of violence and hatred, relating to the partition of the country, the play, instead, explores and celebrates the inspiring stories of compassion, magnanimity, and universal brotherhood among the people belonging to different communities in those trying times. The play highlights the triumph of the humanistic message of religions over religious fanaticism.
The play is about a Muslim family that migrates from Lucknow to Lahore during partition and enters the Haveli allotted to it in Lahore. The family was taken aback by the presence of an elderly Hindu woman, who has stayed back in the Haveli. However, as time passes, the animosity between the old Hindu woman and the Muslim family is transformed into a friendly bond, despite the deliberate attempts by many to sabotage the Hindu- Muslim unity. The play received thunderous applause and multiple standing ovations by the audience.
The play, written by Asghar Wajahat, a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Academy Award, was first performed by Naya Theatre under the direction of Padma Bhushan Habib Tanvir in 1989, who subsequently took it to Sydney, New York, Dubai, Karachi, Lahore, and all over India. “The play and its message would stay with us forever even after we step out the Auditorium”, the audience opined unanimously.
The play was preceded by the distribution of prizes by B.P. Acharya, I.A.S. Special Chief Secretary & Director General of the Institute to the trainee Civil Servants, who took part in the essay writing and a folk painting competition.