Ajoka theatre’s peace festival concludes

LAHORE

Ajoka theatre’s third annual Hamsaya festival concludes in Amritsar after winning the hearts of Indian audience for six days. The Ajoka team presented Punjabi play “Anhi Maai da Sufna” on last day which mesmerised the viewers. 

Written by Shahid Nadeem (Anhi Maai Da Sufna) celebrates the undying human spirit and the story is told in an entertaining style, interwoven with inspiring songs. The play is inspired by some true stories of the generation dislocated during the partition of 1947. It is based on the shattered dreams of two old humans who have unprecedented love for their homeland. The play reflects the visa problems of common people which they have to face and projects the message of peace, love and goodwill.

Like two previous editions of Hamsaya theatre for peace festival in Delhi and Chandigarh in 2015 and 2016, the 3rd annual theatre extravaganza created huge buzz in Amritsar and audience, especially from pre-partition generations revived their memories by true stories of the plays during festival. Beside “ Anhi Maai da Sufna” Ajoka team presented two more plays “Mera Rang de Basanti Chola” , “ Kaun hai Yeh Gustakh ” in six day festival.

On last day, a seminar titled “Partition and Indo-Pak theatre for peace” was also held at the Virsa Vihar auditorium in Amritsar. The seminar was chaired by Pran Nevil, addressed by Shahid Nadeem, Usha Ganguli, Kewal Dhaliwal, Dr Parminder Singh, Ramesh Yadav, Dr Sahib Singh, Madeeha Gauhar and Nayab Aslam. Speakers shared experiences of theatre promoting India-Pakistan peace and rejecting the forces of extremism on both sides.

Shahid Nadeem spoke about Ajoka’s theatre collaboration with eminent Indian theatre groups Manch Rand Manch and Rangakarmee Kolkata. He said that despite of all political upheavals between two govt. the journey of peace through theatre remained unaffected, Indian groups visited Pakistan for Panjpani theatre festival and Indian directors collaborated with Ajoka for plays like “Kabira khara Bazar main “and “Anhi Maai da Sufna”.

He added that this year is the 70th anniversary of partition & independence and we should see ahead and promote the peace, love and goodwill across the borders.