A R T  &  F I L M S

A Punjabi play for Vancouver Festival

Punjab Lok Rahs, Pakistan Play “Hoond Unhoond” means (Being & Nothingness)

Punjab Lok Rahs; a well acclaimed street theatre group from Lahore, Pakistan is participating in “EARTH: The World Urban Festival 2006”, Vancouver, Canada, on the invitation of Judith Marcuse Project sponsored by UNESCO. Lok Rahs delegation of 5 members would stage the Punjabi play that deals with existential question of  women issues from South Asia in global context.

Punjab Lok Rahs is one of the most prominent alternative Punjabi theater groups in Pakistan. Rahs is a non-profit and voluntary organization working since 1986. The group has been regularly performing street and proscenium Punjabi plays based on socio-economic and political themes that touch peoples’ rights. It has trained numbers of youth, community based organizations and dramatic societies in its past 20 years history. The group has produced more then 45 scripts with 550 performances held in urban and rural areas.

The play “Being and Nothingness” portrays contemporary women issues and the discrimination. The Pakistani constitution of 1973 provided  “all citizens are equal before law” and that “ there will be no discrimination on the bases of sex.” but women face all kinds of discrimination every day at home, in the street and at the work places.

The life of the ordinary citizen has been turned upside down by not only the extreme fundamentalism and terrorism but also by the monopoly of the so-called super powers wanting to control the natural resources of the world. The politically and economically deprived society has been further pushed into the dark abyss by the fundamentalists and extremists. They have been encouraged by vested interests.  In this never ending struggle for power and supremacy the prime targets along with the working class are the women and children.

As the world is fast becoming a global village due to accessible communication we find that there are still some areas in Asia, Africa and Latin America where the concept of basic liberty and human rights is still a thing of the future. Especially in South Asia we find that along with religious extremism, feudalism and anti social elements, have labeled women as a “commodity” and nothing better then a “sexual plaything/object”.

“Being and Nothingness” aesthetically points out the journey of a woman from the bowls of feudalistic oppression to her evolution as a sexual commodity and object in the international arena. It also reflects on the internal conflict of a woman due to religious fanaticism. “Being and Nothingness” labels the internal conflict of the female as her capitulation to the atrocities committed against her.

It’s true that the women of South Asia are awakening, but their efforts for liberty and equality remain tightly closeted in a circle. As they continually remain to be exploited and subjugated emotionally, socially and relation wise. “Being and Nothingness” has tried to bring that entire question to the forefront, in front of the audience, which arise within a female and make her question her being or nothingness.

Now the point that remains to be seen is whether or not women movement has ideologically, collectively and consciously become empowered to take the necessary actions and steps to attain its goals. Or does still it need more time to become mature so that it can analyze itself and face reality.

To portray such a character that overcomes all odds, conquers all obstacles and goes around bringing a successful revolution but - would that be reality? It can be termed wishful thinking but never objective reality. “Being and Nothingness” aims to portray the women liberation movement in its true context, as to what it is with its strengths and weaknesses without glossing over their image. If through this play we can motivate the audience to search for the answers of the questions presented, we’d consider this effort a success.

The 40-minute play will be followed by an interactive session with the audience, which should prove the first opportunity in a long time to exchange views with Pakistani alternative theatre and language artists.

The play is written by Lakht Pasha, Directed by Shoaib Iqbal and performed by Iram Sana, Sajjida Mehtab, Qasir Iqbal, Shoaib Iqbal and Shafiq Butt.

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