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Power of revolution

Oh heroes “Shaheed Bhagat Singh” makes people aware and proud of their history.

Three Cheers to the Urdu Academy for dramatising the life, time and political philosophy of Bhagat Singh and his comrades, which was staged this past week at Shri Ram Centre to a capacity hall. Featuring students of Urdu medium schools located trans- Yamuna, the production reflects the intense patriotic fervour of Indian youths who sacrificed their lives against British imperialism to attain freedom.

Titled “Shaheed Bhagat Singh”, the play reveals the contemporary relevance of Bhagat Singh who stood for socialism, secularism and democracy. Conceptualised in the course of a one-month long children’s theatre workshop, the Academy has rightly selected the heroic saga of Bhagat Singh rather than staging a folk tale to take children away from the stark reality. This kind of theatrical piece is a welcome step to acquaint children with our heroes and with their inspiring legacy.

The play has been written by Anees Azmi, a writer and a well-known theatre artiste. He has collaborated in the writing and production of “Gaatha Bhagat Singh”, a multimedia show, which was staged against the historic Kotla Ferozeshah last year by Punjabi Academy, Delhi in association with the Ministry of Culture. Azmi’s language is remarkable for its vigour and vividness. If watching the production is a most gripping experience, the language of the play has its own rewards. A mix of Urdu and Punjabi, the language is easy enough to be understood by children, even while capturing the political nuances of the period. He has created the character of Dadi who narrates the life story of Bhagat Singh to the children. By introducing this character, the scriptwriter has added an element of Indian storytelling tradition, which helps the continuity of the action and enhances the curiosity of the audience. This also helps to alternate the action between two time levels — past and present — to bring the past into the focus of the new generation.

It is directed by Mohammad Nadeem Khan, who is a product of the Urdu Academy’s first children’s theatre workshop conducted 20 years ago. Ever since then, he continues to participate in children’s theatre workshops, including workshops organised by the National School of Drama. His long experience in handling children’s plays is aptly reflected in “Shaheed Bhagat Singh”. Various means of theatrical expression — the lighting, the music and the movements are brought into play to convey the central idea of the production.

The raised platform upstage allows the audience to have a good view of the vital dramatic action taking place on the stage. The projection of two letters written by Bhagat Singh in Urdu is an innovative theatrical device. The first letter reveals Bhagat Singh’s firm but polite refusal to get married in order to dedicate himself heart and soul to the cause of national freedom. The second letter shown on the screen is written by Bhagat Singh, in jail just before he was to get executed, to his comrades who have made an elaborate plan to get him out of prison to lead the revolution. Director Nadeem’s composition of mass scenes charged with emotional power and a strong sense of commitment. Two scenes deserve special mention — the scene set in Kotla Feroze Shah in which the name of the party Hindustan Republican Army was changed to Hindustan Socialist Republican Army. The other scene is one in which Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru are executed.

The martyrdom scene is indeed a tour de force. Overwhelmed with heroic pathos, children participating in the scene, symbolise the reaction of Indian people to this barbaric act of imperialism, really lived their roles and literally wept.

In fact, the entire cast displays histrionic talent. What is needed to nurture their talents is to provide them an opportunity to express themselves creatively.

A memorable production, “Shaheed Bhagat Singh” should be taken to various schools to make young people aware of the glorious saga of rare patriotism.

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