Farmers Movement Archive

Leading Punjabi artistes mobilise support for protesting farmers

“Theatre during the farmers’ stirs is coming out of a myth. A myth that theatre dies in tent and canvas canopies or in the open. The protests reaffirm that theatre is of the people. It is committed to tell the stories of the people,” says playwright Dr Sahib Singh.In more than one way the angst of the agitation manifested at the 29th Mela Gadri Babeyan Da at the Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall here on Sunday, the theatre groups active amid the stirs across the state lent wholehearted renderings during the cultural night at the fair. Subjects such as farmer stirs, migrant crisis, Hathras rape incident ruled the roost on the night.A woman carrying a child on a suitcase (migrant crisis), a play warning of the perils of a madari making the public dance to its tunes, a satire on opportunist politicians were the themes echoing on the stage. In Sahib Singh’s play “Rangkarmi Da Baccha”, five children born on the highways during the crisis, asked the audience what their birthplace was.Amolak Singh, cultural convener, Desh Bhagat Yadgar Committee, said, “Amid farmer agitation, themes of theatre took digs at the political system in the country and aligned themselves with people’s issues. Art and theatre have had a major role to play in the agitations and farmers’ groups are also actively supporting newer voices and ways which assert their demands.”Interestingly, it isn’t the fringe groups or small theatre troupes which support the stirs but the leading theatre luminaries in the state have channeled their resources to supporting the farmers. As farmers of the BKU extended solidarity with the Mela leaving their morchas, so did the members of myriad theatre groups active during the protests across the state. In the past months many theatre groups have trailed farm agitations holding plays at toll plazas, petrol pumps, roadsides, streets and grounds.Kewal Dhaliwal, playwright and founder Manch Rangmanch, Amritsar, whose group has been performing plays across the morchas in the state, said, “We brought our plays ‘Agg Di Jaai Da Geet’ based on the Hathras rapes and the play ‘Haarhian Sawnian’based on the farmers’ agitations.” They have travelled the state and performed at Barnala, Sangrur, Mansa, Bathinda among other places. “People in thousands watch and identify with plays. At least 12 to 15 groups, including those of Dr Sahib Singh, Kirti Kirpal, Ikattar Singh and Moga groups have all been actively engaging with farmers.”Playwright Dr Sahib Singh, whose play “Rangkarmi Da Baccha” stirred audiences, said, “Theatre in Punjab isn’t a mainstay of the auditoriums anymore. A wall has been breached. During the stirs, it has found a new platform. It has been successful in engaging with the audiences. For ages, it was thought theatre can’t survive in the open or in tents. That myth is busted. It doesn’t need plush auditoriums. We have performed 22 shows at villages, toll plazas, railway tracks and theatre has asserted its voice everywhere. Farmers have expressed keen interest in all the themes of the plays.”

The Tribune

2020-11-03

Jalandhar