 LUCKNOW, NOV 29: For these 11 theatre actors from Pakistan, the show has ended even before it began. Invited by an NGO — the Women’s Initiative for Peace in South Asia (WIPSA) — to stage plays across the country, the Pakistani troupe was allegedly told to pack their bags because their production, Zikr-e-Nashunida (Discussing the Unheeded), expressed anti-US sentiments.
Speaking to Newsline, Sheema Kermani, head of the Karachi-based group, alleged that one of the WIPSA members — the organizers — warned them that if they continued to go against US sentiments through their play, they would be handed over to the police. The NGO also reportedly threatened to take away their tickets if they didn’t leave the city as soon as possible
And at around 7 am today, the Pakistani actors were made to leave their accommodation at Isabella Thoubourn College. Later in the day, Magsaysay awardee Sandeep Pandey stepped in to their aid, making arrangements for their stay at a city hotel. When contacted, Nirmala Deshpande, founder member of WIPSA, said: ‘‘It’s very shocking. Bahut galat hua. Sandeep told me about the sequence of events that took place today... It’s shameful.’’
According to Kermani, their play focused on the aftermath of war, especially in relation to the Vietnam war. ‘‘In our show, we highlighted images of wars that often go unheard and unrecorded. WIPSA reacted very strongly to this. So strongly that the NGO, which invited us to India, has now left us stranded,’’ she said.
‘‘They asked us to change the theme as they claimed it went against American sentiments. All this has been done because the NGO is financially supported by the Ford Foundation, an American organization,’’ alleged Kermani, whose family is originally from Lucknow.
According to the Pakistani troupe, WIPSA had readily accepted the theme of their play when they issued the invite about two months back. ‘‘They called us to stage our play at Lucknow, Varanasi and Bhubaneswar,’’ said Kermani.
 They were part of the NGO’s program to ‘‘create culture of peace through stage shows’’, for which they had invited theatre groups from South Asian countries. Among the other participants were actors from Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.
The Pakistani actors arrived in the city on November 24, in time for the first performance in the city on November 27 which was held as scheduled. They were all set to leave for Varanasi for their second show on November 30, when WIPSA pulled down the curtains.
So, even as the organizers and the other teams left for Varanasi, the Pakistanis were told to go home, much before their scheduled departure on December 8. The Bhubaneswar performance was to have been staged on December 3.
Interestingly, the director of the play is an Indian — Prasanna Ramaswamy. ‘‘Initially, we presented an excerpt of our play at a city school whose administration had invited us to participate in a program based on nuclear disarmament. The organizers had then reprimanded us for participating in the program without their permission,’’ he said.
‘‘Later, when we pointed out that we hadn’t signed any agreement prohibiting us from performing outside, they asked us to change the theme of our play. Since we refused to bow before them, they resorted to such an action,’’ added Ramaswamy.
Meanwhile, Magsaysay awardee Sandeep Pandey said: ‘‘They were to leave India on December 8, but they will be heading for Pakistan within a couple of days. They are slated to reach Delhi tomorrow.’’ (Source: The Indian Express)
Kolkata: Sheema Kermani performs the Indian Odissi dance at a Pakistani
cultural night. November 21, 2004
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