The Ajoka theatre in collaboration with the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) and Sungi Development Foundation staged the play 'Hotel Moenjodaro' on June 6 and 7 at the auditorium of Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA).
'Hotel Moenjodaro' by Shahid Nadeem is an attempt to identify various factors responsible for the socio-economic and religious disorder in the country. The play is based on a short story of Ghulam Abbas titled 'Dhanak' written in mid-sixties had caused fury among the readers of that period who considered the story just an exaggeration.
Abbas, one of the greatest short story writers, had the ability to predict the future reality. Unlike the predictions of scientists and intellectuals, great fiction writers like Abbas don't compose their ideas based on data analysis or scientific formulas, but believe their own vision and intuition.
'Dhanak' weathered many controversies, as the contemporary critics believed that no Muslim could even conceive killing religious leaders or bombing mosques. 'It is an insult to people's religious beliefs' they criticised. Pakistan depicted in the story was considered far-fetched and unimaginable. The 'Dhanak' seemed a spectra created by the rich and cynical imagination of a storyteller.
After many decades today in 2008, the story appeared to be so close to the current scenario prevalent all around that it is hard to believe that a writer could have foretold it with such an uncanny accuracy. It seems to be an account of a TV reporter from one of the troubled tribal or settled areas or from the scene of a devastating suicide bombing.
The retrogressive and intolerant ideology of religious fundamentalists, propagating an orthodox, fanatic interpretation of Islam, the acquiescence of the establishment and disastrous consequences following the logic of theocratic state are so evident that the story appears to be shocking or unbelievable. It has the premitive mindset to destroy even the whole civilisation. The director has done justice to the original story and attempted to create awareness among the audience against all kind of terrorism.
Comments
Comments are closed.