Ajoka Theatre celebrates peace through 'Bulha and Banda'

LAHORE: Ajoka theatre highlighted the message of peace and interfaith harmony through performance of acclaimed play Bulha and Banda at Aiwan-e-Iqbal complex on Saturday. The performance was part of the National Minority day program titled Minorities Rights beyond Promises and Assurances arranged by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) and People’s Commission for Minority Rights (PCMR), stated a press release.

Written by Ajoka's Executive Director Shahid Nadeem, the play depicted a hypothetical confrontation between Punjabi poet Bulleh Shah and Banda Singh Bahadur; who used their respective ideologies to encounter tyranny of the rulers of that era. The play was a strong plea for love and peace in an indictment against intolerance, violence and hatred.

PHOTO: FILE

Actors Usman Raj, Qaiser Khan, Nayab Faiza and Sibt-i-Hasan played the lead roles.

The program was attended by different religious scholars, minister for human rights and minority affairs Ijaz Aslam, Justice Nasira Javed Iqbal, Badshahi Mosque Khateeb Abdul Kabeer Azad, Director CSJ Peter Jacob and prominent personalities from the Sikh Community.

PHOTO: AJOKA

Before the performance, a documentary highlighting Ajoka’s work for the promotion of peace and tolerance through theatre was also screened.

It included famous scenes from Ajoka’s play, Dekh Tamasha Chalta Ban and others.

PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK

Shahid Nadeem spoke about Ajoka’s struggle for human rights, religious tolerance and interfaith harmony, saying that Ajoka was committed to promotion of enlightenment and rights for all.

The evening concluded with a qawwali performance by Khawar Ali Qawwal and Ustad Faiz Ali Faiz.

Edited by Haddiqua Siddiqui

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