Lockdown: artistes in dire financial straits

Forced to seek odd jobs as theatres have been shut by govt to prevent virus spread

LAHORE: The coronavirus disease and subsequent lockdowns have affected countries around the world, including the theatre artists in Punjab who brought smiles on the faces of the audience.

Financial difficulties have affected them to such an extent that it has become difficult for them to earn a living.

Younus Gul, a stage drama artist, started his job as a car washer due to the lockdown keeping the theatres closed, while there was no financial support for him from the government.

He said that a true artist had self-respect and would always want to entertain people with his art but when it came to financial difficulties, could go to any extent to feed his children. “In my view it is very difficult for an artist to make that decision because the way we treat artists in our society is very painful.”

"I am not a popular artist but I am lucky to have God-gifted talent and so I do my work with great sincerity and devotion.”

The coronavirus disease and lockdown situation was causing great hardship to the people associated with the arts, he explained. “Still, I prefer to do car washing instead of begging. I urge the federal and provincial governments to open the theatres with precautionary measures so that thousands of people associated with the field can earn for their children.”

However, Hanif Kuwaiti, an artist from Gujranwala, started begging after the theatres were not opened despite repeated appeals.

He said, "Who would want to do something that hurts him but you have to do something to avoid hunger and pay rent? What do our rulers know about this?”

The lockdown was enforced and then gradually all businesses reopened but theatres and cinemas remained closed, he added. “Are we not citizens of this country? The majority of the people in this sector do not want to receive government assistance but want to earn a living for their children by working.”

The government and the bureaucracy seem to not have time to think about the arts, he maintained. “So far the coronavirus is spreading across the country. Who is responsible for this? We repeatedly asked the authorities to open the theatres, but they did not open the theatres and also did not give us any aid, and then I had no choice but to beg.” "Do not treat us as third class citizens, otherwise, those who are most sensitive among us will be forced to commit suicide.”

Leading stage show producer and Theatre Action Committee Chairman Qaiser Sanaullah Khan said he had written letters to many important personalities, including the president, prime minister and Punjab chief minister, and held meetings and protested over the issue but no one had listened. “One thing I do not understand is that will the coronavirus only spread by opening the theatres? No one sees the long queues outside the banks, the crowds in the markets and supermarkets. The situation that the common man witnesses at bus stations is not visible to any government official.”

He asserted, "No theatre artist has received assistance yet.”  “I appeal to the government to open the theatres like other businesses so that the artists can entertain people in the current situation and earn a livelihood. The coronavirus has already taken happiness away from people's lives.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2020.