The play, “Badshah, Ghulam aur Begum”, ostensibly a comedy revolving around the common man’s problems, was performed by artists from Balochistan on Wednesday at Pakistan National Council of the Arts.
It explores a king’s failed attempts to resolve his people’s issues and reflects the current crises facing the country, including high inflation and the lack of basic necessities like water and electricity.
The king played by Aurangzeb and the queen by Rozina Khan decide to elect an heir to the throne from among the people for a day due to pressure by the masses who want democracy. The king asks his slave to announce that anybody interested in becoming king for a day will have to answer three questions.
Finally, a mad man is chosen as a temporary substitute who tries his hand at solving the masses’ problems but he fails in equal measure.
When a man comes to the imperial court to seek justice, the new king replies, “Insaf kya K-2 ka cigarette hay jo itni asaanee say milay ga?” (Justice is not a K-2 cigarette that is easily available). The cheesy dialogue provided some comic relief, but was hardly appropriate considering the tragedy the man narrates immediately afterwards.
He tells the king that he lost his baby due to the negligence of a nurse who gave his pregnant wife the wrong treatment. The patient told the king said when he reached the hospital, he was taken to the maternity ward instead of his wife. The king summons the nurse and at the same time announces that she has immunity. Nevertheless, he asks her to account for the baby’s death. She answers that the boy committed suicide and had left a note.
According to the letter, the baby wrote that the nurse gave his mother the wrong medicine and was trying to extract some money from his family. The king announces a compensation of Rs10,000 for the unfortunate father. When he asks the minister how to get compensation, he is told he would need to deposit Rs30,000. The man, not unsurprisingly retreats, saying he did not need justice at all.
The play was written and directed by Jahangir Kakar, who also played the lead character.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 29th, 2012.
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Pakistan National council of arts and its branches should relay their artistic full length programmes on TV channels so that not only a few but many people can watch the programmes.