Friendly neighbours: Protests pave way for Ajoka performance in India
Indian govt denied giving orders against allowing Pakistanis to perform, says representative of Ajoka.
Indian govt denied giving orders against allowing Pakistanis to perform, says representative of Ajoka.
KARACHI:
Following the National Academy of Performing Arts’ (Napa) unceremonious return to Pakistan after being barred from performing in India, the neighbouring country’s civil society made sure Ajoka would not meet the same fate.
Although their Jaipur performance was cancelled, Ajoka got to perform twice in New Delhi following demonstrations by India’s theatre community and civil society against the government’s move banning Napa from taking the stage at the National School of Drama theatre festival.
“The [Indian] government denied giving any orders against allowing Pakistanis to perform after which the theatre community in India erupted,” said Shahid Nadeem, the representative of Ajoka and the writer of the play called “Kaun Hai Yeh Gustakh” which was performed in India.
He said that the cancellation became an issue once the Indian media highlighted it. “Although the Jaipur performance got cancelled, we performed twice in New Delhi and are quite relieved that all our efforts didn’t go in vain,” Nadeem told The Express Tribune.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 20th, 2013.
Following the National Academy of Performing Arts’ (Napa) unceremonious return to Pakistan after being barred from performing in India, the neighbouring country’s civil society made sure Ajoka would not meet the same fate.
Although their Jaipur performance was cancelled, Ajoka got to perform twice in New Delhi following demonstrations by India’s theatre community and civil society against the government’s move banning Napa from taking the stage at the National School of Drama theatre festival.
“The [Indian] government denied giving any orders against allowing Pakistanis to perform after which the theatre community in India erupted,” said Shahid Nadeem, the representative of Ajoka and the writer of the play called “Kaun Hai Yeh Gustakh” which was performed in India.
He said that the cancellation became an issue once the Indian media highlighted it. “Although the Jaipur performance got cancelled, we performed twice in New Delhi and are quite relieved that all our efforts didn’t go in vain,” Nadeem told The Express Tribune.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 20th, 2013.