LAHORE, Jan 1: Madeeha Gauhar has termed Ajoka’s recent trip to India highly successful claiming that their play ‘Bullah’ was highly appreciated in the International Theatre Festival held in Kerala.

Gauhar, the artistic director of Ajoka, told reporters at Ajoka’s Sarwar Road office here on Thursday.

She said the play ‘Bullah’ inspired an audience of thousands at the festival for it was a play that gave the message of peace and humanity. Ajoka was invited to India by Sangeet Natak Academy, Kerala, to participate in the international festival.

She said around 30 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers met the Ajoka theatre team during their performance at the festival and welcomed them but also staged a peaceful demonstration against terrorism.

They also handed over a letter to Ajoka for the government of Pakistan, she said and added: “I told the BJP people that Pakistan itself is a victim of terrorism and fighting against terrorism”.

“Before Kerala we performed at Jawaharlal Nehru University on the invitation of university students and the union”, she said. Due to shortage of time, a qawwali and some extracts from the play ‘Bullah’ could be performed at the university, she added.

Gauhar said the relations between the two countries were highly volatile when Ajoka crossed the Wagah border and three artists could not accompany the group under the family pressure.

She said the people-to-people contact and exchange of artists could be very helpful in the peace process between India and Pakistan.