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History comes alive
As Sher Shah Suri galloped with his soldiers past an awe-struck audience, a collective gasp rose from all those present as they witnessed a real-life drama being enacted that evening at a historical site. The venue for this unique show was the Rohtas Fort, where a sound and light show was being presented to guests who had travelled 138 kilometres from Islamabad, specially for the programme.
The reason for the show was a fund-raising dinner for the conservation of the fort, built by Sher Shah Suri in the 16th century and now declared a world heritage building by UNESCO. What better way to project the structure than to present the story of the emperor who had built it?
The invitees were asked to register an hour earlier as the President of Pakistan was the chief guest that evening. Taking advantage of the sunlight, many guests took this unique opportunity to explore the fort. As light began to fade, the guests were requested to go down to the arena which had been set up with elaborately decorated tables where they could see the show and later, fireworks, and enjoy the sumptuous buffet that had been prepared for them.
As darkness descended, thus began a show that many of the people present that evening will not be in a hurry to forget. As special effects lights focused on one part of the fort’s wall, one could see actors performing with the help of background music and commentary. The lights would then swing to another part of the structure where another scene would be enacted. Thus, the guests were taken back in time 450 years to be precise, to the reign of Ustad-i-Badshahan, Sher Shah Suri, known as the greatest Afghan in history for his military genius and administration.
Written and researched by Fatima Surayya Bajiya, the sound and light show is now a popular idea in tourism throughout the world as it brings historical sites to life, two other examples being the pyramids in Egypt and Akbar’s Fort in Delhi. This show was with a slight difference — it had live actors performing. Tracing the story of Fareed Khan’s childhood, who later on was known as Sher Shah Suri, his ascension to power through his conquests, his love for a Rajput princess Chandravati who kills herself, his defeat of Humayun and early death — it is a true story of a king that film directors would give an arm for.
The couple behind the gargantuan show were Dr Farooq and Huma Baig whose company Serendip Productions was responsible for the programme. “We have tried to present one of the most enigmatic and competent rulers of the Muslim period in Hindustan’s history by piecing together anecdotal incidence from his life. Sher Shah Suri (known to have killed a lion with his own hands, and thus his name), was a soldier, a politician and an emperor. That’s how we know him. But Fareed Khan was entirely a different story. His life was full of complexities and great dramas,” said Dr Farooq Baig.
The success of the presentation was due to many factors, such as skillful use of light and sound effects, realistic portrayals by the costumed actors who mostly belonged to the nearby villages, a stage that went from one area of the fort to another, the use of horses and camels and excellent commentary. To present such an event without any error was a feat in itself. The event was organized by the Himalayan Wildlife Fund to raise money for the Rohtas Fort Conservation Fund Project and hosted by Shell, the main sponsor for the conservation.
The guest of honour that evening was the President of Pakistan, Gen Pervez Musharraf. Ministers, foreign dignitaries and socialites were also present and were welcomed in a speech by Farooq Rahmatullah. The president praised the efforts of the ministry of culture and all the companies that were involved in the conservation of the fort and stressed the need of bringing awareness among people of other heritage monuments as well.
Those responsible for the event should be commended for a unique evening. One fervently hopes that such an innovative form of entertainment catches on with other production companies who are stuck in the quagmire of fashion shows and concerts. There are plenty of other historical sites that are begging to be preserved!
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