KARACHI, March 9: A packed to capacity audience at the Arts Council Auditorium on Friday applauded Sheema Kirmani and her team for presenting Aao Raqs Karain, an impressive dance drama to mark International Women’s Day. The event was jointly organised by the Arts Council Pakistan, Karachi, Tehrik-i-Niswan and Aurat Foundation.

Sheema Kirmani and her seven young artists performed impressively to depict the plight of women through centuries. It started from the primitive ages when humans lived in caves and covered various ages to end on an optimistic note in current and futuristic scenario.

The theme was that both genders lived happily in the primitive ages when there was no gender bias and men and women had equal responsibilities and liabilities and sharing of blessings at par. The later ages created societies based on tribes and a sense of property emerged, which man capitalised as he was physically stronger and woman was demoted in status to a property belonged to man.

Women remained in chains through millennia and resisted faintly, but her desire to be free remained inherent, which strongly manifested itself from time to time. Unfortunately women are still confined in a male-dominated society but optimistically she is becoming aware of her rights and developing a sense of freedom and struggling to attain her rights.

The script comprised of poetry and poetic narration was written by Fahmida Riaz while direction and choreography was by Sheema Kirmani.

Earlier, poet Fatima Hassan spoke about feminist literature and its history while Syed Ahmed Shah, Chairperson of the arts council’s committee for drama and special events, said the arts council would continue its struggle to revive serious drama.

Young sitar player Turab Hussain gave an imposing performance along with tabla player Ustad Eid Mohammad while a documentary on the plight of Pakistani women during last year was also shown.

Aurat Foundation’s Anis Haroon and journalist Sheen Farrukh also spoke on the occasion.