LAHORE, March 16: The two-day drama festival by Ajoka Theatre in collaboration with the Lahore Council of Arts to celebrate 100 years of International Women’s Day will open at Alhamra Art Centre, The Mall, on Thursday (today). Two plays will be staged during the festival, one each day. The play, Kala Meda Bhes, will be staged on Thursday (today) and the other, Dukh Darya, on Friday, March 18th. Both plays have been written by Shahid Nadeem and directed by Madeeha Gauhar.

Ms Gauhar told Dawn that Dukh Darya had been published in the book form and its launching ceremony would also be held on the concluding day of the festival. She said the both plays were being staged in connection with the International Women’s Day.

Kala Meda Bhes is based on a real life incident that took place in Sindh, where a woman was exchanged for an ox. The play is set in Cholistan desert where potable water is scarce and the powerful and exploitative “peer” (faith healer) controls the only well on which the whole population of a village is dependent for water.

The custom of Watta Satta used reprehensibly to exchange a woman for a bull is only too eloquently under lined. The aridity of the desert is juxtaposed against the barrenness of the protagonist Sundri and water against fertility.

Dukh Darya is also based on an incident which took place years ago. A Kashmiri woman, taunted and tormented for being infertile, is driven to jump into the river dividing the two parts of the disputed territory of Kashmir. However, she ends up on the other side of the border, is arrested, interrogated and eventually raped. She gets pregnant, a proof of the horror of rape in custody but also belying the allegations of infertility. She gives birth to a beautiful baby daughter, who is brought up in Jammu jail. She is released and arrangements are made for her repatriation.

However, another shock is awaiting her at the border. — Staff Reporter