Play depicts Gurmehar’s struggle

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 27

During the ongoing World Theatre Day celebrations at Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall, a play was staged this evening on Delhi University student Gurmehar Kaur, who recently faced trolls for her social media posts against ABVP.

Titled ‘Shaheed ki Beti’, the play directed by Neeraj Kaushik, had Pooja Sandhu, a look-alike of Gurmehar playing her physical role by the name ‘Anamika’. Her soul, feelings and inner conflict were expressed in another role played by an artiste, Amandeep Kaur.

The play begins with Anamika showing various placards to convey the message but her voice gets suppressed with counter voices coming from all sides. The play also depicts glimpses from the history wherein Draupadi and Sita too faced oppression. Anamika shares faint memories from her childhood and the stories she is told about her brave father, who got martyred when she was just 15 years old. Then she tells that she, at an age of five, was just about to stab a Pakistani woman when her mother explains her about war. Raised in a small world where she was allowed to have freedom of thought, she reaches college where she chooses to express her revolutionary spirit at various events. Suddenly, one remark of hers invites the wrath of a group who remind her of Nirbhaya episode. Soon after, mediapersons start hounding her to have better TRPs of their channels.

Anamika’s family makes her withdraw, but her conscience does not get suppressed. Despite being slammed as a ‘desh drohi’, she retains her fighter spirit and continues to be a peace ambassador. The 27-minute play ends with patriotic song ‘Sare jahan se achha’.