Tale of brotherhood amid pangs of Partition

Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, February 17

Students from the Department of Television and Theatre, Punjabi University, Patiala, staged a Punjabi play, “Dharbi 1947”, during the TFT Drama Festival at Navrang Theatre in Bal Bhawan here today.

Written and directed by GS Ratol, the play is based on a Punjabi book, ‘“Dejay Budh Bibeka”, by Dr Sarabjinder Singh, the play delineated a true and rare example of the mutual brotherhood between the Hindu, Muslim and Sikh communities living at Dharbi village, now in Pakistan.

The play also highlighted the shift in their behaviour and the exploitation of the masses in the name of religion for political gains.

The playwright had created a situation in which peace-loving Muslims of Dhrabi village (Pakistan) shedding their blood to save Hindus and Sikhs by killing the tyrant and extremist communal-minded Muslims.

Almost all amateur actors attempted to reflect emotions of anguish, pain of separation as also the valour which was perceptible in all fight scenes. Suggestive costumes by Dr Jaspal Kaur, light design by Kewal Dhaliwal, live musical renditions by Gurjit added charm to the play.