Source: This news item was originally published in the Times of India online edition
Source url: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Chandigarh/Play-highlights-Haryanas-connection-with-mutiny-of-1857/articleshow/38512694.cms
CHANDIGARH: It is not very often that one hears the name of the revolt of 1857 and Haryana in the same breath. This is the very reason that the play ‘1857 Ki Kahani Haryana Ki Zubani’ is being staged in city.
Source: This news item was originally published in the Times of India online edition
Source url: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Chandigarh/Play-highlights-Haryanas-connection-with-mutiny-of-1857/articleshow/38512694.cms
CHANDIGARH: It is not very often that one hears the name of the revolt of 1857 and Haryana in the same breath. This is the very reason that the play ‘1857 Ki Kahani Haryana Ki Zubani’ is being staged in city.
The play, a joint production of Center for Education and Voluntary Action and Department of Cultural Affairs, Haryana, aims at highlighting the contribution of Haryana in the mutiny of 1857, which has got lost in the pages of history books.
According to director and producer of the play, GS Chani, "Haryana’s contribution in the first war of independence remains largely unknown and I have taken upon myself to bring forth the feats which the community had achieved in the mutiny."
The play revolves around the humiliation and the loss of dignity which the peasants of Haryana suffered at the hands of the British and what prompted the local rajas, zamindars, sepoys, faqirs and ordinary people to come together and fight against the British East India Company.
Chani said that a dedicated team of 40 professionals worked day in and day out for two months to make this play a success. Himanshu, a research scholar at the department of Indian Theatre, Panjab University, who is portraying one of the central characters ‘Tula Ram’ in the play, says that the distinct feature of the play is how the director has managed synthesis of traditional Haryanvi folk art Swang with the elements of contemporary theatre.
Spanning 80 minutes, the play consists of drama, songs and traditional folk art that will keep the audience engaged and emotionally charged till the very end. Himashu added that talks are going on with the Haryana government to stage around 100 shows of this play in different cities of Haryana in the coming months.
Asked about the message that he wants to give to his audience through this play, Chani said, "Don’t see things as they appear, go beyond that."
The play, which was staged at Tagore Theatre, Sector 18, on Wednesday, will also be staged on July 17 and 18, 7 pm.