About The Event
SPOTLIGHT FORUM brings Jashn-e-Qalam to Pune in
Khwaja Ahmed Abbas’s
MERI
MAUT
Enacted by Vicky Ahuja
Duration: 75 Mins, Language: Hindustani
Synopsis
New Delhi - 1947
India is being bloodied, partitioned and cleansed. Trapped in a Hindu-dominated area with his arch-nemesis, a Sikh as his neighbour, a lone Muslim faces his tryst with destiny.
Detailed Note
MERI MAUT: Past, Present & Future
“Thus we step across the
bloody threshold of history. And we shall be better able to find our way in the
future if we have a clearer perspective of the past. For the past lives in the
present and the present in the future. There is neither end nor beginning.”
Khwaja Ahmad Abbas
An exploration of the values of `Harmony`, `Brotherhood` and `Peace`, this Short Story was written as a personal and heartfelt lamentation of the violence and mayhem the country witnessed in the wake of Partition. Published, almost 75 years ago, under the title, `Sardarji`, it received encouraging acclaim and acceptance; but was also mercilessly attacked by all the three religious communities it addressed (ironically; for hurting their respective sentiments!). The author was also dragged to the Allahabad High Court; from where he was eventually, honourably acquitted; with due intervention by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Sarojini Naidu.
Since then `Meri Maut` has been celebrated as one of the finest examples of `Humanistic Literature` by its innumerable readers and admirers. Khushwant Singh, included it in his collection of `Greatest Punjabi Stories Ever Told`, and said “No other short story has been able to portray `Sikh Character` and the tragedy of the Partition with such poignancy!"
The story continues to serve as a much-needed cautionary warning to the dangers of `Otherisation`, `Rumour-Mongering’ and ‘Communalism’, while appealing to our better natures and sensitivities, asking us to look beyond of our deep-set `Conditionings`, ‘Biases’ and `Prejudices`.
About the Writer: KHWAJA AHMED ABBAS
With 74 books, 90 short stories, 3,000 journalistic articles, 45 films and several plays to his name, K.A. Abbas was as prolific as he was progressive.
As a director and screenwriter, he is considered as one of the pioneers of Indian parallel or neo-realistic cinema. His debut film, Dharti Ke Lal (1946), about the Bengal famine of 1943, opened up the overseas market for Indian films in the Soviet Union.
This was followed by films like Neecha Nagar (1946) which won the Palme d`Or at the first Cannes Film Festival, Naya Sansar (1941), Jagte Raho (1956) which won the Crystal Globe at Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Pardesi (1957) which was nominated for the Palme d`Or, Shehar Aur Sapna (1963)
which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film, while Saat Hindustani (1969) and Do Boond Pani (1972) both won the National Film Awards for Best Feature Film on National Integration.
He is also known for writing Raj Kapoor`s films, including the Palme d`Or-nominated Awaara (1951), as well as Shree 420 (1955), Mera Naam Joker (1970), Bobby (1973) and Henna (1991). He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1971, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1989.
As a journalist, he produced the longest-running column ‘Last Page’ in the Indian history of journalism and shifted with effortless ease between his writings for newspapers, journals, and scripts for the Bombay film
industry. As a litterateur, he consciously depicted the tales of ordinary people who accomplished heroic deeds simply by virtue of their undaunted spirit and sheer will to survive. His works and his ethos remain even more relevant in the India of today.
About the Artist: VICKY AHUJA
Vicky Ahuja works as a professional actor in various media. After working extensively in theatre for 4 years in Delhi, he moved to Mumbai. Since then, he has worked in more than 25 plays across India, with well known
directors such as Makarand Deshpande & Ashok Purang. His film credits include Bhagat Singh, Veer Zaara, Raaz 2, 1920 Evil Returns & Firaaq. In Television, he has appeared in shows like Daayan - & TV, Meri Durga - Star TV, Crime Patrol - SONY, CID - SONY, Woh - Zee Tv & Hip Hip Hurray - Zee TV.
About JASHN-E-QALAM
We believe Stories have the power to change & inspire the human heart and brain. Hindustani literature makes this connection more powerful for us, as the stories and their milieu, Characters and Voices,
Concerns and Challenges are so relatable to our society. Our craft is storytelling — the oldest form of theater, practiced since the dawn of civilization. Through performances of short stories by Munshi Premchand, Saadat Hasan Manto, Ismat Chughtai, Amrita Pritam, Harishankar Parsai and Rajinder Singh Bedi, we take the spirit of Hindustani literature to audiences in different contexts and venues.
The introspective and interactive nature of our shows results in the creation of a space for dialogue — empowering the audience to become storytellers in their own right. Alongside the traditional theater, we transform unconventional spaces such as classrooms, co-working spaces and cafes into our stage.
SPOTLIGHT FORUM is a Pune based non-profit initiative focused on contributing to the art and cultural landscape of our city, specifically the performing arts. Founded in late 2023 it is in the process of being registered as a non-profit Section 8 Company.
Spotlight is committed to nurturing talent and fostering artistic exchange, with an aim to create a thriving performing arts community that captivates and inspires audiences of all cultures and backgrounds. Through collaborations with artists and cultural organisations, both Indian and international, we seek to bring world class music, theatre, and varied art forms to Pune. We also aim to empower aspiring musicians, actors, directors, and writers, by providing opportunities for them to showcase their talents.
