Century on Stage

Gursharan Singh Maha-Utsav by Adakar Manch is a mammoth initiative to bring to stage a series of 101 plays written by the doyen of Punjabi theatre.

Gursharan Singh Maha-Utsav by Adakar Manch is a mammoth initiative to bring to stage a series of 101 plays written by the doyen of Punjabi theatre.

Sahib Singh is at a loss of words,as he settles down on the stairs of the open air theatre of Punjab Kala Bhawan to talk about a tribute to his teacher,mentor and guru,the doyen of Punjabi theatre Gursharan Singh. The Gursharan Singh Maha-Utsav by Sahibs Adakar Manch is a mammoth initiative to bring on stage,101 plays written by Singh over decades that will continue for a year from March 27 to March 27,2013. Sahib is going through the motions,as he rehearses with his team for the first phase of the festival,where the audience will view 25 plays over 16 days. He wrote as many as 175 plays and as his disciple,I feel its my duty to continue to spread his word and thats the philosophy of this festival, says Sahib,who worked closely with Singh for many years in his group and credits his teacher for guiding every aspect of his theatrical journey.

As an activist,social worker and revolutionary,Singhs theatre was focused on the lesser privileged of the society and through theatre,he reached the rural areas of Punjab. Simple,straightforward and hard-hitting,Singh,as a playwright,actor and director,caught the pulse of his audience by taking up issues that concerned their life and being. He said big things with small means. The power of his words made up for the lack of sets,techniques and props. He used satire and humour to talk about serious issues, says Sahib,who adds that Singhs work may not fit in a traditional theatre format,but its impact in the rural development process is unparalleled.

For this festival,Sahib has chosen plays of various themes from the wide repertory of Singhs plays the ones that are strong,bold and make direct political and social comments. If someone is interested to know the history of events that occurred in Punjab in the last 50 years,these plays will showcase that. I would prefer to call them reference points, says Sahib as he adds that the days of insurgency in Punjab would form a major part of this segment. Known for confronting issues directly,and without mincing words,Singh was known to say that in his theatre,art was secondary and people were primary. The down-trodden,oppressed,women,Dalits,farmers,labourers,Singh was their voice. He was the man who through his series of plays,made the Punjab Education Board print admission forms,in which it was mandatory to fill in the mothers name,along with the fathers name, recalls Sahib. Through the festival,which will be staged from Friday to Sunday and later travel to various cities and villages of Punjab,Sahib hopes to continue showcasing the rural idiom of Punjabi theatre that takes up contemporary problems with courage. He was a peoples person and his work inspired many in Punjab to take up theatre with commitment. He made us understand why we are doing theatre and for whom and the show must go on, says Sahib.

The plays will be staged at Punjab Kala Bhawan,Sector 16,Chandigarh,7 pm onwards. Entry is free

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