2 min readLudhianaApr 7, 2015 12:00 AM IST
First published on: Apr 7, 2015 at 12:00 AM IST
Artistes during the play Komagata Maru in Ludhiana on Monday. (Source: Express Photo by Gurmeet Singh)
A multi-lingual play, Komagata Maru: Forgotten Heroes, was staged at Balraj Sahni Open Air Theatre of Punjabi Bhawan on Sunday evening.
It was a tribute to the heroic passengers of Komagata Maru, a Japanese ship which carried 376 passengers — 12 Hindus, 340 Sikhs and 24 Muslims — from Hong Kong to Vancouver in 1914. They were led by Baba Gurdit Singh, a businessman of Singapore, who belonged to Sarhali in Punjab.
These passengers faced great hardships as they were not allowed to land at Vancouver. The British government considered them Ghadarites and sent them to India where they were made to face bullets at Baj Baj Ghat near Calcutta.
[related-post]
They defied British might, racial discrimination and colonial repression. They fought for human rights, national dignity and universal brotherhood. They were freedom fighters in their own right and harbingers of Ghadar Movement.
The play was written and directed by Dr S N Sewak who was also invited to IIT-Kharagpur to read his play, and this was his first stage performance.
The performance of 22-year-old Raj Sidak Singh as Baba Gurdit Singh was highly appreciated.
Two descendants of the Komagata Maru passengers who were present — Surinderpal Singh from the USA and Jasminder Singh Ghuman from Canada — invited the team to perform this play in Canada and the USA as well.
Artistes during the play Komagata Maru in Ludhiana on Monday. (Source: Express Photo by Gurmeet Singh)
Share
