In search of a people’s theatre – Hashmi and the maze

In search of a people’s theatre – Hashmi and the maze

Recently I watched the 20^th century fox movie THE MAZE RUNNER and its sequel THE MAZE RUNNER: SCORCH TRIAL. The third of the sequel is yet to come. I am in a hangover even today. Today is the 2^nd of January .Just yesterday people all over the world celebrated New Year ’s Day with a hope of shining future of all and sundry.

But to the people associated with group theatre or to be precise the group theatre people with the Marxist orientation, irrespective of the party it’s a day of resolve. Safdar Hashmi,an English literature post-graduate who leaving the job of a professor and who tried his level best to go to the masses of Delhi with his plays(workers, slum dwellers and middleclass)with his understanding of the Marxist aesthetic , was brutally murdered while performing a street drama in Ghaziabad by certain goons led by a candidate of  a municipal election nominated by Congress (I). Safdar was performing his play Hallabol in favour of his party (CPIM) candidate. It was 28 years back.

Safdar, in an interview (probably the last) earlier with a foreign journo declared that he is worried about the so called Indianisation of artistic forms that began with Peter BROOK’s Mahabharata. He, categorically, be named those as a ploy by the big bourgeoisie of our country and world capitalist class. He stated that reviving the old traditional elements would also bring with those the superstitious, obstructionist elements of the feudal society. He went for a direct approach.

Born in 1954 Safdar definitely did not have the first hand experience of the heated debate and the triplication of the communist party. But of course, the ripples that the turbulent waves created in late 60s could not have been unfelt by him in his youth. He must have borne testimony to the disintegration of IPTA and must have heard or read about the near annihilation by the then state of the so-called ultra leftists. However, he believed that the emancipation of the masses could be brought through the party he belonged and for which he sacrificed his life. He was evicted from the IPTA office then controlled by the CPI. But with partisan zeal he established JANAM (theatre troupe) and started going to the masses. The party’s analysis described Congress as a party of the big bourgeoisie and landlords and invoked people to fight for People’s Democracy by participating in election and taking control of the state. HE WAS A SOLDIER OF THAT STRUGGLE. According to him he was fighting for revolution in which winning election was a part, as elections were described as INTENSIFIED CLASS STRUGGLE. Thus Safdar produced plays during the election times in favour of the party candidates. In such an event he was murdered. His earnest effort for the ideology he believed in, remains as an example even today.

Then where lies the analogy with THE MAZE RUNNER ?

In the Maze Runner (two films that have come out) an evil organization called W.C.K.D is reigning over the people. Thomas wakes up with his friends in a maze created by the W.C.K.D. and the only way to save the people is to come out of the maze. The search continues and though he does not die many of his friends lost their lives.

  A scientific philosophy  demands the scientific application according to the ever changing reality of society. Safdar died 29 years back and the relation with his the then class enemy’s party and the party he belonged has changed , as it seems. The only point that haunts me tonight is that why ? Are  , the staunch believers of his beloved philosophy  is in a maze ? Let’s think about that too.

PARTHA PRATIM ACHARYA

THEATRE ARTIST

02-01- 2017