Lucknow: Uttarakhand Mahaparishad Rangmandal, with support from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, staged a poignant play titled “Sarhad” to mark the occasion of Hindu New Year and Chaitra Navratri. The event took place at the Mohan Singh Bisht Auditorium, Uttarakhand Mahaparishad, Kurmanchal Nagar, Lucknow.
The play was inaugurated with a ceremonial lamp lighting by the Chief Guest, Colonel Satyendra Singh Negi, Deputy General Manager of the Ex-Servicemen Welfare Corporation Ltd, Uttar Pradesh, alongside special guests Lieutenant Madan Mohan Pandey, Subedar Major Puran Singh Adhikari, Subedar Hemendra Singh Rana, Subedar Ratan Singh, President of the Soldiers’ Wing of Uttarakhand Mahaparishad, Rajendra Singh Bisht, and other distinguished personalities such as Harish Chandra Pant, President, Diwan Singh Adhikari, Convenor, Senior Vice President Mangal Singh Rawat, and General Secretary Bharat Singh Bisht.
Written by the renowned playwright Sagar Sarhadi, the play was conceptualized and directed by Dr. Purnima Pandey, with assistant direction by Rozi Mishra. “Sarhad” is a deeply moving and emotionally charged production that depicts the tragic aftermath of the 1947 India-Pakistan partition and the painful plight of refugees. The play draws attention to how India gained independence through non-violence, and the subsequent partition was carried out in a manner that left deep scars on the people, with leaders of both countries casting blame on each other while claiming to be the saviors of their respective nations.
The story of “Sarhad” unfolds within a refugee camp situated at the border. Refugees, who are displaced and separated from their families, await news of their loved ones. On both sides of the border, soldiers who once lived in the same village before the partition are stationed. These soldiers were taught by Master Santram, who instilled in them the courage to sacrifice for their country and respect for women. Captain, one of Master Santram’s disciples, assists in the search for the master’s sister, who has been separated from him due to the partition. As the story progresses, the tragic and horrifying effects of the partition are depicted, highlighting the emotional turmoil of those involved.
One of the central characters, Master Santram, constantly waits at the border for his sister, Ladli, whom he hopes to reunite with. After much torment, Captain returns with Ladli, who has been severely traumatized by the physical and mental torture she suffered. Upon reuniting with her brother, Ladli is unable to recognize him and flees in fear. Both Master Santram and Captain try to console her, but tragically, they are shot by soldiers. The play concludes with a poignant message from an unnamed character, who cries out that the politicians who divided the country are not the true heroes. Instead, the real heroes are the refugees who suffered and died, as their bodies were used by politicians to create the borders that divided India into Hindustan and Pakistan.
The play’s key characters were portrayed by the following actors:
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Indian Soldier: Gautam Rai
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Pakistani Soldier: Sumit Srivastava
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Master Santram: Mahendra Galakoti
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Captain: Yogesh Shukla
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Unnamed: Anupam Bisaria
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Ladli: Anita Verma
The lighting was managed by Devashish Mishra, music by Abhishek Yadav, and makeup by Hansika Creations.
The performance was so emotionally stirring that it moved the audience to tears, and the actors received widespread praise for their brilliant performances.
Other notable attendees included Pushpa Vaishnav, Hema Bisht, Devashwari Pawar, Anjali Baunal, Shashi Joshi, Pushpa Galakoti, Shobha Patwal, Poonam Kanwal, Haritima Pant, Manju Padiya, Shobha Patwal, Madan Singh Bisht, Bhuwan Pathak, Jagat Singh Rana, Sanjay Kala, Puran Singh Jina, Surendra Rajeshwari, Pan Singh, Ramesh Chandra Singh Adhikari, Anupam Bhandari, Puran Bhadola, along with many other officials and members.
The President, Harish Chandra Pant, concluded the event by expressing his gratitude to the Ministry of Culture, New Delhi, the guests, the artists, the print media, and the audience for their support and appreciation.
