DRAMA QUEENS
So this is how it all happened. Ajoka, a non-commercial theatre group committed to the cause of social change in Pakistan, unveiled its new play Burqavaganza last month in Lahore. The satirical play, written by Shahid Nadeem, addresses the issue of the burqa (veil) and highlights the double-standards and hypocrisy of the feudal/tribal mindset. The aim was to use humour and satire to challenge the cultural status quo and to provoke people to think for themselves.
The audience thoroughly enjoyed the show and the play received positive reviews in the press. But the most surprising response to the play came from a rather astute group of individuals belonging to the MMA (more popularly known as Mullah Military Alliance). Inspired by the success of the Burqavaganza, five extremely talented MNAs decided to perform their own impromptu over-the-top ‘drama‘ in the National Assembly. The play imaginatively titled Fanativaganza (by yours truly), was a staged rebuttal to the Ajoka group’s play. Substituting the use of satire, the inspired MNAs opted for provocative language and violent hand gestures to ridicule the writer of Burqvaganza and the Director of the Ajoka theatre group. Apparently, to these five highly sensitive and pious individuals, the Burqavaganza play was clearly un-Islamic, enough to be classified as blasphemous. Although, it has to be clarified that these days, any critique, criticism, aspersion, censure, swipe or nitpicking of the norms and practices of these religious extremists will likely lead to a blasphemy charge, even if it is a comment regarding the general unruliness of their beards.
One minor clarification here, they cannot be called religious fundamentalists. This is because they fail to grasp the fundamentals of the religion they claim to be following. ‘Nutters’ is more appropriate and generally my preference.
The MNA performed drama did not get a positive response from the public or the press, but it did manage to get a standing ovation from the Minister of Culture, who subsequently announced a government ban on the Burqavaganza play to show his appreciation for the drama queens of the national assembly. He was so moved by the MMA performance that he additionally promised further government actions against the key members of the Ajoka Theatre group. I have to admit, as a Pakistani citizen, hearing this news brought a lump to my throat. It wasn’t that I was emotional, it just happened to be part of the process of me regurgitating my last meal, as I got sick to my stomach.
It is clear now that the government’s attempt at promoting ‘enlightened moderation’ in reference to religion has not been very successful. Actually, that is an understatement; it has been an unquestionable, resounding failure. I do admit though that they have managed to create an era of (religious) ‘moderated enlightenment’. When your faith is judged by the size of your beard or measured by the length of your veil, you are in serious, serious trouble!
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Good work. OA.
Looks like we are pretty much up the creek/
Good one. Indeed the attempts on enlightened moderation are going nowhere.
Keep them coming
RR
A question – are you serious about the MNA play? The one performed in response to Burqavaganza? I found your blog because I was searching to see if others were “talking” about Burqavaganza and the gov’s response.
Interesting blog, by the way. Thanks.
Anna,
That was my attempt at satirizing the situation. Actually, there was no MNA play BUT I do believe there was a lot of misled, over-the-top reaction by the drama queens (MMA MNAs) in the National Assembly…as per usual.
Thanks for visiting my blog and for your comment.
Since we are talking of the drama queens masquerading as pious and religious people, did you hear of the queens in bangladesh who detonated three bombs threatening to detonate many more in NGO offices if – get this – the NGOs/Government/The world in general did not declare Prophet Mohammad (Sal Allah alaih wa sallim ) as the superman. La Haula wa la quwwah!
Join me in declaring Jihad on all these morons who have hijacked the religion of peace, and who are now making a mockery of it.
If you ask me, the incident in Bangladesh is waaay too far fetched, even for the moronic mullahs! You think it might be a mischevious element?
Well, I am not surprised. I have seen a lot of such dramas being enacted by what the BBC has aptly termed as a ‘Hindu Nationalist Party’ i.e. the BJP, in the sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic of India (as per the Constitution).
I’ve heard that the original play was good, but I’m afraid that in terms of sheer theatrics, my vote will have to go to the Assembly version!
[...] Omer Alvie is a Pakistani residing in the UAE and writes, often satirically, on his blog The Olive Ream. He also writes about the Pakistani blog scene at Global Voices. This post was first published at The Olive Ream. [...]
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Join me in declaring Jihad on all these morons who have hijacked the religion of peace, and who are now making a mockery of it.
That was my attempt at satirizing the situation. Actually, there was no MNA play BUT I do believe there was a lot of misled, over-the-top reaction by the drama queens (MMA MNAs) in the National Assembly…as per usual.