War and peace

Two plays, Dara and Bullha, are being staged at the Capital in an effort to bring India and its neighbours closerFrom cricket diplomacy to music to bus rides, there are a lot of things that have been done to broker peace between India and Pakistan. Here's one more that is striving to bring together people, cultures and values across Saarc countries, and India and Pakistan more specifically. So with that in mind, an NGO has organised two plays, Dara and Bullha, which will be staged in a Capital auditorium today and tomorrow. The plays deal with two different personalities altogetheru00a0-- one is the story of a saint and the other, the tale of a prince. The life ofu00a0a mysticBullha is a tribute to the great mystic, Bulleh Shah. It is broadly based on the events of his life, as communicated through his poetry, historical records and popular myths. It will also bring to life the times of Bulleh Shah and has some lessons for the present-day Pakistan. It is a strong plea for love and peace, and an indictment against intolerance, violence and hatred. The play is directed by Madeeha Gauhar and has been written by Shahid Nadeem. Trialsu00a0and tribulationsDara delineates the life of Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of emperor Shah Jahan. It is an extremely dramatic and moving story of the prince who was imprisoned and executed by his younger brother Aurangzeb. Dara was not only a crown prince but also a poet, a painter and a Sufi.u00a0 He wanted to build on the vision of Akbar the Great and bring the ruling Muslim elite closer to the local religions. The play has been written and directed byu00a0 Shahid Nadeem and includes live qawwalis and songs based on the lyrics of Amir Khusrau, Sarmad, Bhagat Kabir and Dara Shikoh.When: dara: today and bullha: tomorrowAt: kamani auditorium, 1, copernicus margTimings: 6.30 pmFor passes, call: 41646383