LARKANA, March 3: A Tehreek-i-Niswan (Women’s Movement) troupe led by Sheema Kermani performed in Larkana and Kambar-Shahdadkot districts for three days.
The troupe enthralled the audience by performing the play titled ‘I want peace’ at the Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto Memorial Library, Hindu Dharmshala and Hamal village over the weekend.
The programme was organised by the Tehreek-i-Niswan in partnership with the Larkana Social Forum to provide quality entertainment with thought-provoking and meaningful programmes portraying and encompassing political, economic, social and cultural issues with special reference to violence against women.
Sheema Kermani opened the play with quotations of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who called for respecting all religions, cultures and ideologies. She said that the wave of bloodshed in the country can be dissipated with love, peace and educating people, while teaching them to respect people as humans, not followers of certain religions or ideologies. The element of humanism must prevail, she said.
The play focused on misrepresentation of religious values and targeting people for following a certain faith. The artist said that the people must defeat this trend so that peace could prevail in the country.
The play was peppered with Sindhi songs and Urdu poetry, hooking the audience to it.
Speakers at the event praised Tehreek-i-Niswan for its efforts towards dissipating hate which, according to them, was damaging the society’s fabric and fomenting violence, crime and terrorism.
Later, speaking to Dawn, Sheema Kermani said that theatre and dance were powerful mediums to spread the message of love.
She believed that theatre and dance could be used as alternative methods for educating people. She described the atmosphere around the Hamal lake and at Hindu Dharmshala as marvellous and said it was great to be in the company of Comrade Sobho Gianchandani.
Paying tribute to women activist and classical dancer, Comrade Gianchandani said that he could no resist attending her programme despite his ill health. He termed Sheema Kermani ‘a great advocate of peace’. He said that it was wonderful that people from every walk of life came and watched the play.