GCU Dramatics Club Stages ‘Shair-e-Mysore’

News Desk

Lahore: The Government College University’s (GCU) Dramatics Club has staged its annual play ‘Shair-e-Mysore’ on the life and legacy of Tipu Sultan. While Tipu Sultan is celebrated as a freedom fighter against the East India Company, the GCU play presents a much more nuanced, personal, and darker side of Tipu Sultan, which is precisely what becomes the most refreshing aspect of the play. GCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Asghar Zaidi called it a historic occasion, signalling the rebirth of student theatre.

“I am so happy that we have put on such a powerful show. The best part is that it is an original play. GCU has produced many wonderful playwrights, like ‘Imtiaz Ali Taj’ and ‘Asghar Nadeem Syed’. This play is homage both to Tipu Sultan and to our wonderful playwrights,” remarked Dr Zaidi.

Prof. Asgharfurther stated that it was important to remember our heroes like Tipu Sultan but also analyse their legacy with critical hindsight. “Tipu is our champion against British colonialism but he was also a human with his own flaws. We should see him as a human and not a saint. That is what this play does,” he added.

In ‘Shair-e-Mysore’, Tipu Sultan is shown as both a fierce and determined warrior but also as an insecure, superstitious individual battling circumstance beyond his control. There is a clear parallel to be drawn between ‘Shair-e-Mysore’ and the works of classical European dramatists. Like most Western dramatic tragedies, the play presents the story of a man who suffers both because of his mistakes and because of forces beyond his control.

The play begins at a museum exhibit where important characters from Tipu Sultan’s time are shown. These characters come to life and begin to relate the events that led to the fall of Tipu Sultan on May 4, 1799. The rest of the play is in flashback.

We get a glimpse of Tipu’s childhood under the watchful eye of his stern father, Hyder Ali Khan. Tipu’s mother, Fakhurunissa, his notorious ministers, Purniya and Mir Sadiq, his wife, and Kaneez all try to convince Tipu to be mindful of regional Indian princes gathering around the British Governor General, Lord Wellesley.

The play has been written by Sameer Ahmed, an English teacher at GC. It has been directed by Muzzamil Shabbir and ZohaibNaqvi. The title role was played by University of Education Lahore Urdu Literature Chairperson Salman Bhatti. The traitor Mir Sadiq was played by Mohsin Masood, and the wily Purniya was played by Abbas Salotra. Tipu’s wife was played by Anamta Shokat, and his kaneez by RaeesaRiaz.