Safdar Hashmi
Encyclopedia
Safdar Hashmi was a Communist playwright, actor, director, lyricist, and theorist, chiefly associated with Street theatre
in India
, and is still considered an important voice in political theatre in India.
He was a founding member of Jana Natya Manch
(People's Theatre Front; Janam for short) in 1973, which grew out of the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA). He was brutally murdered in Delhi while performing a street play, Halla Bol.
to Haneef and Qamar Azad Hashmi. He spent early part of his life in Aligarh and Delhi, where he grew up in liberal Marxist environment, and went on to complete his schooling in Delhi.
He graduated from St Stephen's College Delhi in English Literature, and did M.A. English from Delhi University, it was here that he became associated with the cultural unit of 'Student Federation of India', the student wing of the CPI-M, and eventually with IPTA
, with which he went on to work on several plays during and post his graduation years such as Kimlesh, presented at the Kisan Sabha (Peasant’s Union) All India conference, and Dekhte Lena.
(IPTA) and was associated with Communist Party of India (Marxist), with which he was actively involved in 1970s. When Indian Prime Minister, was blamed with rigging the elections, he produced a street play, 'Kursi, Kursi, Kursi' (Chair, Chair, Chair), wherein, when a king tries to leave his throne for an elected public representaive, the throne lifts along with him. The play was performed everyday for a week, at the Boat Club Lawns in New Delhi, then a hub of political activity, and proved to be a turning point for the group.
Till 1975, Janam performed open-air proscenium and street plays for mass audiences, then during the Emergency years (1975–77), he worked as a lecturer in English literature in universities in Garhwal, Kashmir and Delhi.
Post Emergency he returned to political activism, and in 1978 Janam took to street theatre in a big way, with Machine which was performed for a trade union meeting of over 200,000 workers on 20 November 1978. This was followed by plays on the distress of small peasants (Gaon Se Shahar Tak), on clerical fascism
(Hatyare & Apharan Bhaichare Ke), on unemployment (Teen Crore), on violence against women (Aurat) and on inflation (DTC ki Dhandhli). He also produced several documentaries and a TV serial for Doordarshan
“Khilti Kaliyan” (Flowers in Bloom) on rural empowerment. He also wrote books for children and criticism of the Indian stage.
He was the de-facto director of Janam, and till his death, 'Janam' gave about 4,000 performances of 24 street plays, performed mostly working-class neighborhoods, factories and workshops.
He was a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)
, the largest communist party in India. In 1979, he married his comrade and theatre actress, Moloyshree. Later he worked in the Press Trust of India (PTI), Economic Times as a journalist and then joined as the Press Information Officer of the Govt. of West Bengal in Delhi. In 1984, he gave up his job and devoted himself full-time to political activism.
Safdar’s output includes two proscenium plays – an adaptation of Maxim Gorky
’s Enemies (1983), and Moteram ka Satyagraha (with Habib Tanvir
, 1988) – many songs, a television series script, poems and plays for children, and documentary films. While committed to radical, popular, leftwing art, Safdar refrained from clichéd portrayals and was not afraid of formal experimentation.
On 1 January 1989, while performing a street play, Halla Bol (Attack!), during Ghaziabad municipal elections, at Sahibabad
's Jhandapur village, (near Delhi), the Janam troupe was attacked by political hoodlums of Indian National Congress
Party. Safdar succumbed to his injuries the following day. On January 4, 1989, two days after his death, his wife Moloyshree Hashmi, went to the same spot again, with the troupe of 'Jan Natya Manch' and defiantly completed the play.
Fourteen years after the incident, a Ghaziabad court convicted ten people, including Congress Party
member Mukesh Sharma, for the murder.
for the Indian left. Janam continues its theatre work in Delhi. The writer Bhisham Sahni
, along with many other artists, founded the 'Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust' (SAHMAT) in February 1989, as an open platform for politically and socially conscious artistes. Safdar Hashmi's writings were later collected in The Right to Perform: Selected Writings of Safdar Hashmi (New Delhi, 1989).
Today, each year on January 1, the Safdar Hashmi Memorial Day, is observed as a 'Day of Resolve' by SAHMAT, and a day-long cultural congregation, 'Jashn-e-Daura', is organized in New Delhi. The day is also commemorated by 'Jan Natya Manch', the theatre group he co-founded in 1973, by organizing street plays at Jhandapur village, in Sahibabad, where he was killed. In 1998, 'Safdar Hashmi Natyasangham' was formed in Kozhikode
, Kerala, which provides free training to economically backward students.
The 2008 film, Halla Bol
, made by Rajkumar Santoshi
, was inspired by his life, and also depicts a scene, where a street theatre activist is shown being beaten by political goons, but turns into a catalyst for public uprising in the film.
Master painter M F Husain joined the million-dollar club with his painting on Safdar Hashmi going under the hammer for over $1 million. An unidentified art collector went past the keenly fought bidding at an auction organised by Emami Chisel Art Auction House in Kolkata to bag 'Tribute to Hashmi' for $1.038 million (approx Rs 4.4 crore). Incidentally, this was the first painting of an Indian artist to cross the Rs ten lakh mark in 1989.
Street theatre
Street theatre is a form of theatrical performance and presentation in outdoor public spaces without a specific paying audience. These spaces can be anywhere, including shopping centres, car parks, recreational reserves and street corners. They are especially seen in outdoor spaces where there are...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and is still considered an important voice in political theatre in India.
He was a founding member of Jana Natya Manch
Jana Natya Manch
Jana Natya Manch is a New Delhi-based amateur theatre company specializing in left-wing street theatre in Hindi. It was founded in 1973 by a group of Delhi's radical theatre amateurs, who sought to take theatre to the people...
(People's Theatre Front; Janam for short) in 1973, which grew out of the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA). He was brutally murdered in Delhi while performing a street play, Halla Bol.
Early life and education
Safdar Hasmi was born on April 12, 1954 in DelhiDelhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
to Haneef and Qamar Azad Hashmi. He spent early part of his life in Aligarh and Delhi, where he grew up in liberal Marxist environment, and went on to complete his schooling in Delhi.
He graduated from St Stephen's College Delhi in English Literature, and did M.A. English from Delhi University, it was here that he became associated with the cultural unit of 'Student Federation of India', the student wing of the CPI-M, and eventually with IPTA
Ipta
IPTA can refer to:* Indian People's Theatre Association* International Pulsar Timing Array...
, with which he went on to work on several plays during and post his graduation years such as Kimlesh, presented at the Kisan Sabha (Peasant’s Union) All India conference, and Dekhte Lena.
Career and Activism
He co-founded Jana Natya Manch, People's Theatre Front or JANAM (birth), as an acronym, in 1973, which grew out of the Indian People's Theatre AssociationIndian People's Theatre Association
Indian People’s Theatre Association was an association of leftist theatre-artists and others mostly based in Kolkata, West Bengal, Mumbai and Assam, India. Its goal was to bring cultural awakening among the people of India. It was the cultural wing of the Communist Party of India...
(IPTA) and was associated with Communist Party of India (Marxist), with which he was actively involved in 1970s. When Indian Prime Minister, was blamed with rigging the elections, he produced a street play, 'Kursi, Kursi, Kursi' (Chair, Chair, Chair), wherein, when a king tries to leave his throne for an elected public representaive, the throne lifts along with him. The play was performed everyday for a week, at the Boat Club Lawns in New Delhi, then a hub of political activity, and proved to be a turning point for the group.
Till 1975, Janam performed open-air proscenium and street plays for mass audiences, then during the Emergency years (1975–77), he worked as a lecturer in English literature in universities in Garhwal, Kashmir and Delhi.
Post Emergency he returned to political activism, and in 1978 Janam took to street theatre in a big way, with Machine which was performed for a trade union meeting of over 200,000 workers on 20 November 1978. This was followed by plays on the distress of small peasants (Gaon Se Shahar Tak), on clerical fascism
Clerical fascism
Clerical fascism is an ideological construct that combines the political and economic doctrines of fascism with theology or religious tradition...
(Hatyare & Apharan Bhaichare Ke), on unemployment (Teen Crore), on violence against women (Aurat) and on inflation (DTC ki Dhandhli). He also produced several documentaries and a TV serial for Doordarshan
DoorDarshan
Doordarshan is an Indian public service broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in India in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. Recently, it has also started Digital Terrestrial Transmitters. On September 15, 2009,...
“Khilti Kaliyan” (Flowers in Bloom) on rural empowerment. He also wrote books for children and criticism of the Indian stage.
He was the de-facto director of Janam, and till his death, 'Janam' gave about 4,000 performances of 24 street plays, performed mostly working-class neighborhoods, factories and workshops.
He was a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)
Communist Party of India (Marxist)
The Communist Party of India is a political party in India. It has a strong presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. As of 2011, CPI is leading the state government in Tripura. It leads the Left Front coalition of leftist parties in various states and the national parliament of...
, the largest communist party in India. In 1979, he married his comrade and theatre actress, Moloyshree. Later he worked in the Press Trust of India (PTI), Economic Times as a journalist and then joined as the Press Information Officer of the Govt. of West Bengal in Delhi. In 1984, he gave up his job and devoted himself full-time to political activism.
Safdar’s output includes two proscenium plays – an adaptation of Maxim Gorky
Maxim Gorky
Alexei Maximovich Peshkov , primarily known as Maxim Gorky , was a Russian and Soviet author, a founder of the Socialist Realism literary method and a political activist.-Early years:...
’s Enemies (1983), and Moteram ka Satyagraha (with Habib Tanvir
Habib Tanvir
Habib Tanvir was one of the most popular Indian Urdu, Hindi playwrights, a theatre director, poet and actor. He is the writer of plays such as, Agra Bazar and Charandas Chor...
, 1988) – many songs, a television series script, poems and plays for children, and documentary films. While committed to radical, popular, leftwing art, Safdar refrained from clichéd portrayals and was not afraid of formal experimentation.
On 1 January 1989, while performing a street play, Halla Bol (Attack!), during Ghaziabad municipal elections, at Sahibabad
Sahibabad
Sahibabad is a collective name of industrial, residential and commercial areas within the jurisdiction of Ghaziabad District of Uttar Pradesh State of India. It touches the borders of Delhi, Noida, and main city of Ghaziabad...
's Jhandapur village, (near Delhi), the Janam troupe was attacked by political hoodlums of Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
Party. Safdar succumbed to his injuries the following day. On January 4, 1989, two days after his death, his wife Moloyshree Hashmi, went to the same spot again, with the troupe of 'Jan Natya Manch' and defiantly completed the play.
Fourteen years after the incident, a Ghaziabad court convicted ten people, including Congress Party
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
member Mukesh Sharma, for the murder.
Legacy
He has become a symbol of cultural resistance against authoritarianismAuthoritarianism
Authoritarianism is a form of social organization characterized by submission to authority. It is usually opposed to individualism and democracy...
for the Indian left. Janam continues its theatre work in Delhi. The writer Bhisham Sahni
Bhisham Sahni
Bhisham Sahni भीष्म साहनी was a Hindi writer, playwright, and actor, most famous for his novel and television screenplay Tamas , a powerful and passionate account of the Partition of India...
, along with many other artists, founded the 'Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust' (SAHMAT) in February 1989, as an open platform for politically and socially conscious artistes. Safdar Hashmi's writings were later collected in The Right to Perform: Selected Writings of Safdar Hashmi (New Delhi, 1989).
Today, each year on January 1, the Safdar Hashmi Memorial Day, is observed as a 'Day of Resolve' by SAHMAT, and a day-long cultural congregation, 'Jashn-e-Daura', is organized in New Delhi. The day is also commemorated by 'Jan Natya Manch', the theatre group he co-founded in 1973, by organizing street plays at Jhandapur village, in Sahibabad, where he was killed. In 1998, 'Safdar Hashmi Natyasangham' was formed in Kozhikode
Kozhikode
Kozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...
, Kerala, which provides free training to economically backward students.
The 2008 film, Halla Bol
Halla Bol
Halla Bol is a Hindi film released on 11 January 2008, and directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, whose earlier films include The Legend of Bhagat Singh and Khakee . Halla Bol stars Ajay Devgan and Vidya Balan in pivotal roles and 11 celebrities in the Hindi Film Industry celebrities who appear in the...
, made by Rajkumar Santoshi
Rajkumar Santoshi
Rajkumar Santoshi is a Filmfare award-winning Indian film director and producer of Hindi films. He is the son of producer-director P.L. Santoshi.-Career:...
, was inspired by his life, and also depicts a scene, where a street theatre activist is shown being beaten by political goons, but turns into a catalyst for public uprising in the film.
Master painter M F Husain joined the million-dollar club with his painting on Safdar Hashmi going under the hammer for over $1 million. An unidentified art collector went past the keenly fought bidding at an auction organised by Emami Chisel Art Auction House in Kolkata to bag 'Tribute to Hashmi' for $1.038 million (approx Rs 4.4 crore). Incidentally, this was the first painting of an Indian artist to cross the Rs ten lakh mark in 1989.
Further reading
- The Right to Perform: Selected Writings of Safdar Hashmi, Delhi, SAHMAT, 1989.
- Paanchwa Chiraag, Qamar Azad Hashmi,(Hindi). 1995.
- The Fifth Flame: The Story of Safdar Hashmi. Qamar Azad Hashmi. (Translation) Penguin Books, 1997. ISBN 0670875961.
- official website of Jana Matya Manch
- Theatre of the Streets: The Jana Natya Manch Experience, edited by Sudhanva Deshpande, Delhi: Janam, 2007.
- Sudhanva Deshpande, 'Voice of the Streets', Frontline, 25: 9, April 26-May 9, 2008. http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2509/stories/20080509250909300.htm
- Vijay Prashad, 'Safdar Hashmi Amar Rahe'. http://www.pragoti.org/hi/node/2907
- Eugene van Erven, 'Plays,Applause and Bullets : Safdar Hashmi's Street Theatre'. http://www.pragoti.org/hi/node/2911
- Vellikkeel Raghavan (2007). Cross-Continental Subversive Strategies: Thematic and Methodological Affinities in the Plays Dario Fo and Safdar Hashmi. Ph D Thesis. University of Calicut.
External links
- Official website of SAHMAT
- A Wonderful Documentary on Jana Natya Manch, Safdar & its Theatre Festival in Mumbai 'SARKASH' by NDTV
- Official website of Jan Natya Manch, 'JANAM'
- A Video Documentary "SAFDAR" by PTI and SAHMAT (English and Hindi Mixed)
- a childrens' poem book "duniya sabki"(world is for all) by safdar hashmi in hindi
- Taking it to the Streets: The Activist Theatre of Ngugi WaThiong'o and Safdar Hashmi - Lopamudra Basu
- An Interview with Safdar Hashmi NY Times