In Ismat’s words

Ismat Chughtai

When a case of alleged obscenity was placed against Ismat Chughtai for her story Lihaaf, part of her response in an interview was - "It's my belief that experiences can never be obscene if they are based on authentic realities of life". True to her words, Chughtai's stories portray the lives of real women - with sexual desires, frustration, and all things that were not attributed to women - seeking ways of a fulfilled life under the pressures of a society that keep them shackled in isolation and in service to the family.

Her work was revolutionary for its time, and based in truth, they hold their own more than 90 years later. "She wrote about the society she belonged to and had the courage and boldness to write about it," says Muneera Surati, clinical psychologist and author.

Muneera Surati and Sikandar Khan

Urdu Mehfil will be an evening of celebrating Chughtai and her work with readings of her most famous stories including Lihaaf, narrated by Surati, Sadiya Siddiqui, an actor, and Gargee Nandy, an artist and content creator.

Siddiqui notes that the event will be an opportunity to listen to great stories in Urdu since not many can read the script, but will understand the spoken language. The ITA award winner notes the nuances in Chughtai's works calling them truths written colloquially, and that the art of narration will bring out layers of the stories for listeners. Mumbai-based Surati says, "Reading is different from listening." She maintains that narration by artistes reveals the many dimensions of a story and colours of a character. Surati's translation of her Urdu work Tosha Daan received special mention by the jury of Jawad prize for 2020.

For Nandy, being associated with the event helps her explore a deeper connection with Chughtai's works, Urdu literature and storytelling. "The liberty to visualise a character or a scenario in your own imagination is the purest form of enjoying art," she says.

Urdu Mehfil is part of the fifth edition of Online Theatre Festival - a four-day event by Theatre Management Company (TMC). "We've decided to celebrate all the female Urdu writers every month this year. Dr Rashid Jahan was celebrated in the January edition of Urdu Mehfil," says Sikandar Khan, founder-CEO of TMC. The festival, with new editions on the 7th of every month, will showcase performances in Hindi, Sanskrit, and Maithili, aptly led by an all-woman cast.

On February 7 to 10, 7 pm
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Cost Rs 99