History is mute to these stories

Q&A: Nadira Babbar

Theatreperson Nadira Babbar is ready to stage her historical play, 1857, in the Capital. She talks to Neha Bhatt about how it is not about heroes but about the plebeian spirit.

What aspect of the revolt have you focused on in the play?

I have put the spotlight on the common man, not emperors or leaders. No revolution is possible without the common man and, I believe, each unit of history is made up of lakhs of people who come together to do something significant.

History has been mute to such stories. I have focused on two stories that are symbolic, that of Ram Saran and Shamsuddin. During research, when I delved into the history of the uprising, I found that the concept of "unity in diversity" that we talk of today was deeply woven into the culture of that time.

Do you find any parallels to that concept in today's time?

Well, amidst globalisation and IT, we have forgotten our basic values. Love for the country, the beauty of our culture, our languages and ethos "" all these are getting lost. Nobody wants to speak in Urdu or Hindi. Speaking English means one is advanced while a Hindi-speaking person is often dismissed as being unsophisticated.

Moving away from rooted, earthy Hindi theatre, we've had much of "experimental" theatre of late. What is experimentation to you?

I don't believe in experimenting just for the sake of it. There is no point in doing plays that are only for yourself and so bizarre that people don't even understand them. And such plays don't do well at all. In fact, sometimes they drive the audience away from theatres.

You have been in theatre for more than three decades. How have you changed in the profession since you began?

I found myself as a playwright. I have written five plays. Beyond that, I have learnt new ways of surviving in theatre. It's very difficult working without any funds from the government. But I have learnt a lot from the younger generation.

How to market oneself better, how to deal with sponsors and get the least one deserves as a theatreperson. A small-time TV newcomer gets first-class treatment, what about those who've been in theatre for over 30 years? One has to learn how to respect oneself to be treated well by others.

Is there anything you are looking forward to after 1857?

A holiday! I haven't taken one for years as something or the other that interests me keeps coming up.