Moments from Hum Mukhtara, staged at Calcutta Club — Usha Ganguli (centre, in picture left) is the narrator, while Mrinmoyee Biswas (centre, in picture below) essays the role of Mukhtara. Pictures: Rashbehari Das

The courage and fighting spirit of a braveheart from Pakistan came alive on stage when Calcutta Club, with The Telegraph, presented Hum Mukhtara, a Hindi play by Rangakarmee, on Friday evening.

Mukhtar Mai, a woman from the Pakistani village of Meerwala, was sentenced to be gang raped because her brother presumably committed a crime. After the torture, she was forced to walk home naked. Mukhtar Mai prosecuted her attackers, fought for justice and got them convicted. She now runs Mukhtar Mai Women’s Organisation, that works for women’s rights and education.

Hum Mukhtara is based on this remarkable woman’s struggle, survival and victory over her oppressor. The play starts with a group of women in black burqas and faces covered with veils portraying the oppressed lives of women and how they are subjected to atrocities. The play ends on a positive note and with a message that urges you to be strong, to fight back and to be brave like Mukhtara.

“Na banengi hum mom ki battiyaan, banengi hum dhadhakti mashaalien ...hum Mukhtara, ek baar nazar daudao, udhar dekho… sab Mukhtara,” echoed the hall as the curtains came down with the women chanting these lines.

This was the 20th performance of the play that has been directed by theatre veteran Usha Ganguli, director of Rangakarmee.

“Everyone has liked the play, including women’s organisations, students and theatre persons. The subject is disturbing. After six months of rehearsals we prepared this play that presents a reality of life that we sometimes don’t want to look at. Yeh Pakistan ki Mukhtara nahin, saari duniya ki is waqt ki Mukhtara hai,” said Ganguli.