Daily Times

Dr Javed Iqbal is known the world over for his scholarly works, speeches, lectures and his objective understanding of Muslim history. His works include his autobiography, Apna Gareban Chaak, which is a landmark in honest introspection. His biography of his father, Allama Iqbal, is also objective and does not shy away from or evade the questions that may be in the minds of some people. There are other books that Dr sahib has written that have great value in understanding the thoughts of the great thinker Allama Iqbal. He has also published collections of his dramas, short stories and articles in two volumes called Jahan-e-Javed.

His latest published play is Razia Sultan, which has only recently been marketed. The choice of the subject has great relevance to current times. It deals with a female ruler/politician who was a Muslim. An obvious parallel exists in Pakistan’s context. Razia Sultan was murdered as the result of a conspiracy and so one can see several parallels and relevance with the present times.

Razia Sultan, the daughter of Sultan Shamsuddin Altamash, sat on the Delhi throne from 1236 to 1240 AD. She fell prey to the conspiracies of her own courtiers and, ultimately, her head was severed. The author states that the content has been taken from historian Sirajuddin Minhaj’s book Tabqat-e-Nasri. Dr Javed Iqbal’s play has very strongly commented upon the history of Muslim royalty and its tradition of cruel conspiracies. In the play, there is unabashed twisting of Islamic values to suit the purpose of conspiracies and heinous crimes. The methodology is alarmingly close to several familiar happenings in recent times. Murder and fear are rampant instruments to establish political hegemony in the name of Islam. All the persons involved are ‘honourable men’ in Shakespearean terms. They use all possible ploys, starting with Razia being a woman and not acceptable as the head of state, then they plague aspersions on her morality and then they exploit the colour prejudice against the ‘black’ soldiers and her loyal commander. The conspirators’ main purpose is to launch a puppet and not a thinking ruler who has the ability to guide and govern. They launch a puppet and perpetuate their power, irrespective of the damage done to the state. Dr Javed Iqbal also exposes how gullible the masses are in general. This has been true in history and it is true today. Those who can exploit the public one way or the other get their hegemony. Most often, exploitation is done in the name of religion. Razia Sultan’s good deeds, her victories over the enemies of the state, her charity, actions for the rule of law and providing justice, all get washed away by the conspiring ‘honourables’ who hatch a lethal conspiracy and spread rumours.

Dr sahib has also touched upon the understanding of the Quran and some of its aayat, which may not be understood generally, e.g. 52 of Ha-meem ‘Alsajda’: “Bethink you: If it is from Allah and ye reject it — then who is further astray than one who is at open feud (with Allah).”

The contents of the script are thought-provoking and informative. It is a play that can be read and, for that, it is good reading. It would make excellent play-reading for a class of history and politics and I strongly recommend that teachers find some occasion for a play-reading of Razia Sultan in the classroom.

To stage the play means to meet many challenges. It has long cast, period costumes, locations with palaces and even a field of war. It could be made suitable for a television production by some skilful re-writing and development of a suitable screenplay.

In an atmosphere of indiscriminate ‘belief’ in doubtful statements and quotations, in a state of suppression and fear, the play invites you to spend a moment with yourself and clarify some of your perceptions about Islam. It is a different play from the routine and needs serious attention. Only a scholar of Dr Javed Iqbal’s status, vision and courage could deal with a subject like this.

There is a rush of drama designed on the basis of ratings on TV and thus playing to the gallery. If decision making on the basis of ratings continues, then degeneration will be the destiny. The role of the media demands social responsibility in providing education and information, not just entertainment, to make money. The process of education must be extended to the advertiser as well. The advertiser should not insist on ratings alone. The advertiser must realise that he has the power to mould taste and that he can lead and not just follow. A conscientious sponsor who is aware of his social responsibility must pick up this play for a telecast as a tele-film.

The reviewer is a culture and media management specialist, a researcher,
author, director and actor