Daily Times

LAHORE: Ajoka Theatre welcomed the Punjab government’s decision to life ban on Basant. Ajoka Theatre Executive Director Shahid Nadeem and the writer of acclaimed play “Here Comes Basant Again” said, “Pakistan’s most popular festival was banned 10 years ago for baseless reasons, blaming kite flying instead of cracking down on the chemical string makers and safe-guarding people during the festival days. The successive governments, though privately opposed the ban, but did not have the moral courage to undo the ban.” He congratulated Punjab culture minister on his statement and expressed the hope that the chief minister will put the announcement into effect. “Let us hope there will not be a U-Turn on this issue. Revival of Basant will be a matter of joy and celebration for the people of Lahore and will be a befitting tribute to Ajoka founder Madeeha Gauhar who directed the play on Basant and to Arshad Durrani, who played the role of an old kite-maker in the play, who are no more with us,” he said. But their spirits will be flying with the colourful kites in the Lahore skies, he maintained. “Ajoka had been celebrating Basant on stage but now we will be happy to present a play to mark the revival of Basant.”

Published in Daily Times, December 20^th 2018.