SAHIWAL: The two-day literary conference on Harappa ended with a stage play, titled Mayawati and folk dance and singing performances.
Students from various educational institutions performed the 60-minute long play, written by Prof Bilal Bajwa and Dr Hina Jamshed from the Government Graduate College. The story revolved around a statue, named Mayawati, believed to be excavated from Mohenjo Daro, and four young men claiming its ownership. They include Hari Youpia who claims to have molded the statue at Harappa; Ernest Mackay, the British man who unearthed it and Pundit, the present custodian who wants to keep it in the temple, declaring it a goddess.
The case is presented to Darius-the judge, who is unable to decide the case and gets help from an archeologist who deciphers the uncoded language. The statue comes to life as the incantations carved on it are read out. Mayawati tells the audience that she is the mother spirit destined to live in eternity. She declares that all claimants love her and all are true in their limited perspective and, though not wrong, they are untrue. Instead of being owned by a single claimant, she wants to live in eternity. The play was directed by Husnain Sadiq Kasuri and actors included Hifza Naz, Rouf, Sohail Ahmed, Hyder Ali, Husnain Qasouri and Ibrar.
The last day of the conference opened with two sessions, attended by Dr Ashraf Kamal, Dr Azra Liaquat, Dr Nadia, Dr Tariq Javed, Irfan Hyder, Dr Mazhar Abbas, Dr Asad Mahmood, Dr Waseem Abbas, Dr Nazia Parveen, Dr Noor Albasar, Dr Zafar Hussain, Dr Fazeelat Bano, Dr Rukhsana Baloch and Dr Abida Batool.
The paintings of Fatima Hussain were on display, singer Wahdat Ramiz, sang songs in the music programme while the delegates also visited Harappa Museum. A mushaira was held at the Harappa Auditorium. The conference ended with a Jhoomer dance.
Punjabi activists, in a session moderated by Muhammad Akhtar Khan, demanded the Punjab Arts Council allocate funds at the divisional level for promotion of the Punjabi language, arts and culture. They included Muddasir Iqbal Butt, Ilyas Ghumman, Muhammad Shafiq, Masood Khalid and Dr Asghar Ali Baloch.
Iqbal said although Harappan language symbols were not decoded yet, one could surely say Punjab language roots traced back to Harappa and Mohenjo Daro. He said Punjabi language was at its peak even at the time of Baba Farid 750 years ago.
Ilyas Ghumman stressed that the Punjabis must own their language, saying that there was a need for more prose and poetry in the language.
Masood Khalid said the Punjab language was blocked by British colonial masters because they wanted to take away the identity and heritage of the people.