A full-length play; Nanak Singh Pustakmala, Amritsar, 1984; Pages: 120
Komagata Maru is the
first published full length Canadian Punjabi Play (1982). It
has gone through more than one editions and has been prescribed
in the Punjabi literature courses in universities in Punjab. The
play is
based on the historical incident of steamer Komagata Maru that
came to Vancouver in July 1914. It had 374 passengers,
mostly Punjabi Sikhs, and was returned after much humiliation of the passengers. The
play exposes the imperialist "justice system" of Great Britain and
Canadian racism in the early
decades of twentieth century.
Performance
Directed
by Ajmer Rode
Time:
140 minutes; Main characters: 11
Bhupinder
Dhaliwal as Mewa Singh, Charanjit Sidhu
as Hasan Rahim and Bhavkhandan as Bhag
Singh
in
front of the Sikh temple in Komagata Maru.
The
play was first produced by Bharati Nat Kendar in 1977 on the stage of
Sexsmith Secondary school in Vancouver and generated a considerable publicity. It
was directed by Ajmer Rode.
"As for the theme and performance
considerations, I consider this a very successful play"– Dr. Kulbir Singh Kang (critic, essayist,in Tribune,
1983)
Woman
(Amrit
Mann) and her child (Surti) seen at the
deck
of Komagata Maru as it arrives in Vancouver.
Director
Ajmer Rode with Surjeet Kalsey (Jean) at
the set of Komagata Maru
