‘Kisht Bahar’ depicts situation in J&K after end of special status

Nagpur: Reality in Jammu and Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370 that ended the special status it enjoyed was effectively portrayed in Hindi play titled ‘Kisht Bahar’, staged by Tanmayee Bahuddeshiya Shikshan Sanstha at Scientific Society Hall, on Friday.
The story revolves around the family of Bhatt, living in Kishtwar region, with wife Sandhya, daughter Aashu and son Sanjeet.
Written by Salim Sheikh, the story highlights the incidents of terrorist groups circulating fake news on social media of how people of the country were talking rubbish about girls and women in Kashmir and making them believe that what they saw was real. These anti-national elements provoked youngsters and forced them to join terror activities.
The play mentioned Article 370, troops deployed by the government, and terrorists talking of freeing Kashmir for which they incite people in the valley.
Aashu (Ayesha Sheikh) gets injured in stone pelting by divisive forces, but soldiers of the Indian Army ensure she get timely medical treatment. Her brother Sanjeet (Aadesh Jamnik) was one of the stone pelters indulging in unlawful activities.
Sanjeet later comes in contact with Gilani (Parikshit Harsole), a respected politician in the region. Sanjeet did not know that he was the mastermind behind many terror attacks. Gilani provokes youngsters to take part in the fight for freedom to Kashmir.
One day, a soldier comes to the residence of Bhatt (Salim Sheikh) to enquire about the health of Aashu where he finds Sanjeet’s actions suspicious. Investigations reveal the stone pelters were hiding at a place. When Army officials go there, they find a known political leader Gilani and return without carrying out search operations.
The soldier again goes to the residence of Bhatt, looking for Sanjeet. But his mother Sandhya (Sanyukta Thorat) lies that he is studying in his room though she knew that he was roaming around.
As curfew is imposed to rein in ultras, people have to stay indoors for days together. It was during this time Sandhya realizes that her son was involved in terrorist activities. She cries and tells her husband that Sanjeet had made a terrible mistake.
After some days, Aashu and Sandhya go to a hospital though curfew was in place. On their return, Bhatt finds that his daughter’s vision is lost forever. He is shattered to know Anshu has become blind.
Sanjeet then finds that it was the handiwork of the terror group he was associated with that made his sister blind. He realizes his mistake of indulging in nefarious acts and returns to the family.
Director and actors did justice to the theme of the play.
(Reporting by Rushabh Rathod)