jadugar
Karachi beach theater - Teeth Maestro has more info. and pictures…
the skit was about a Jadugar (magician) who lodges himself indefinitely in the house of a poor family, promising to bring khushali (well being) and health, prosperity and jobs. But these promises are hollow and he becomes a burden to the family, by using their space, and eating most of their food . When asked about his promises, he demands that the family keeps dogs and build higher walls to secure the riches that are to miraculously fall upon them in the future.
After months of enduring his ?dictatorship?, the family decide to evict the jadugar. Not much has changed for them - the young son is still unemployed, and his grandmother has passed away. The skit ends with the actors engaging in the audience in a discussion about what is to be done with the jadugar. Most keenly responded that he must be thrown out with force. The skit was an allegorical reference to Musharaff?s dictatorship and his usurpation of resources and wealth that has contributed to poverty and class disparity in Pakistan.
(comment: Busharraf is, of-course, not the only character responsible for the usurpation of wealth and resources of Pakistan, that all existed b/4 he came along - he is just the latest mask. This time the mask is of “secularism” “modernity” “enlightened moderation” etc., another time it was the mask of darbari “islam” - royalty “islam”. Inshallah, time will come when all of these masks will be pulled off once and for all. )
