Bhatti’s “Behzti (Dishonor)” hurts Sikh Sensitivities

Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti’s play Behzti has created a wave of rage among the British Sikhs. The furor is on a scene in a gurdwara depicting rape and murder. The play opened at Birmingham Repertory Theatre and London’s Soho Theatre. According to Guardian Unlimited (December 20, 2004), “Yesterday it appeared that the theatre and its critics, who were in discussions before the play opened on December 9, were further than ever from reaching a compromise. The board warned that it would not bow to censorship, while community elders warned that protesters were now calling for an outright ban rather than changes to the script…West Midlands police, community leaders and theatre representatives are meeting today to discuss whether the depiction of rape and murder in a gurdwara, or temple, should go ahead tonight.”

Ms. Bhatti had created controversy earlier on also with her first play Behsharam (Shameless). She was born in Watford and has lived in two cultures. Her inherited orthodox Sikh culture is in sharp contrast with the permissive and liberal culture into which she is born. The complex and multi-layered Sikh culture wouldn’t allow her to depict the (sexual) realities of the Sikh immigrants’ day to day life out in the public while the British liberated culture not only accepts such portrayal but also laps it up and showers plaudits on the writer. For example, Matthew Cooper quoted The Wolverhampton Express and Star and wrote (PA News, December 19, 2004), “The NHS should put this play on prescription and save itself a fortune on Prozac.”

Even in the liberated societies, sex is still coupled with sin. It has to be wrapped up in beautiful covers. It reminds me of a tidbit. When I was in high school in Pakistan, our Head Master, a refugee and a poet from U.P., taught us English (language and literature). One day, he started discussing marriage and sex in the class room. He said in our culture it is the gravest sin to have extra-marital sex, particularly with a prostitute but sex is highly commendable with your wife. You organize your marriage ceremony with great fanfare and ‘band baajah’ letting all the people know that you will have sexual relationship with your wife after the marriage. On the other hand, another hapless person sneaks stealthily into the Red Light area to seek sexual favors from a prostitute. Such is the hypocrisy of the civilized human life.

Procreation of human race depends on sexual act yet it is regarded filthiest of all acts; it is the First Sin. What can be more complex than this?

In the case of Behzti, it is suggested that the purported depiction of sex and murder was okay had it not taken place in a gurdwara – a holy place of worship. Commenting on Behzti, Gurdial Singh Atwal, a Labour Councillor and representative for the Council of Sikh Gurdwaras, said, “It has caused a great hurt and shows lack of respect. The Sikh community had a small demand: rather than setting in a gurdwara, set it in a community center.”

But then the play wouldn’t have created a (publicity) storm; it would probably not have attracted much attention. One of the facts of modern life is that nothing sells better than sex. Manto was a great short story writer but after his ‘Thanda Ghosht’, he became much greater. Same goes for Ismat Chughtai. Those who have read her know fully well that the first thing that comes to mind when her name is mentioned is her ‘Lihaf’.

The religious controversies come next. Not many would have known or cared about Nasrin had the Mullahs not risen against her. Rusdie was known in literary circles only before his ‘Satanic Verses’; now the whole world knows him. Seen in this perspective, Behzti and Behsharam have pushed Gurpreet to the frond news; now she can mine gold.

Before concluding, I might as well mention that critical counter-criticism has also been expressed by several people. For instance, Ash Kotak, a playwright and filmmaker, said, “The idea that whole (Asian) communities are homogenized is bollocks, especially as we go through the generations. The people who are campaigning are the ones who have oppressed us in the first place: the very people we are writing against…There are issues which have to be highlighted.”