Raschakra: Har Qatra Toofan
A Celebration of Women’s Writings presented in a Performative Reading Style
Raschakra is a literary and cultural platform active since 2016. Described as ‘rasikon ki addebazi’, it is a group of like-minded people who follow their heart and perform in their own time, place, and pace. Raschakra uses the performative reading format to celebrate women’s writings (mostly non-fictional texts) and brings them to the world in a way that is both enjoyable and thought-provoking.
Some of the celebrated and much-appreciated performances of Raschakra are:
- Hum Khawateen - Based on 100-year-old writings of Muslim women
- Haqeeqat aur Khwab - Based on Rokeya Sakhawat Hossai’s writings
- Har Qatra Toofan - Gandhi as seen by women
- Mohabbat Zindabad - A collation of original and translated poems of love
- Afghani Dukhtaran - Raschakra’s latest production, also its fifth
Har Qatra Toofan
A collection of essays, letters, and articles written by women from diverse backgrounds and nationalities, stitched together to present a hitherto unseen picture of Gandhi, Har Qatra Toofan is Raschakra’s third presentation of performative readings. These women have not just heaped praises on Gandhi but have also tried to closely look at his life and understand it. If they have expressed their deep admiration for him, they have also expressed sharp dissonance with his ideas. The women whose writings make the selection include Mahadevi Verma (Punya Sansmaran, Sacred Reminiscences), Emma Tarlo (Clothing Matters), Sarojini Naidu (Peaches of Cape Town and Condolences), Danish Missionary Anne Marie Peterson (Cotton drenched in dew drops), Danish Journalist Ellen Horup (Varde), Taj Sahiba Lahori (Charkha), and Ismat Chugtai (Kachhe Dhaage). The presentation also includes excerpts of Gandhi’s essay on the loincloth and his conversations with 11 young women of Calcutta. Scripted by Purwa Bharadwaj, the show has been directed by Vinod Kumar.
Date: January 30, 2023
Time: 5:30 pm
Venue: Auditorium, GICT Building
