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In these days of living in a gadget-dominated world, a small letter writing stall gained a lot of attention at the Emirates Literature Festival (ELF).
Inviting people to a heartwarming rendezvous with letter writing at ELF, is an eclectic group of South Asian expats called Goonj, who shot to fame last year with their Urdu play Mian, Biwi aur Wagah that became the first original language based stage production in the UAE. The 10-member group has a mix of Indians and Pakistanis all settled here in the UAE.
As you approach the stall, what catches your attention is a red letter box. Next to it stands a man dressed as an Indian postman, wearing a khaki uniform, who ushers visitors into the shop and hands them a postcard. "Pick up a 'chit' from this lot and whatever topic is listed on it, write a few lines on it," Faraz Waqar, who plays postman in the play Mian, Biwi aur Wagah, urges the visitors.
Faraz is part of the Goonj group, a UAE-based community theatre and literary initiative that works to revive the lost art of letter writing. "We are here at ELF to recreate the magic of pen and paper in a world swamped with instant messaging, smartphones and technology.
"Our play is a mix of experimental theatre with old-fashioned storytelling asking the audience to recall a time before email correspondence. The story of the play is weaved around three central characters - a husband and wife, both journalists - one from Karachi, Pakistan and the other from Bihar, India - who are seen and heard writing letters to their kith and kin from all walks of life, set in different cities, penning down a range of emotions.
"It is an emotional play where we have touched a range of issues faced by crossborder couples and which people living in the UAE can very well relate to. It is based on real letters, written not just between a husband and wife, but also letters between friends, and to parents who are no longer alive," said Faraz.
Ehtesham Shahid, who has co-authored the letters, and plays the role of 'mian' (husband) in the play said: " Although we are sending out a number of messages through our play, the main one is that even as technology is dominant and a convenient form of communication, we need to pause and introspect on what we are losing by ignoring traditions like letter writing. Writing a letter to a near and dear one is a tangible way to connect, and effort should be made to sustain this mode of communication."
Faraz said: " Although letter writing may seem outdated these days, it is an art worth reviving because writing, receiving and reading physical letters will always offer a surreal and heartfelt feeling that modern technology can never give. When you write a letter, you put your whole heart into it."
At the Goonj stall, visitors are encouraged to write a small message or letter on any topic that they pick from lots.
Visitors then post their postcard into the letter box placed outside the stall. The best letter will be posted on the group's social media account; the winners also get free tickets for Goonj's next performance in Dubai, scheduled on March 22 and 23.
saman@khaleejtimes.com
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