Rabia; A book by Dr Mohd Aleem

Nowadays the tradition of drama writing is almost dead in Urdu and Hindi languages. Razing down of the stage tradition is one of the reasons behind it. Even now some theatrical groups are alive and pouring lives in to the art of drama writing. ‘little theatrical group’ New Delhi is one of those who staged some very special dramas that is the mirror of Indian culture and state of different community.Yes! I am talking about theatres in this electronic age, where there is a glare of TV shows and movies dazzling our eyes. But many years ago theatres were only one most popular entertainment tool. No surprise if I will say that it is still existing, Not only existing but with same �clat.In the form of drama, there are more opportunities to present feelings, internal dilemmas, social states and individual exploitations rather than other literary genres.The drama Rabiya presents the tragedy of the bad marriage system in a middle class Indian family. Behavioral disharmony and the dowry are very broad topics in this play. The drama Rabiya written by one of the emerging writers Mohammad Aleem, Who has his fame as a Urdu & Hindi novelist. After being staged and success the play Rabiya, He will be known as a dramatist also.Rabiya is a story of a teen girl age of fifteen or sixteen. Her name is Rabiya. Her father is not so wealthy, named Mahmood. He wanted his daughter’s marriage with a well-to-do young man. He tried from his best but he could not find the appropriate date for his daughter.In India there is arranged marriage system. It is not so bad but the male always has power to decide every thing about marriage. The female is not considered. Female has no power to select her own choice. She is like a doll or any other inanimate thing. This is a main theme of the Rabiya.Mahmood after all finds a good guy suitable for his daughter.He did not feel any importance to ask Rabia about it. She likes him or not, Will she be happy with him or not. And the marriage happened. Rabiya was a solemn girl her age was not expedient for marriage. Her husband loves her lot but she does not found comfort with him always sits silently. Her husband felt it but could not understand the reason. He exerted to make her happy but worthless.Her father Mahmood was very happy after this marriage happend. He thought he finished an important duty very well. He spent too much money and due to big expenditure he was broke. But he was happy to finish his duty.Next day of the marriage Rabiya wept more. Her husband called herFather and she came back with him.She told her Bhabhi (brother’s wife) that she does not want to go to her husband. She does not love him. Her bhabhi tried to solve this psychological problem. But she could not agree. Mahmood feinted to think about Rabiya.Next day a bad news came to mahmood that his son-in-law died. This death was not natural it was suicide. Every one was weeping but Rabiya was like statue. The question raises that, who is responsible for this tragedy, Rabiya? His father? Or the social tradition?Rabiya belongs to a Muslim family. Is this tradition of Islam? No absolutely not, the dramatist quoted one hadith of prophet Muhammad, that clears it the both of couple has power to decide his/her partner to make married life happy.There are two causes behind it. First is that the female has no power to select her partner, traditionally. Second is the expensive marriage system. Both are wrong according to Islam and society.After this compassionate event mahmood decided Rabia’s marriage second time. Reader/viewer can feel his pain with this dialogues.Mahmood: mai ab yah nahin sununga ki usey apna ghar pasand na aya. Chahe jaisa bhi ho usey ab qubool karna hi hoga.(Now I will not hear that she did not like her home. In any case she will have to accept it) Jameela: (Ghabra ker) Allah! Aap yeh kya keh rahe hain.(Hopelessly) Allah! What are you telling)Mahmood: mere ander ab itni sakat nahi hai ki is ka bojh uthaye uthaye dunia ke samne phiroon aur zalil hota rahun ….. main thak gaya hoon begum bahut thak gaya hoon.Ab agar yeh roegi chillaegi aur marti bhi rahegi to mai nahin jaunga. Kabhi nahin jaunga kabhi nahi.(I have no courage to take her burden and move toward in the world and contempt every where …. I am tiered.Now If she will weep. She will cry or even about to die, I will not go to take her. Never)Jameela: Allah! Ap kaisi jalladon jaisi baten ker rahe hain aap.(God! How you are talking like slaughterer Oh! You)mahmood: (Bharrai hui awaz mein) Haan! Mai jallad ho gaya hoon ….. Jallad: ek baap apni beti ke liye jallad!Mahmood: (in broken voice) yes! I became slaughterer …. Father became slaughterer for his daughter..)These dialogues have much compassion for Rabiya and her father’s position.Rabiya listend the whole conversation hiding and agreed to negotiate with her fate.Her inner Rabiya now had been died.The drama has more expressions rather than the dialogues, Mirror of Indian society. According to topic it’s picked out a burning issue of Indian Muslim culture.Famous stage director Habib Tanveer said about this drama:‘’A tragedy about Muslim traditional marriage, subtle profound with strong characters, requires delicate handling by director and actors.”Based on ten scenes and eight main characters Rabia is affective drama on Indian society.