Community Life

“A Lifetime on Tip Toes” by Walthamstow playwright Mazhar Tirmazi tells the tales of murder, loss and the forced conversions that took place in the sub continent sixty years ago.

Dominic Rai

Working in partnership with the Lynk Reach Centre in Newham, the director of the play has helped budding actors interpret and understand the sentiments of Tirmazi’s work. Dominic Rai says its important people are aware of the legacy the partition has left behind. He says:

“Although it happened sixty years ago, it’s been repeating itself all over the world and creating more and more hatred, and refugees in the world….I believe like the Jewish Holocaust…the Punjabi Holocaust is also affecting third and fourth generations of people."

The play recreates stories passed down by the survivors of the time. One includes the tale of a Hindu man forced to convert by his neighbours in order to save his home. Adnan Yousaf plays the Hindu man, he says:

“By doing something like this you understand why the partition happened and the kind of stories that took place. Most importantly why people died, [what people] did to protect their honours and the misunderstandings [that took place] from both sides.”

The play is on at the Stratford Circus on 23 June.