Bol Mitti Diya Baweya (Drama): Sajjad Haider’s Art and Personality

In Punjabi literature, drama writing is a well-established genre that conveys social attitudes and human emotions to the people through the stage or voice. Sajjad Haider’s name is considered highly credible and esteemed in Punjabi drama writing, especially with reference to radio drama. He gave a new identity to radio drama and took it to every home.

Sajjad Haider was born in 1919 in the town of Domala, Gujrat. The environment of Gujrat played a significant role in his academic and literary training. In practical life, he remained associated with Radio and, as a radio employee, did countless works for Radio. It was this association with Radio that granted him mastery in the art of radio drama. Sajjad Haider created four collections of radio dramas, arranged as follows:

i- Hawa De Hoke (1957): This is his early collection that laid the foundation of his artistic identity.
ii- Bol Mitti Diya Baweya (1977): This collection was published by the Punjabi Adabi Board, Lahore, and received great acclaim in literary circles.
iii- Suraj Mukhi (1970): In this collection, various shades of human psychology are depicted.
iv- Kala Pattan (1986): This reflects his mature consciousness.

The special feature of his masterpiece collection “Bol Mitti Diya Baweya” is that its foreword was written by the renowned Urdu writer Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, which testifies to Sajjad Haider’s literary stature. The title of this book was designed by the famous artist Sadequain, which also made it visually memorable. This book comprises 168 pages and includes a total of 5 dramas:

1. Sach Da Mahandara
2. Ghagho Ghore
3. Pinjra
4. Bol Mitti Diya Baweya
5. Jehna Nain Nindarawle

The focus of Sajjad Haider’s dramas is the soil of Punjab, its living characters, and their social issues. His dialogues are simple yet impactful, directly touching the heart of the reader or listener.

The Importance of Plot in Sajjad Haider’s Dramas

The structure of the plot in Sajjad Haider’s dramas is very intricate and possesses artistic maturity. The technique of radio drama differs from regular stage or film drama because here the entire scene must be created solely through sound. The plot of a radio drama generally consists of fewer characters and short sequences, but in Sajjad Haider’s work, this brevity touches the heights of artistry. A beautiful blend of event-based and character-based plot is found in his dramas. His famous dramas “Pinjra” and “Ghagho Ghore” testify to how each event is linked like a chain link. The wave of suspense and movement in his plot keeps the reader or listener engaged from beginning to end. From an artistic perspective, Sajjad Haider gave Punjabi drama the modern style that aligns with international literary standards.

Tragic Tone and Human Psychology in Sajjad Haider’s Dramas

Sajjad Haider’s art of tragedy has its own distinct identity. His dramas are not merely tales of sorrow but depict the deep anguish of the human soul. Sajjad’s tragedy evokes feelings of pity. The tragic tone of his dramas arises from social injustices and the contradictions of human nature. Sajjad reveals people’s true faces through their small actions. These true faces are usually hidden behind social masks, but Sajjad’s vision captures the subtleties where human psychology appears in its original form. According to him, tragedy is not an external incident but an internal state that breaks a person from within.

“Almost all my dramas are tragedies, and in my view, tragedy is an element that contains truth and depth.”

— Sajjad Haider (Daily Imroze, September 15, 1978)

Sajjad Haider’s statement explains his entire intellectual system. According to him, the journey of truth is always completed only by passing through the valley of tragedy. He believes that happiness may be a temporary state, but sorrow and tragedy bring humans closer to reality, and this depth is the hallmark of his writings. Beyond this, the primary purpose of Sajjad Haider’s drama writing is the reformation of the individual and society. He does not merely tell stories; behind every tragedy, there is a constructive purpose so that the reader can try to improve themselves and the society around them. The core of his artistry is to make humanity aware of its moral and social responsibilities.

The Element of Grief and Intellectual Depth in Sajjad Haider’s Art

The critics’ opinion about Sajjad Haider’s art is very clear: his dramas truly depict human suffering. The skill with which he molded the bitter realities of life into a dramatic form is a new dimension in Punjabi literature. In Sajjad Haider’s dramas, grief is not merely weeping and wailing; it is a feeling that forces the reader to think and creates a stir within the soul. The color of grief in his writings is so deep that the reader begins to feel part of those circumstances.

“Sajjad is deeply immersed in the wealth of sorrow. Through his dramas, he beautifully extracts the color of grief and stirs human emotions.”

— Qudrat Aafaqi

This wealth of grief in Sajjad Haider’s work is the result of his observation and social consciousness. He knows that a true artist is one who feels the pain of his era and gives it the language of words. Every character in his dramas appears to be suffering from some mental or social conflict, and this conflict further highlights his tragic tone.

Unique Style of Reform and Social Consciousness

Sajjad Haider’s dramas are not merely a source of entertainment; they carry a great reformative purpose. The style of reform in his dramas is unique and psychological. He creates a protagonist and pits him against normal but wrong and corrupt characters. This conflict is essentially the battle between good and evil that continues in every society. Sajjad Haider’s artistry is that he does not preach directly but clarifies the truth through dramatic situations.

The special feature of his characters is that after playing their role and shaking society, they go back, but the questions they leave behind continue to echo in the mind for a long time. As seen in his drama “Zameer Da Aks,” how the reformation of one individual becomes an example for the entire society. Sajjad Haider’s goal is not just the superficial reform of society but the advocacy of individual reform, because he believes that until every individual’s conscience is awakened, the whole society cannot change.

Symbolic Dramas and the Era of Dictatorship

Sajjad Haider started writing during an era when freedom of expression was restricted and speaking openly was forbidden. This was a difficult period of dictatorship where telling the truth was tantamount to risking one’s life. In these circumstances, Sajjad Haider resorted to symbolic dramas so that he could express his views while maintaining artistic grace. He observed this oppressive era closely and presented it symbolically in his writings. Great writers like Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi also praised this art of his.

In Sajjad Haider’s dramas, symbolism was not merely a technique but a necessity. His symbolic dramas are a silent protest against social constraints and political oppression.

“Sajjad Haider’s dramas are also symbolic, but this is the kind of symbolism that can be called an ornament of art.”

— Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi (Foreword)

The use of symbolism in his dramas is so natural that it enhances the beauty of the drama. Sajjad Haider proved that if an artist is talented, they do not abandon the path of truth even in the most difficult times and, behind the veil of symbols, say everything that would be impossible to say in normal circumstances.

5- Representation of the Lower Class

The representation of the lower class emerges as a fundamental characteristic in Sajjad Haider’s dramas. He had a heart that felt pain, which made him intensely feel the sufferings of the oppressed class and the injustice done to them. Sajjad Haider made the problems of the lower-class people of villages and cities his special subject in his dramas and showed how this crushed segment of society struggles for its basic needs. He clearly highlighted the evils of the feudal system and proved how this system exploits the poor class. His sympathy always stands with the common man. Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi’s statement about his artistic insight and social consciousness expresses the true spirit of Sajjad Haider’s art:

“All of Sajjad Haider’s dramas are sharp and pointed protests against oppression, except the last drama ‘Jehna Nain Nindarawle’.”

— Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi

This comment by Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi makes it clear that if the tone of protest in Sajjad Haider’s early dramas was somewhat soft, by the time it reached his later period, this voice had taken the form of a powerful and pointed protest. This protest emerged as a strong voice against social injustices, class divisions, and the violation of human rights.

6- Scene Setting and Depiction of Emotions

Another important quality of Sajjad Haider’s dramas is the beautiful blend of scene setting and depiction of emotions. Regarding radio dramas, long scenes are not written because radio is only an audio medium. Therefore, Sajjad Haider provides only a brief introduction at the beginning to create a mental picture for the listeners. However, his true skill lies in the depiction of emotions, which is very deep and impactful. He creates true emotions by peering into the hidden corners of the human heart, where romance holds a secondary status, while real human emotions, especially sorrow and grief, are more prominent. His style of depicting emotions is not superficial but touches the depths of human psychology. Sajjad Haider’s dramas are rich in tragic tone, where feelings of fear and pity are evoked. This tragic tone creates a special kind of empathy in the heart of the reader or listener, which aligns with Aristotle’s concept of ‘Catharsis’. The emotional conflict of his characters and the irony of their situations combine to create an atmosphere that lingers in the mind for a long time.

7- Language and Dialogue Writing

The simplicity of language and expression and the art of dialogue writing in Sajjad Haider’s dramas are at their peak. His dialogues are short, concise, and without any superfluous words, which is the greatest hallmark of a successful dramatist. He achieved the mastery of expressing big ideas in few words, which maintains the flow of the drama. The beauty and interest created through metaphors in his language never let the audience’s attention waver. These dialogues not only reflect the personality of the characters but also give a realistic color to the drama’s atmosphere. The tasteful use of authentic Punjabi idioms and everyday language by Sajjad Haider is a clear testament to his linguistic skill.

8- Theme and Atmosphere

The themes chosen by Sajjad Haider for his dramas are filled with novelty and social truth. His dramas depict both rural life and the glossy culture of cities. The theme of Sajjad Haider’s dramas is not limited to rural life alone; the glimpse of the expanse of urban elites is also clearly visible in them. His thoughts contain a true love for goodness, justice, and honesty, but he strongly hates all kinds of evil, especially injustice, oppression, and selfishness. The atmosphere of his dramas revolves around real social contradictions and human behaviors. From a linguistic perspective, his language and dialect are approximately close to Gujrati Punjabi, which represents the cultural and linguistic identity of his region. This specific dialect provides a unique local color to the atmosphere of his dramas, connecting the reader to the story.

9- Friendship with Nature

Friendship and attachment to nature are a prominent aspect of Sajjad Haider’s creations. He presented his characters and scenes close to nature, which creates a natural flow in his writing. He establishes a relationship between human instinct and the sights of nature that reveals the true reality of life.

10- Excellent Dramas

The artistic greatness and thematic breadth of Sajjad Haider’s dramas place him among the finest dramas in Punjabi literature. With his creative power, he gave a new direction to Punjabi drama. These dramas not only depict the social picture of their era but are also complete from an artistic perspective. His effort is a valuable asset of Punjabi literature that paved new ways for future writers.