History to Fiction

Rumi Harish, transgender activist, writer and singer takes us through three of his scripts as he talks about turning fact to fiction.  

The first text, ‘Sanchaari’ is the journey of Raaga Kalyani and its relationship with composers. The play rejects what texts have written and takes off from oral histories and narratives unearthed during Rumi’s conversations with musicians. 

The second script is a conversation between a naxal woman and a transwoman in jail at night. The third is his latest work, ‘Freedom Begum’ a play that unearths the urban history of Bangalore through the story of Begum – a woman known for her acceptance towards transgenders and working-class women. The writer takes us through sections of the play to understand how accessed urban history archives in the making of this script. 

Through the evening we will witness renditions and excerpts from three plays that have been born from conversations with people whose personal accounts and memories form political and communal histories. We unravel how oral history is fictionalized.  We look at how fact and history are turned to stories and performance as we question the assumed credibility of written text over oral history. 

About Exploring Exciting Texts:

Exploring Exciting Texts began in 2017, as a series of monthly events hosted by Indian Ensemble with the aim to academically engage with various kinds of texts. Having done over 22 events, the events have developed a regular-audience base of people who are curious and want to engage in discussions and debates. These events draw an eclectic mix of people ranging across students, art practitioners, academicians, and young professionals.