Action speaks louder than words seems to be the guiding philosophy of Moinul Haque, the mime artist, who in his show, Voice of Silence 2, chose to take up a contentious issue of illegal immigration from Bangladesh to Assam.
Haque, a self-taught performer has been using the versatile nature of mime for more than three decades to intervene on various social issues, but this season he used his medium of silence to provoke the society for its complacency on crucial issues like immigration which is threatening to change the demography of the state.
The two-day mime event, however, highlighted nine subjects touching some of the most important and contemporary issues affecting the society as a whole. America America, one of the plays performed in the event, was about the desire prevalent among Indians and to some extent Assamese parents to see their children studying in America. This particular play equated the audiences with the parents, who out of their obsession inspire their son to go for higher studies in USA. The son after settling down in USA deserts their parents and leaves them to face the isolation of old age.
Narrating idea and concept of his show Haque said, “I cannot say anything through words and mime gives me the opportunity to speak my mind freely just using my expressions. Through the medium of silence, many issues can be highlighted.”
While his show America America narrated the obsession in the society for Western countries, The Intrusion relates to the influx of illegal migrants in the state, an issue that is considered volatile and highly political too. The Intrusion depicted the dangers of unchecked influx and its consequences on the demographic pattern of the state. Haque, who is also a government servant and runs a mime academy for budding mime artist, said, “Influx is another important issue that is in focus for several decades.” Admitting difficulties of selecting such contentious issues, Haque pointed out, “Through my act, I wanted to convey a message to the people of Assam, who, I believe, have dug their own grave because of their habits of excessive dependence on others. The play narrates instances how an indigenous and genuine citizen of India became ‘Doubtful’ voter in Assam and immigrants became the new owner.”
Haque, a Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee, has been organising mime shows all over the country but admits that this form of arts need to be preserved and protected. “In fact idea behind opening the mime academy was to guide and train the budding mime artists”, he said adding, “This year in my show, I have presented many budding mime artists.”
Mr Haque admits that he has a double life. By day he is a government servant with the state electricity board, but soon after his office is over he gets into his academy.
An acclaimed stage artiste, Mr Haque is also the pioneer of mime as an art form in the northeast. He started his career in the early 1970s as a mono actor and soon found his heart drawn towards the world of mime.
In 1991, he founded an institution to promote his favourite performing art. The Mime Academy is the only one of its kind in the northeast.
His wife, who teaches statistics at the Guwahati Medical College Hospital, is also a well-known dancer. She shares his passionate love for all performing arts.
Mr Haque admits that he had started alone, but now many have joined him in this journey of silence. There are number of artist in his academy who are keen to pursue mime as their career seriously.