Fundraiser Play Ramzan Aur Jannat Blends Art with Advocacy
By Zafar Iqbal, PhD
Drama serves to entertain, provoke thought, inspire action, and deepen understanding. That was precisely the impact of Ramzan Aur Jannat, performed on Sunday, May 11, 2025, at a prominent university in Northern Virginia. Despite coinciding with Mother’s Day, when families gather to honor their mothers, a large and appreciative audience filled the auditorium to witness an evening that combined humor, artistry, and a powerful cause.
Ramzan Aur Jannat is a clever Urdu adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, reimagined as a satirical comedy rooted in contemporary South Asian society. Written by Muhammad Inam Ullah and directed by Dr Farzana Bharmal, the play centers on two Pakistani families living in the United States. Ramzan, a spirited young man from a conservative, working-class background, falls in love with Jannat, the educated and strong-willed daughter of a progressive, upper-middle-class family. Their romance unfolds during the holy month of Ramadan—a time of reflection and restraint—ironically clashing with the impulsive urgency of youthful love.
Blending Sufi mysticism, Urdu poetry, and local idioms, the play moves effortlessly between laughter and introspection. With sharp political references and incisive social commentary, it exposes the barriers of class, tradition, and miscommunication that often hinder love and progress. The narrative offers a poignant reflection on societal rigidity and youthful idealism. While it echoes the timeless ache of forbidden love, the writer skillfully diverges from Shakespeare’s original Romeo and Juliet by concluding the story on a more hopeful and redemptive note, transforming tragedy into a quiet affirmation of resilience and possibility.
Beyond its literary and artistic excellence, the play also served a noble cause—it was part of a global fundraising campaign for Koohi Goth Women’s Hospital, Pakistan’s leading free hospital for women, located on the outskirts of Karachi. As Dr Syed highlighted, a particularly inspiring aspect is that the entire cast and crew involved in the production generously volunteer their time and talent.
Founded in 2005 by renowned obstetrician and humanitarian Dr Shershah Syed, the hospital provides critical, free-of-cost healthcare to women suffering from obstetric fistula and other childbirth-related complications—services otherwise inaccessible to marginalized communities in rural Pakistan. Established under the Zafar and Atia Foundation Charitable Trust on Dr Syed’s family land, the hospital has since expanded into a state-of-the-art facility featuring a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and a teaching institute that offers free diplomas in nursing, midwifery, and medical technologies. Students receive stipends and accommodation, empowering the next generation of healthcare workers.
The hospital stands as a living tribute to the late Dr Atiya Zafar, whose compassionate vision of providing healthcare for the underserved continues to inspire every life-saving effort within its walls. Fittingly, the staging of Ramzan Aur Jannat on Mother’s Day serves as a heartfelt homage to Dr Sher Shah Syed’s mother, Dr Atiya Zafar.
Dr Syed, a graduate of Dow Medical College, has received global recognition—including from the United Nations and the Clinton Global Initiative—for his tireless advocacy for maternal health and women's rights. He has also led efforts to create educational resources in local languages, raising awareness of gender and health issues across rural communities.
Ramzan Aur Jannat, currently on an international tour, carries its powerful message to audiences around the globe. At a time when much of entertainment feels disconnected from real-world issues, this production stands out as a poignant reminder that art has the power to heal, unite, and inspire action, perhaps even to save lives.
The Washington fundraising event was made possible through the dedicated efforts of a volunteer team that included Shah Fazal Abbas, Safia Paracha, Shahid Hashmi, and several others.
The author gratefully acknowledges the valuable input of Nuzaira Azam in the preparation of this report.
Dr Farzana Bharmal, Director & Producer
Ms Nuzaira Azam, Dr Sher Shah Syed, and Dr Zafar Iqbal
Cast of the play
Cast with volunteers
Muhammad Inam Ullah, Writer
Audience
Cast with community members
