THEATRE ACTOR Imran Zahid is stepping into the shoes of Muntadhar Al Zaidi. And strictly speaking these are no ordinary shoes, rather the famous or infamous ones (it’s your call) that were hurled at George W. Bush in Iraq during the last days of his presidential years.
We are all aware that Zaidi’s act of defiance made him news worthy, and the Iraqi journalist later penned a book that goes by the name, The Last Salute to President George Bush.
And now the book is all set for a theatrical adaptation, produced by Mahesh Bhatt, veteran theatre director Arvind Gaur is recreating the Bush-Zaidi encounter on stage. Mahesh Bhatt, a fierce critic of America’s foreign policy, particularly during the Bush era says, “Fact is America and its allies unleashed a massive attack on Iraq, which left the country maimed and countless Iraqis were killed. And the irony is, a young Iraqi journalist vents his anger on the main culprit by simply throwing his shoes, which incidentally is considered the worst kind of insult in Arab culture.”
The play opens with the reading of the letter, Mahesh Bhatt had written to Senator Charles Mendies in 2003, citing his reasons for declining the invitation to join the then American President for the 51st Prayer Breakfast in Washington. And then the stage is set in Iraq, for the events to unfold.
“The book is available only in Arabic at the moment, but we have arranged for a translator. Besides Imran who is playing the protagonist, actors from Asmita troupe are enacting the other relevant characters,” informs the director.
Imran is conscious of the responsibility that rests on his shoulders and the mounting expectations, as he shares, “Naturally, getting into the skin and psyche of the character is most vital. I am in regular correspondence with Zaidi and he is providing a personal insight on the incident. Zaidi has categorically said that he didn’t hurl the shoes on an impulse. Rather it reflected a pent up fury that has been building inside him for years. When he came to know that Bush junior will visit Baghdad and hold a farewell press conference. He knew this was his only chance to express his resentment to the man, he holds responsible for the death and destruction in Iraq.
He was even prepared to face the worst eventuality that was perhaps inevitable if he succeeded in his mission. While on his way, he silently bid adieu to everything that came within his sight. As expected there were strict security measures at the venue, but obviously no one had the faintest idea what was going on in the man’s mind. As he removed his shoes, he attracted a few curious looks but nothing more. When the moment came, and as he hurled them, one by one at Bush, Zaidi stunned the world.”
Since then this little known Iraqi journalist has been hailed as a cause célèbre in the West Asia and beyond, his shoes’ brand became the most sought after. But didn’t he also set a bad precedent? To that Bhatt replies, “Zaidi was beaten up, imprisoned and tortured for two years. He didn’t kill a single soul, while Bush, who waged a war on a false pretext and has blood in his hands roams scot free.”
Arvind adds, “Bhagat Singh who is a hero of India’s freedom struggle movement took up arms against British tyranny, this Iraqi man only let his shoes do the talking, and so he too should be applauded for having the sheer courage to raise his voice against an oppressor. And by the way Zaidi considers Mahatma Gandhi an inspiration.”
The rehearsals for the play are in full swing and it is scheduled to premiere in Delhi on May 14, where Muntadhar al Zaidi is expected to be in the audience, followed by Mumbai, Kolkata and Dubai.