Behzti (Dishonour)

by Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti

"You think it is pleasant watching a fat virgin become infertile? I want to be seen and noticed and invited by people. I want anything... that is not this."

Past her prime, Min joyfully spends her life caring for her sick, foul-mouthed mother, Balbir. Today, for the first time in years, they´re off out. Mother and daughter head to the local Sikh Temple, but when Balbir encounters old friends, a past trauma rears its ugly head. Min and Balbir´s illusions are about to be shattered as they become immersed in a world of desperate aspiration and dangerous deals.

In a community where public honour is paramount, is there any room for the truth? Behzti was scheduled to open at The Door (Birmingham Rep) in December 2004 but was cancelled due to protests by some members of the local Sikh community.

Genres: Plays

142 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2005

Reviews

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a wildly interesting read for my 20th Century British Drama course. I found it so interesting how Bhatti represents a Sikh community through the experiences of Min and her mother Balbir. It was incredibly uncomfortable and difficult to see the ways in which community can be warped by powerful men and desperate people.

I will also say TW for sexual assault.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second play that I've ever read after Macbeth. I gotta admit that I'm only reading this book for my literature course purposes. However, as I read it, I found that the book indeed brought out some pertinent and heavy issues regarding feminism and cultural aspects, which is not something that I normally read.

For me, the characters were all given equally strong voices, thus making readers able to remember each one of them vividly. On the contrast, I sometimes found myself struggle to understand the story line of the play. Perhaps, it's because I couldn't relate myself to the context given. Nevertheless, towards the climax of the story, I was able to make the perfect sense of that particular part in the play and was totally blown away by the plot twist.

Overall, there are definitely some important messages that is delivered by the author. But one needs really need to dig deep in order to understand the whole story and to relate better to the characters and their feelings. With that being said, I do recommend this book for the readers out there because you'll definitely gain something out of this book.

[Hayley Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it was required reading for uni I think it was definitely an interesting play and brought to light some important issues. It is tricky to know exactly what Bhatti's exact aim was with this play since it seems to be aimed at an audience who is not part of the Sikh community so to a degree I understand the outrage that accompanied the 2004 production. But theatre like art is meant to challenge and make you think.

[Flamesparrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, so this was a good play. It made me feel things which is good, but it was WAY darker than I was prepared for.

I'm not sure I could handle watching it as a play.

It contains sexual violence, violence violence, suicide...

[Sonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The controversial nature of it , I believe speaks true to the power of Theatre .

[Colleen Stinchcombe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy to read but it’s pretty critical of Sikhism, and it made me question the author’s intentions, particularly considering that her audience seemed to be non-Sikhs.

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the other two Bhatti plays I've read, this is both a tad melodramatic and soap opera-ish ... but still an intriguing and stage-worthy depiction of the Indian Sikh community in the UK.