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The opera tells the story of Mukhtaran Mai, |
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the Pakistani woman who became known around the world |
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for her struggle to bring to justice the men who allegedly raped her in 2002 |
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and then became a champion of education for girls. |
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(Mukhtaran Mai gives an interview at a school in Meerwala, in Pakistan's central Punjab province, April 22, 2011) |
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The title of the production “Thumbprint” refers to the fact that many illiterate people in Pakistan |
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and many other countries use their thumbprints to sign their names. |
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Composer and lead singer Kamala Sankaram, |
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who plays the role of Mukhtaran, says that’s an important part of the plot. |
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“We felt that the central, pivotal moment of the story is when Mukhtaran realizes the fact “ |
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that she is illiterate has kept her from awareness of the laws of her country and of her rights |
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and so it symbolizes, really, what we think the show is about. |
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It’s about this person who rises up to become an advocate for women’s education.” |
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The performance opens with the day Mukhtaran was allegedly gang raped at the orders of a tribal village council |
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Because they believed her brother had had an affair with a girl from a prominent local family. |
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With a score influenced by traditional South Asian and western classical music, |
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Thumbprint shows an illiterate woman struggling for justice after being let down by her tribal traditions. |
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Rachel Dickstein, the show’s director, |
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“Mukhtaran Mai never set out to be a revolutionary for the sake of being a revolutionary. |
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She found her own voice and for us, as artists, telling a story about that is very inspiring.” |
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(Composer and lead singer Sankaram says,) |
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“There is so much silence that surrounds the acts of violence women in India, in Pakistan, in America, everywhere |
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and the fact that she chose to speak out to continue by becoming an advocate for women’s education. |
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I guess for me, it's inspirational because it shows that one person with conviction can make a change. |
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Producing Director Kim Whitener had no doubts that Mukhtaran Mai’s story would resonate with the audience. |
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“The degree to which they have sort of outpouring of tremendous empathy |
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and personal reaction to the story has just been astounding to us.” |
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Thumbprint played to full houses during its eight days of performances. |
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The producers believe that because of this response, |
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they will be taking Mukhtaran Mai’s story to other American cities. |
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