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[00:09.09]The opera tells the story of Mukhtaran Mai,
[00:12.16]the Pakistani woman who became known around the world
[00:15.24]for her struggle to bring to justice the men who allegedly raped her in 2002
[00:20.75]and then became a champion of education for girls.
[00:24.35](Mukhtaran Mai gives an interview at a school in Meerwala, in Pakistan's central Punjab province, April 22, 2011)
[00:28.91]The title of the production “Thumbprint” refers to the fact that many illiterate people in Pakistan
[00:34.70]and many other countries use their thumbprints to sign their names.
[00:40.21]Composer and lead singer Kamala Sankaram,
[00:43.68]who plays the role of Mukhtaran, says that’s an important part of the plot.
[00:48.00]“We felt that the central, pivotal moment of the story is when Mukhtaran realizes the fact “
[00:54.80]that she is illiterate has kept her from awareness of the laws of her country and of her rights
[01:01.96]and so it symbolizes, really, what we think the show is about.
[01:05.96] It’s about this person who rises up to become an advocate for women’s education.”
[01:12.89]The performance opens with the day Mukhtaran was allegedly gang raped at the orders of a tribal village council
[01:21.90]Because they believed her brother had had an affair with a girl from a prominent local family.
[01:28.86]With a score influenced by traditional South Asian and western classical music,
[01:35.46]Thumbprint shows an illiterate woman struggling for justice after being let down by her tribal traditions.
[01:45.54]Rachel Dickstein, the show’s director,
[01:48.66]“Mukhtaran Mai never set out to be a revolutionary for the sake of being a revolutionary.
[01:57.22]She found her own voice and for us, as artists, telling a story about that is very inspiring.”
[02:08.04](Composer and lead singer Sankaram says,)
[02:10.96]“There is so much silence that surrounds the acts of violence women in India, in Pakistan, in America, everywhere
[02:20.33]and the fact that she chose to speak out to continue by becoming an advocate for women’s education.
[02:27.54]I guess for me, it's inspirational because it shows that one person with conviction can make a change.
[02:35.99]Producing Director Kim Whitener had no doubts that Mukhtaran Mai’s story would resonate with the audience.
[02:42.12]“The degree to which they have sort of outpouring of tremendous empathy
[02:50.29]and personal reaction to the story has just been astounding to us.”
[02:57.66]Thumbprint played to full houses during its eight days of performances.
[03:03.01]The producers believe that because of this response,
[03:05.58]they will be taking Mukhtaran Mai’s story to other American cities.
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