Behzti

Behzti

Behzti was a controversial play in 2004 set in a Sikh community, concerning sexual abuse in a Gurdwara. After demonstrations by local Sikhs, culminating in a riot, the Birmingham Rep theatre withdrew the play.

In his report, investigative journalist Amardeep Bassey reveals a hidden world of Sikh activism as he uncovers the story behind the riot which led the Birmingham Rep to close the play.

The December 2004 riot in Birmingham drew attention to a fascinating network of Sikh militant groups based in the West Midlands.

Many of the protestors were former members of the International Sikh Youth Federation - a group banned under the terrorism legislation.

Birmingham City Hall

Some were veterans of a group which evolved from a bunch of anti-racist vigilantes into a militantly anti-Muslim street gang. Then there were the Respect for Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji campaigners who boast of being prepared to die for their cause.

Underlying the protest were several trends: an internal battle for influence between a new generation of professionally qualified, militant Sikhs and the older, more deferential first generation; an external battle for the same level of recognition as British Muslims; and the growing importance of religion as mark of identity amongst British born Asians.

There were some issues barely touched on in the coverage of the riot. What does the Birmingham Rep fiasco say about the relationship between ethnic minorities and the arts? Was Behzti part of a valid attempt to attract more diverse audiences to the theatre? Or was it just a sign of an arts establishment tendency to encourage a clichéd genre of caught-between-two-cultures angst for a white liberal audience?

The protesters claimed that the play's tale of sexual abuse in a Sikh temple was as unrealistic. But there is evidence to suggest they were wrong: Most of the Sikh priests in Britain are young guys who come here from rural villages in the Punjab. For a minority, living a celibate life in permissive Western society proves to be too much. But the Sikh clergy is yet to acknowledge it may be harbouring the same sorts of problems of abuse as the Catholic church.