A file picture of Moinul Haque and his students performing a mime show at Rabindra Bhawan

March 9: Actions speak louder than words. But not so in our drab classrooms with stern-looking teachers. In a bid to make the school ambience more inviting, 96 teachers from six states are being given lessons in mime at an 11-day workshop at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra.

The workshop, titled Creative Approach to Education, has been organised by the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), New Delhi.

Among the participants are three teachers from Andhra Pradesh, eight from Gujarat, two from Jammu and Kashmir, six from Mizoram, two from Rajasthan and 75 from Assam.

“Facial expressions of teachers are very important to attract children’s attention. Lessons in mime will help the teachers put up an active and pleasant appearance,” said mime artiste Moinul Haque, who is the resource person at the workshop.

Mime can be defined as acting without dialogue or sound, in which an illusion of a concrete thing is created by the performer, keeping in mind its shape, weight and physical appearance.

The lessons also consist of physical exercises in order to enhance a person’s flexibility. “A mime artiste should be flexible so that he can make full use of his co-ordinated body and bring life to his every movement,” Haque said.

The exercises are an inherent part of mime and can be classified as yogic, physical, pointing, rhythmic, technical and facial exercise.

Rishi Vashist, deputy director, CCRT, said: “Our main objective is to formulate methodologies to improve classroom teaching techniques. Aspects of our culture and creative activities constitute the whole process of learning and teaching.”

Besides the lecture and demonstrations on mime, the teachers are being imparted practical lessons on puppetry, terracotta, bamboo work and songs in various languages.

The participants were also taken on an educational tour to places of historical and cultural importance in and around Guwahati. “We want to motivate the participants to make efforts in conserving our rich cultural heritage,” Vashist said.

The CCRT is also implementing a culture talent search scholarship scheme for children in the age group of 10 to 14 years who are learning art and craft in different parts of the country.

A valedictory function will be held on Thursday at the Kalakshetra in which a puppet and mime show will be presented by the participants.