Stage set for drama fest - Seminar, exhibition also on the cards

Theatre lovers, there is good news.

The second national Dalit-Adivasi Natya Samaroh, an annual drama festival and seminar on tribal literature, will be held in Ranchi from March 21 to 23.

Organised jointly by Jharkhandi Bhasha Sahitya Sanskriti Akhra, an organisation that upholds the tribal causes, and the regional languages department of Marwari College in Ranchi, the three-day event will be staged at Marwari College auditorium.

While six plays will be staged (two on every evening), the seminar on tribal worldview and contemporary tribal literature will be held simultaneously on the penultimate and the final day of the festival, said akhra member and one of the key organisers Aswini Pankaj.

However, because of funds paucity this year there will be less variety compared to the first time.

Last year, a group came all the way from Tamil Nadu. But, this time all the plays will be in Hindi and by groups from the Hindi heartland.

Divulging further details, Pankaj said they had planned to invite theatre groups from both north-east and south, but could not afford it. “Inviting groups from distant places entails more expenditure. Last year, the state government had helped us financially, but we could not manage to get the grant this time,” said Pankaj.

The opening day will see Delhi theatre artistes of Asmita Natya Sangsthan group staging Operation Three Star, followed by Fevicol presented by Mada Artists’ Association of Jamshedpur. Ulgunan Sangeet Natya Dal of Ranchi will present Ghana Lohar Ka, while Sahajanpur-based Rang Vidushak will stage Ghar Wapsi the next day. Poultice by Prerna members from Patna and Lucknow-based Samyak Natya Sansthan’s Dom Pahalwan will draw curtains on the festival.

Speakers at the seminar, on the other hand, will delve into the trend of tribal literature.

Speaking about the invitees, Pankaj said besides delegates from Bihar, Odisha and Chattisgarh, they were also expecting guests from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Delhi and research scholars from various universities.

Apart from plays and seminar, bibliophiles too can find something of their interest. The organisers will also host an exhibition of books written by tribal authors.