Drama in real life

The recently-concluded 10-day drama festival, which had to be suspended for two days to accommodate some government programme in Town hall, has brought into focus the fact that the state lacks a culture policy

Anjali Nauriyal Town Hall

Uttarakhand may have given several renowned artistes to Bollywood, but performing arts and culture hardly seem to be a priority with the state. This was the opinion expressed by the representatives of various theatre and other performing groups on the sidelines of the just-concluded Theatre Festival that was held in Town Hall. They added that in a state where a good number of individuals have adopted theatre as a means of recreation and creative expression, there should be a clear culture policy as a guiding force, but sadly in the name of promotion of culture not a single auditorium exists in the state capital. The multi-purpose Town Hall hardly suffices their purpose as it is taken over at the slightest pretext for other purposes. Such an inconvenience happened this time also when the Town Hall was taken over for two days b the authorities during the theatre festival, which was organized by the Uttarakhand Natya Parishad (UNP) to commemorate International Theatre Day.

This came as a rude shock to artistes who had prepared the year round for the big day.

Due to paucity of funds, only local groups were extended invitations to participate. But in spite of several hurdles, the festival was a huge success. Each day the Town Hall was packed beyond capacity.

The Uttarakhand Speaking on behalf of UNP, its president S.P. Mamgain states, "There is no recognition of the works of artistes in the state. Now the government departments have taken over organising cultural functions, leaving very little room for us to function in. Under such circumstances, how will the local artistes flourish? Vishwa Rang Manch Divas is as important as Bal Diwas or Women's Day. A certain amount of money should be fixed by the government each year to celebrate this day. We all know that as many as Rs.78 lakh is the pending amount that the state government owes to various artistes and organisations. This is a shame. No one should forget that the artistes had contributed their time, money, heart and soul during the Uttarakhand movement."

Roshan Dhasmana, secretary of the UNP, reveals that the Rang Mandal opened in Doon and Almora by the government are lying inactive. "These must be activated. During the ongoing Kumbh, many local artistes could have been involved, but that did not happen. Theatre artistes are not even in the award list of the government. The auditorium being built near Rispana has a limited capacity and would hardly be of much use," he points out.

Veteran theatre artiste Arun Vikram Rana was honoured on the occasion for his contribution to theatre by chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal. On behalf of the CM, MLA Ganesh Joshi handed over a cheque along with a citation and shawl to the octogenarian, after inaugurating the festival on March 27. Sundarlal, group GM, ONGC, who was also present on the occasion, assured the Parishad a help of Rs.50,000 on behalf of ONGC. Graphic Era Institute of Technology, too, has extended monetary support to the event. The Cultural Department of Uttarakhand has announced a grant of Rs.2 lakh for the event. MP Vijay Bahuguna donated his month's salary for the event.

Kathak calling

Internationally-acclaimed Kathak danseuse Namrata Rai is scheduled to do a workshop at Centrodi di Formazione Musicale, Barasso in Italy in June...

Anjali Nauriyal

She is an upcoming dancer who slogged her way since childhood to learn a dance form that she was besotted by. Even while pursuing her normal studies she began learning Kathak simultaneously. Born in Dehradun Namrata Rai took to Kathak with a vengeance in her formative years and is today a name to watch out for in the years to come.

Daughter of Dr S.K. Rai, a Professor of English at DAV PG College, Namrata says that her parents encouraged her all the way through and are today extremely proud of her achievements. This petite danseuse in her twenties has been hailed as an incredibly expressive and innovative dancer of the new generation.

This young dancer, who also teaches dance at Welham Girls' School, recalls how she would love cycling down E.C Road, all the way to Bhatkhande Muisc College to learn dance in the afternoons. Those memories when she began learning under the tutelage of Late Dr Madhukar Anand are still fresh in her mind, "I learnt under him in the age old Vedic system of receiving knowledge under the guru-shishya parampara. I later completed my bachelor's degree from Bhatkhande, Lucknow, and Masters Degree from Khairagarh University, MP, in this dance form of the Lucknow Gharana that I find most elegant."

Namrata who has recently been empanelled with ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations), Ministry of External Affairs as a teacher as well as an artiste, and has numerous awards and honours to her credit. She has won most of the dance competitions that she has participated in. She is elated about the National Scholarship that she received from the HRD Ministry to learn advanced Kathak under the renowned Guru Geetanjali Lal.

One of the high points of her life has been the award of a SPIC-MACAY scholarship under which she has the honour of learning under the renowned dance maestro Pt Birju Maharaj. "That was an awesome experience indeed" she chirps. "For two months I stayed in his house in close proximity with this living legend. It is an experience I can never forget in my life. I got an opportunity to perform for the third Kalashram Festival that showcased the outcome the workshops we had with Birju Maharaj, assisted by Saswati Sen. I have now been invited to be part of Kalashram." Namrata who is also learning from Udai Majumdar, says that after she completed her MA she got through her MBA. But she soon opted for a career in dance, as that was the calling that her heart craved for. "I was just enraptured by the stories that could be told through dance," she states with conviction. "And I knew then I was made by God just for dance."

Life, she says, is a continuous process of learning. For this reason she never loses any opportunity to add to her knowledge. After completing her masters in Kathak from Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya a couple of years ago she began preparing for her workshops abroad. In June she is scheduled to do a workshop at Centrodi di Formazione Musicale, Barasso in Italy.