New Delhi: The Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that there is a need to revive Theatre and make it a prominent form of education and entertainment. He was addressing Revive Theatre and make it a prominent form of Education and Entertainment. Vice President was speaking to the gathering after releasing the book ‘Two Classical Plays from India’, an English translation of Hindi plays written by well-known playwright D.P. Sinha, here.
The Vice President said that although theatre in its very rudimentary form was believed to have existed in Vedic age, it was first spoken about in an organized manner in Bharat Muni’s ‘Natya Shastra’ – the ancient Sanskrit treatise on drama. From Kalidasa to Rabindranath Tagore to Girish Karnad, iconic playwrights in different languages have time and again contributed immensely to growth and diversity of Indian theater, he added.
The Vice President said that apart from plays, various folk forms and oral traditions have always been used to narrate mythological, historical and social issues before the advent of cinema. Various art forms over the years have enriched India’s cultural mosaic, he added.
The Vice President said that interest in various cultural art forms have to be re-ignited among the people, particularly through street plays and oral folk traditions. A range of social and developmental issues can be dovetailed interestingly into the narratives and the relevant message can be effectively conveyed, he added.
The Vice President said that apart from holding a mirror to the current day society’s happenings, theatre, can be used to promote value system and to fight against various social evils like atrocities against women, poverty, illiteracy, caste discrimination, female foeticide, child labour and dowry menace. Many great playwrights have influenced public opinion in the past, he added.
The Vice President said that the advent of cinema, increased access to multiple forms of entertainment through television, radio, internet and new age platforms like You Tube, have adversely affected theatre’s popularity. There is a need to revive it and make it a prominent form of education and entertainment, he added.
