silent speech

It creates visible from the invisible,everything from nothing,various illusions through simple movements...mime as Niranjan Goswami sees it,is the silent communicator.

Mime creates everything from nothing,Niranjan Goswami on the silent expression

It creates visible from the invisible,everything from nothing,various illusions through simple movements…mime as Niranjan Goswami sees it,is the silent communicator. Acclaimed and awarded for the development of mime theatre in India,Goswami,recipient of the Padmashree and the Sangeet Natak Akademi award,says mime,the art of silent expression is an interplay of body and mind. The body will only express when the mind influences it. Even lifting your hand is not possible if your mind says no, Niranjan is here at the Department of Indian Theatre,PU,to help students recreate movement and expression. From how to walk gracefully,coordination between hand and feet,use of 36 glances,the correct body language….mime,believes Niranjan,can train both the body and mind. I learnt mime from Jogesh Dutta and was drawn to it so much that I decided to pursue it without passion and do nothing else. I took up no job,for I wanted to develop it in the country. There were many questions,does mime have Indian roots,are we copying a European art,many myths and stereotypes like mime being performed only in black costumes,with white faces,a repetition of the same act et al. But as I studied the history of Indian theatre,I realized that Mukabhinaya is what we call Indian mime,muk means silence in Sanskrit and the techniques of mime are in Natyashastra and that it has a close connection with classical dance,folk theatre forms.

Mime,he agrees is a contemporary art form for it began developing in India only in the 60s and Niranjan says its not related to rhyme or rhythm,but is an integral part of the act,and can complement dance too. Research,development,performances,workshops,we do it all at the Indian Mime Theatre which was set up in Kolkata in 76. Everything in mime comes from day-to-day life,we use mudras and improvise a situation,be it poetry,a folk tale,social issues,short stories,ours is prose-poetry,sans much symmetry. Mime is in-between dance and theatre and is aesthetic enjoyment,and I have experimented with various techniques like the silhouette,surreal method and its all action-oriented,reaching out and communicating to one and all through music,gestures,movements and expressions.

Parul

Parul is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express in Chandigarh. She is a seasoned journalist with over 25 years of experience specializing in public health, higher education, and the architectural heritage of Northern India. Professional Profile Education: Graduate in Humanities with a specialized focus on Journalism and Mass Communication from Panjab University, Chandigarh. Career Path: She began her career covering local city beats and human interest stories before joining The Indian Express in 2009. Over the last decade and a half, she has risen to the rank of Principal Correspondent, becoming the publication’s primary voice on Chandigarh’s premier medical and academic institutions. Expertise: Her reporting is deeply rooted in the institutional dynamics of PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) and Panjab University. She is highly regarded for her ability to navigate complex administrative bureaucracies to deliver student-centric and patient-centric news. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 - 2025) Her recent work highlights critical reporting on healthcare infrastructure, academic governance, and urban culture: 1. Public Health & PGIMER "PGIMER expands digital registry: Centralized patient records to reduce wait times by 40%" (Nov 20, 2025): A detailed look at the digital transformation of one of India's busiest medical institutes to tackle patient influx. "Robotic Surgery at PGI: Why the new urology wing is a game-changer for North India" (Oct 12, 2025): Reporting on the acquisition of state-of-the-art medical technology and its impact on affordable healthcare. "Shortage of life-saving drugs: Inside the supply chain crisis at government pharmacies" (Dec 5, 2025): An investigative piece on the logistical hurdles affecting chronic patients in the tri-city area. 2. Education & Institutional Governance "Panjab University Senate Election: The battle for institutional autonomy" (Dec 18, 2025): In-depth coverage of the high-stakes internal elections and the friction between traditional governance and central reforms. "Research funding dip: How PU’s science departments are navigating the 2025 budget cuts" (Nov 5, 2025): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing researchers and the impact on India's global academic ranking. 3. Art, Culture & Heritage "Le Corbusier’s legacy in peril: The struggle to preserve Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex" (Dec 22, 2025): A feature on the conservation efforts and the tension between urban modernization and UNESCO heritage status. "Chandigarh Art District: How street murals are reclaiming the city’s grey walls" (Oct 30, 2025): A cultural profile of the local artists transforming the aesthetic of the "City Beautiful." Signature Style Parul is known for her empathetic lens, often centering her stories on the individuals affected by policy—whether it is a student navigating university red tape or a patient seeking care. She possesses a unique ability to translate dense administrative notifications into actionable information for the public. Her long-standing beat experience makes her a trusted source for "inside-track" developments within Chandigarh’s most guarded institutions. X (Twitter): @parul_express ... Read More

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