The Indian Express Visiting Scholars

Idea Exchange provides students with an opportunity to interact with influential people and thought leaders. This weeks guest was Dadi Pudumjee,puppeteer and founder of The Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust.

Arjun: What would you suggest for young children who want to do something off the beaten track?

DP: Its not easy. Fifty minutes of making something for a two-minute-long performance gets you tired. So it depends on you. But I don’t think people take challenges anymore… and,fair enough,you have a career,you want to earn money,but I still think there are lots of possibilities. If somebody wants to do something,and he is focused,he will get there.

Seema Vishesh: Im a teacher in Springdales. Dealing with children and youngsters,I notice that awareness on puppetry and other kinds of arts is so less. Can we do something about it?

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DP: That depends on the school. It very much depends on the school and the principal. Once you come into the seventh-eight standard,everything becomes only about academics. Parents also think its a waste of time.

Shefalee: How would you say that the art of puppetry has changed since 1992,when you were awarded the Sangeet Natak Academy award?

DP: I don’t know.There are around seven to eight modern puppet groups here in Delhi.They do some educational work,they do workshops,they do training programmes. We’ve started something that has really helped the Ishara International Puppet Festival. Next February will be the tenth festival,and we’ve got groups from all over the world who want to come to India. We are not being able to expand because we cant handle it. We dont have the budget or finance,so we only do it in Delhi. Earlier,it was linked with Jaipur Heritage Festival,and in Chennai,some NGO used to take some group. That’s not happening anymore.

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