Gender issues dominate plays

CHANDIGARH, Nov 20: The second day of the ongoing Panjab University Zone-A Youth Festival in Government College for Girls, Sector 11, was marked by a poetry recitation competition, debate and quiz in the morning session and histrionics and drama in the afternoon session. The day began with a debate on 8220;India going Nuclear.8221; The first position was bagged by a girl who made a statement in favour of India going nuclear.

The quiz session drew a tremendous response from students and the audience. MCM DAV College emerged the winner in a razor-edge competition with the host college. This was followed by a poem recitation contest in which speakers recited self-composed poems. Presiding over the function, Meenakshi Datta Ghosh, Chairperson, Chandigarh Housing Board, emphasised that a positive approach to life was the key to success.

Gender issues dominated the afternoon session with dowry being the theme of the prize-winning mono-acting piece by Priya of the host college. The prize-winning play 8220;Mitti Rudan Kare8221; focussed on the problem of alcoholism in rural Punjab and its fallout.

The second play 8220;Jasman Odan8221; also dealt with the theme of exploitation of women at the hands of an oppressive society. Powerful performances by girls in both the plays captivated the audience.

G Vajralingam, Finance Secretary, UT, presided over the evening session.