Stage for change

It's an endeavour to reach out to an audience that has limited channels of entertainment and information.

This theatre festival of socially relevant plays will reach out to the rural audiences

It8217;s an endeavour to reach out to an audience that has limited channels of entertainment and information. Lack of infrastructure, exposure to arts, restricted funds8230;there are many reasons why theatre activity in villages is infrequent. To fill the gaps and build a rapport with the rural audience, the Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi, along with the Cultural Affairs Department of Chandigarh Administration, is organizing at Kaimbwala a two-day theatre festival October 11 to 12 of plays that are socially relevant. The purpose, says Kamal Tewari, is to take theatre to villages, initiate an interaction between rural and urban actors, and in spite of a lack of a well-defined cultural policy, extend theatre activity and make it a movement. 8220;The awareness levels about art is less in rural areas and the need of the hour is to communicate with them with themes that are contemporary and relevant,8217;8217; Tewari hopes this effort will set the stage for more action and in the process, they can also encourage theatre artists from villages to come to the city with their productions. A folk theatre festival involving several places is also being thought of, as is extending this pursuit to other villages in the UT. 8220;Tremendous work and effort in this area has been done by Gursharan Singh and one of his plays is also being staged at the festival,8217;8217; adds Kamal.

Anita Shabdeesh of Suchetak Rangmanch is a theatre director who takes numerous plays to the interiors of Punjab and feels this is an effort in the right direction. For this festival, Anita is directing Sirjana, written by Pali Bhupinder Singh and Nawan Janam by Gursharan Singh. 8220;The former is on female foeticide, while Nawan Janam8217;s theme is suppression of the common man. Theatre is the best way to bring about change in a subtle and effective manner and if villagers can8217;t come to the city to see theatre, we should reach out to them, especially the women,8217;8217; feels Anita.

Nods Dr Sahib Singh, who is taking two plays written and directed by him to the festival. Anhi Gali Da Mor is a production which talks about how drug addiction is affecting our youth, 8220;it8217;s a problems that8217;s rampant in Punjab and we have done innumerable shows of this,8217;8217; says Singh. In Zakhmi Khamba Di Parwaz, Sahib has Bhagat Singh, with his ideology, motivate a common man to fight the system and the play also takes up issues of unemployment, exploitation of Dalits at al. Play on.

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