Journalism of Courage
Ebrahim Alkazi was known as a strict disciplinarian who revolutionised theatre in India. He also served as the director of National School of Drama (NSD) for 15 years from 1962 to 1977, thus accounting for the longest tenure ever in the history of the School. He passed away on August 4, 2020 after suffering a heart attack. (Photo: Express archive/designed by Gargi Singh)
Alkazi, who grew up in Pune, had a comfortable childhood, and was one of nine siblings. (Photo: Express archive)
During the Partition in 1947, while his family moved to Pakistan, he chose to stay back in India. (Photo: Express archive)
Alkazi was an equally passionate art connoisseur and collector. In fact, he had a good equation with members of the Progressive Artists’ Group which also included Akbar Padamsee and MF Husain. (Photo: Express archive)
At the age of 50, Alkazi set up a gallery 'Art Heritage', with his wife in New Delhi. By that time, he had decided to quit NSD and theatre. (Photo: Express archive)
Alkazi received the Harmony Heritage Award for Lifetime Contribution in Literature, Arts and Culture from the then CM of Maharshtra, Vilasrao Deshmukh in 1999. (Photo: Express archive)
The Delhi government conferred its Lifetime Achievement Award to Alkazi in 2008, for his contribution in the fields of theatre and arts. (Photo: Express archive)
The then Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had presented him with a citation, a shawl and a cheque worth Rs 11 lakh. (Photo: Express Archive)
Not only that, he has also been awarded the Padma Shri, the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan in 1966, 1991 and 2010 respectively. (Photo: Express archive)
Ebrahim Alkazi, who directed more than 50 plays, in conversation with Neville Tuli. (Photo: Express archive)
