A Ten-Day’s State level workshop organized by Education Department

Chandigarh: A Ten-Day’s State level workshop organized by Education Department in collaboration with Department of Indian Theatre, Panjab University Chandigarh and Natya Griham has been concluded with a wonderful performance of “ Shri Krishna Leela”, Designed and Directed by Dr. Navdeep Kaur at the Department of Indian Theatre to leash the theatrical skills of girl students

Haryana is the first such state in the country, where girl students studying in Government Schools have been trained in various genres of theatre. Haryana Government Directorate of Secondary Education in collaboration with the Department of Indian Theatre Panjab University Chandigarh and Natya Griham organized the workshop in the Department of Indian Theatre, Panjab University.

Department of Indian Theatre,Panjab University Chandigarh is the first department amongst all the Theatre Departments of the country who has trained the school girl students at division and state level and made such joint effort and proposed the implemention of Theatre Subject in School Education.

Dr. Anshaj Singh, Director, Department of Secondary Education, Haryana, Smt. Amrita Singh, Additional Director, Department of Basic Education, Haryana, The Registrar, Panjab University Chandigarh Prof. Y.P. Verma, DEO Panchkula Sh. Satpal Kaushik were specially present during the closing ceremony of the workshop. There were 71 girl students from all over the region who were selected in the workshops organized previously at the District and Divisional levels, showed their skills in the field of Theatre. Shree Krishna Leela, Designed and Directed by Dr. Navdeep Kaur, Chairperson, Department of Indian Theatre. The performance of newly trained young students mesmerized everyone.

On this occasion, Dr. Anshaj Singh, Director, Secondary Education Department, Haryana encouraged the girls and said that it has always been the endeavour of the Secondary Education Department, Haryana to bring out the hidden talent of students studying in Government Schools of Haryana, irrespective of the financial constraints. Under this idea, this effort was made by the joint efforts of Department of Indian Theatre, Punjab University Chandigarh and Natya Griham.The education department is grateful to the Department of Indian theatre for the 10-day residence workshop that has given new colour to the talent of these students. The performance of these promising students has also captivated everyone. It is hoped that whatever subjects and skills these girls have learned from here, their energy will get a new boost and in the future these girls will achieve a new heights in the field of art. Dr. Anshaj Singh, Director, Secondary Education Department said that the New Education policy is being implemented. It will be addressed that the subject of Theatre will be included in the school curriculum as an optional subject. The Department of Indian Theatre will frame the outline of the syllabus and in future efforts will be made to implement the same from grade nine onwards.

Smt. Amrita Singh, Additional Director, Basic Education Department, Haryana, while encouraging the girls, said that the goal of the Haryana government is that the daughter of Haryana will study and grow multidimensionally through 10-day workshop. In these 10 days, these girls must have not only acquired the knowledge of new genres of Indian Theatre but also learnt many life skills while staying together away from their homes. Hence making them better and well-grounded citizens of tomorrow. It is the same effort of the government and the department that all-round development of the government schools in every sector can take place. According to their feedback, a decision will be taken to conduct this kind of work in the future.

Dr. Navdeep Kaur, Chairperson Department of Indian Theatre Punjab University, Chandigarh said that this is the first time such an attempt has been made by the department for the necessity of implementing theatre subject in schools. The thinking with which this workshop was started has proved to be truly worthwhile today. Dr. Navdeep said that she has requested to Secondary Education Department, Haryana to include Theatre as a compulsory subject in school education.

The play Shree Krishna Leela Designed and Directed by Dr. Navdeep Kaur was presented in a lively form by the students. Staging this play within 7 days was a historic and memorable event in itself. All these girls are studying in Haryana Government Senior Secondary Schools who had no basic knowledge about theatre. But it was possible because of all these girls dedication, hard work and desire to learn. Dr. Navdeep Kaur said that all the genres of Theatre like light, sound, script, acting, characterization, and music were told and presented alive through the performance of Shree Krishan Leela . It is as if Krishna had not come to Braj today but had come to give auspiciousness in the courtyard of Panjab University.

This workshop was specially supported by the Department of Secondary Education, District Education Officer, Panchkula Satpal Kaushik, Program Officer Amanpreet Kaur, Principal Baljinder Kaur of PM Shri Kanya Senior Secondary School Sector-15, Panchkula.