Premchand theater festival

Schoolchildren from different schools of the capital on Tuesday brought their tryst with Munshi Premchand to a memorable conclusion as they ended a five-day theater festival with the dramatization of the writer’s short stories ‘Namak ka Daroga’ and ‘Sachchai ka Uphaar’.

The five day theater festival, put together by Delhi government’s Hindi Academy was the culmination of a month long workshop during which young students from across Delhi were introduced to the literature of Premchand and
guided to enact his stories into plays.

As many as 400 children from 10 different schools of the capital came together to participate in the workshop and festival that paid homage to one of Hindi Language’s most revered writers.

On the last day, students from Darshan Academy enacted ‘Namak ka Daroga’, directed by Vipur Pachauri, assisted by Mohini Sangar; while students from DAV Public School Dwarka enacted ‘Sachchai ka Uphaar’, directed by Amardeep Garg, assisted by Prashant Negi.

The plays were presented by students who have spent their summer vacation honing their literary and theatrical skills at a workshop organized by the Hindi Academy under the Department of Art, Culture & Languages. 

“We are delighted by the response we received from the children as well as the audience to this first of its kind workshop and festival. We are sure when these children go back to their schools they will stir in others a greater interest in Hindi literature and its magnificent writers,” said Dr Harisuman Bisht, renowned author and Secretary of Hindi Academy.
Titled ‘Is Greeshma Premchand Hain Bachchon Ke Sang’, the workshop was conducted by 10 directors chosen by the Academy and assisted by 10 assistant directors who groomed the children in the art of Premchand’s theatrics from May 20 to June 19.

The children in the age group of 8 to 16 years, who evinced their interest in participating in the workshop, were selected on the basis of auditions.

“Premchand is a writer without whom Hindi literature cannot be imagined or talked about. He was a writer who went deep into the roots of Indian society and presented a true picture of it. So if we want to bring our children closer to Hindi literature, the job has to begin with Premchand,” said Dr Bisht.

Dr Bisht said that since it was the first such workshop on such a large scale being  organized by the Hindi Academy, it had to begin with the biggest name in Hindi literature.

Mr Sanjeev Agnihotri and Mr Nadeem Khan have acted as coordinators appointed by the Hindi Academy, under whose guidance the workshop were held.