Special lecture on folk theatre and communication held at DSJ
Staff Reporter / New Delhi
The Delhi School of Journalism successfully organised a special lecture on “Folk Theatre as a Medium of Communication,” delivered by Mr. Anoop Lather, (a renowned theatre and film artist) Chairperson of the Culture Council and Public Relations Officer (PRO), University of Delhi.
The session equipped young journalism students with insights into folk culture and theatre, and their contemporary relevance to the growing field of communication. He remarked that all forms of folk theatre are the language of the masses. He encouraged the students, noting that as journalism students, they could visit rural areas to conduct research on the documentation, preservation, and promotion of folk art forms, thereby gaining insight into how folk theatre conveys messages to society.
He further urged the students to work towards the “documentation, preservation, and promotion of the folk theatre culture of India.” Elaborating on the importance of the same, he noted that only a few civilisations in the world possess a rich tradition of theatre with Greece in the West, and India in the East.
The Chairperson of the Culture Council also emphasised that India, as a civilisation, has a strong communication background, drawing from a golden heritage of age-old and credible storytelling traditions. He talked about the evolution of folk theatre and how various forms merged into one another to develop new traditions, such as the Nautanki of Uttar Pradesh.
Further, Mr. Lather appealed to the students of communication to reinterpret the folk theatre tradition through a contemporary lens, so as to propagate today’s value systems while staying connected to their cultural heritage.
Dr. Sanjay Verma, Officer on Special Duty to Delhi School of Journalism, was also present at the event. Speaking about the significance of the lecture series, he said it aims to equip students with practical exposure that complements the theoretical knowledge taught in the classroom.
The lecture was well received by the students, who actively engaged in the discussion on the evolving role of folk theatre as a medium of communication in contemporary times.