Street play to promote peace staged in Nagaland

Kohima, April 12 (ANI): The theatre art has long been considered an effective medium to propagate social messages and influence people, especially in the north-east parts of the country.

Recently, a group of stage artists performed a play, depicting the State of affairs in the northeastern states due to militancy.

Aimed at sending out a message about the need for peace, the play was staged in Kohima and Wokha in Nagaland.

Organised by National Institute of Performing Arts, New Delhi in collaboration with united theatre artists, Tezpur, the play highlighted the message of peace, prosperity and normalcy.The play also urged the audience to work towards bringing lasting peace and finding a solution to militancy, besides focusing on the problems created by insurgency."This drama is depicting the scene in Nagaland. It tells how the youth of today are misguided. They want money, luxury and everything but they are not following the right paths for doing that. They want easy path, easy way to earn money," said Bappi Adhikari, one of the audience in Kohima

"I am touched and encouraged watching this drama because looking at the contemporary Naga youth today, one of the main drawback is adequate platform and adequate awareness through which the Naga youth today could expose their skills and talents," said Ketou, another in the audience.

Realizing the problems caused by militancy, people have started coming out openly to condemn militant activities.And street plays are one way of creating awareness among the youth about the effects of insurgency.

"This drama is about the present scenario prevailing in the entire northeast state, like insurgency. We would like to tell through this that insurgency is not the ultimate route of the people. Those who have already gone from the mainstream of our state or country, through this drama we would like to invite them back to the mainstream," said Aishwarya Kakoti, Secretary, United Artist, Assam.

"I am personally touched. This performance will provide platform to express those who are not able to express themselves. There are some who joins militant groups out of anger," said Akumla, an artist, Kohima.

The initiative was an attempt to make people aware about the urgent need for harmony in the society.

Similar Street plays were staged in other parts of the region as well and they attracted sizeable crowds. By Vibou Ganguly (ANI)