The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Theatre being taken to the classroom

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 11, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Theatre being taken to the classroom

Raghava M.

ACTING IT OUT: A scene from the play `Ekalavya.'

BANGALORE: Using theatre in education is a good way to get students to be creative, and unleash their latent talents. But if teachers lack theatre skills or if college or school managements cannot support theatre activities, it could lead to problems for students.

Therefore, a Bangalore-based theatre group, Guru Institute, has prepared the "Know-do" (the Kannada word for "see" is "nodu") series of illustrated books.

The group screens videos of plays in the classroom. "We create a theatrical ambience and make students enjoy the performance in the company of their classmates and teachers. With the text highlighted in visual form it helps students understand the play and the playwright better," explains Yashwant Sirdespande of Guru Institute.

The institute prepared the first of the Know-do series last year. The text chosen was "Yayati," a play written by the Jnanpith award-winner Girish Karnad.

The play, based on a story in the Mahabharata, was part of the Kannada textbook for the second year Pre-University Course.

A video of the production, directed by P. Seshadri, three-time national award-winner, was screened in more than 100 colleges in different parts of the State.

With a change in the Kannada textbook for second year PUC students this year, the institute has prepared its second Know-do textbook on the play "Ekalavya." Siddalingaiah has written the play, also based on the Mahabharata.

Ekalavya approaches Dronacharya, teacher of the Pandavas and Kauravas, to learn archery. When Dronacharya refuses to teach him, Ekalavya makes an idol of Dronacharya and learns archery on his own. He offers his right thumb as "guru dakshina" when asked to do so by Dronacharya.

The story in the epic ends there. But, in the play, Ekalavya goes on learn to use the bow and arrow with his left hand. When he once again becomes an accomplished archer, the Pandavas and the Kauravas both plead for his services. But Ekalavya refuses to join either group and uses his skill to protect wildlife.

Natana, a Mysore-based theatre group, has staged the 90-minute play featuring 11 songs. Mr. Sirdespande and the play's director, Nagendra Shah, another well-known theatre person, have videotaped the play.

An added feature of the second Know-do production is a short feature on the writer. "I and my team spent a whole day with Dr. Siddalingaiah and videoed his lifestyle. For about five minutes the author gives his interpretation of the play and states its relevance today. With this we have made the author reach out to students, which he cannot do otherwise," says Mr. Sirdespande.

The institute has so far screened the play in more than 30 Bangalore colleges.

The institute has a van with a projector, screen and sound system for the purpose. For details, contact Gururaj by dialling 9448768661.

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