The stage is set
DEEPA GANESH
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The coming of National School of Drama to Karnataka is a victory of sorts. But it is only the beginning of a larger movement that dreams of taking on a hegemonic ethos through Kannada and its cultutre
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REACHING OUT NSD, Karnataka, hopes to stretch out to all theatre enthusiasts of the State
For many years now, theatre practitioners and activists have been urging for a National School of Drama in Karnataka. It wasn't taking on the establishment alone, but also the demand for a regional theatre that is accorded the status of national theatre. Not just to be on par with Hindi, but also to be an integral part of what has been singularly conceived as national theatre. A regional school would also, to some extent, put a check on the rampant cultural-environmental damage sparked off by satellite television as well as globalisation. It almost seemed like theatre education in Kannada was the last hope to salvage the increasing isolation from our mother tongues. Rebuilding bridges with language and also opening young minds into literature and other artistic traditions of Karnataka. The demand for an NSD in Karnataka was reinforcing the need for many national theatres as well as tackling deeper issues of culture itself.
These demands have been lying around unaddressed for many years now with successive Governments choosing to remain passive. It took a serious turn with theatre-person Prasanna, who's been voicing these concerns from his Abhivyakti Abhiyaan for the last couple of years, going on a satyagraha from January 5. Four days through the hunger struggle and garnering substantial support from theatre persons throughout the State, victory did come on the fifth day. Union Ministry of Culture decided to give a go ahead to five NSDs: Karnataka, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, and West Bengal.
"It is only a symbolic victory. This is the first step in addressing a very large issue. And I'm not even under the illusion that with the coming of NSD things will change overnight for us," says forerunner Prasanna, with his head firmly on his shoulder.
But in any healthy movement, there will be voices, opinions, and beliefs alongside the force. It is true of this one too. Says Raghunandana, theatre director, teacher of theatre arts and member of Academic Council of the NSD that the need of the hour is to bring together theatre professionals from all parts of the State in realising this dream. "I am very happy that the Central Government has finally recognised that all languages and states in this country are equal. We've been fighting for this, for many years now, " he adds. However, Raghunandana urges the core group to make equal partners of the many accomplished theatre persons in this project, to make the coming a happy and fruitful one.
On the other hand, Eqbal Ahmed, acclaimed theatre director, has an issue with the prevalent notion of decentralisation itself. "To escape from one kind of centralisation we shouldn't become victims of another. Bangalore is not the suitable location for NSD. It should be centrally located and in a place which has a reflective quality to it," he emphasises.
In the same vein, distinguished writer U.R. Ananthamurthy, who has extended his complete support to Abhivyakti Abhiyana, adds: "I think the perfect location for the school is central part of the State, probably Davanagere or Hubli, and certainly not Bangalore." Taking it further, he says the process of decentralisation will be complete only when there are several national theatres, including the unscheduled languages of India. "It should become Federation of National School of Drama and an agency like the UGC."
With the coming of NSD to Karnataka, it should envisage a holistic training that blends both skill and perspective. It should become an instrument that will make mother tongue inevitable to one's expression, maintains Ananthamurthy. In addition, he hopes that culture becomes a part of curriculum and every school in Karnataka will have a theatre teacher.
"I'm not pressing that the school must be in Bangalore either. In fact, I remember K.V. Subbanna's article on the problems of centralisation when the NSD Regional Research Centre started in Bangalore. But if there are fears that the NSD will gobble up local theatres, it is unfounded," explains Prasanna. In fact, he insists that theatre persons from other parts of the State must present their petitions to give it that democratic edge. "Abhivyakti Abhiyana has only opened up the vision of theatre people and in future has plans of engaging itself in advocacy for theatre," he clarifies.
At this juncture, the feeling in the theatre fraternity is one of happiness and of apprehensions. In the coming days, one hopes that every significant voice of Kannada theatre gains expression and what emerges is a grand spectacle with multiple shades.
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