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Indian Express
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
As a child, Rajinder Nath let me into his rehearsals — I watched as he shaped Delhi's theatre scene
Rajinder Nath (1934–2025) died on July 24. For me, this was one more in the count that had started quite some time ago, when one by one the pioneers and stalwarts of the 'Group Theatre Movement' (a term coined in Calcutta) left the stage, making space for the new guard. I personally knew many of them well, not as a theatre person, but by dint of having been born into a household where theatre was a part of life. I was probably the youngest person to have had the privilege of observing Rajinder ji and Abhiyan, the Hindi theatre group that he had founded, on their remarkable journey on Delhi's stage. If I remember right, I was all of 10 years old when I started identifying Abhiyan's productions as being different — more sophisticated — from most others that I had the opportunity to see almost every evening in the AIFACS auditorium. This unique privilege was mine because I used to live on the top floor of the building that housed the theatre auditorium in AIFACS, considered to be the best in Delhi and in all probability one of the very best in all of India. AIFACS or the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society was the cultural hub of New Delhi in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. It, therefore, attracted the best shows from across India and the world. Visiting troupes such as the Bolshoi Ballet, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Bohurupee, People's Little Theatre Group, and National School of Drama, performed at AIFACS, and it was in this context that I could place Abhiyan's productions. My interest in Abhiyan's productions was also because my father Sitansu Mukherjea was a close friend and collaborator of Rajinder ji. Baba was the lighting designer for every Abhiyan production and also the set designer for some of their productions. I remember seeing Rajinder ji sitting quietly in the seventh or eighth row of the auditorium watching the rehearsals on stage. He would intervene at times to discuss how a dialogue could be delivered, or where the actor should take his or her position. I do not remember him climbing on the stage to show the actors 'how to act'. I have never seen him act himself, but Baba used to say that the only time he had seen Rajinder ji act was in Habib Tanvir's production of Mitzi Ki Gaadi, an adaptation of the Sanskrit play Mricchakatika. In the beginning, my involvement with Abhiyan was primarily as a curious onlooker. As a child, I was allowed in unquestioned even in the midst of rehearsals. This afforded me a ringside view of some of their memorable productions. Many of the actors of Abhiyan later became big names in Hindi cinema. I consider myself lucky to have seen the likes of T P Jain, Sudha Chopra, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Kimti Anand, Chetna Jalan, Om Puri, V M Badola, S M Zaheer, Ravi Bhaswani and Subhash Gupta act on stage before they moved to television and cinema. Rajinder ji and Abhiyan are known for staging the first Hindi version of many contemporary plays written in India. Many of Badal Sircar's plays from Bengali were first performed in Hindi by Abhiyan under Rajinder ji's direction. These were often translated from the original Bengali by Santana ji, his life long partner and collaborator. Vijay Tendulkar was another favourite. Plays such as Ghashiram Kotwal, Kamala, Sakharam Binder and Khamosh Adalat Jaari Hai were first performed in Hindi by Abhiyan; they often had very distinctive sets and lighting-design to enhance the viewing experience. Mohit Chatterjee's Guinea Pig was electrifying to watch. Ashok Bhattacharya's set using full height plastic sheets representing the glass tanks of a laboratory combined with atmospheric lighting design by Baba, enhanced the outstanding performances by Kharbanda, Jalan and Kimti Lal Arora. I remember many small incidents from behind the scenes of several of those shows. Sircar's Saari Raat had a very interesting set by Bhattacharya constructed by stacking packing boxes. In the play, the mention of 'khichdi' as a delicious dish was often wondered at by the actors, who were used to more mundane associations of the dish. To demonstrate the validity of the claim, my mother cooked large quantities of Bengali khichdi and fries in our home. On the last night, after the performance, all the actors and the stage staff sat down on the stage floor to find out if khichdi could actually be delicious. After the rise of Mandi House as the theatre hub of Delhi, Abhiyan's productions were staged in Shri Ram Centre, often in the Basement Theatre, which, if I remember correctly, Rajinder ji had started during his tenure as its director. The plays performed by Abhiyan in that period were smaller in scale and required fewer actors. The more intimate audience seating arrangement in the Basement Theatre was well suited for these productions. Vijay Tendulkar's Jaat Hi Poocho Sadhu Ka was a very popular production, and was first performed in this theatre. As was Udhwasta Dharamshala by G P Deshpande, which had Zaheer and Puri in key roles. By this time I had joined architecture college, and maybe because of this reason I was asked by Rajinder ji to design the sets for Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa. This was my only direct involvement with an Abhiyan production. The set was a simple one of three cloth screens, which I had painted over with impressionistic graphics that were meant to represent the iconic political wall-paintings seen on buildings in Calcutta during the Naxal period. The central panel had an acting area behind it, which was lit during specific scenes when the front acting-area lights faded out. This production also got to be well known, and I remember Govind Nihalani coming backstage to meet Rajinder ji after the show; it was a few years after this incident that Nihalani made the film version of Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa. Those were exciting times, and I was happy to be a spectator of that golden period of theatre in New Delhi. Today when I look back, I realise that Rajinder ji was one of those who had, in a way, started that highly creative period of Hindi theatre in Delhi. His hallmark 'understated' approach had a huge impact on both the audience and on theatre persons across India. Now that he is no more, I remain thankful to him and to Abhiyan for tolerating my presence as a child in their midst when they were so involved in the act of staging, through their plays, what could now be considered important milestones in Indian theatre. Mukherjee, son of eminent theatre personality Sitansu Mukherjea, is an architect
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Rajinder Nath, who shaped city theatre scene, no more
New Delhi: Rajinder Nath, whose theatre group Abhiyan's decision to perform plays solely from Indian languages was seminal in shaping the city's theatre scene and whose 11-year stint as director of Shri Ram Centre for Arts and Culture was marked by the setting up of its repertory and its spartan basement theatre, passed away at his residence on Thursday. He was 90. "He wasn't doing well for the past three-four years. But his condition worsened in the last 10 days," Subhash Gupta, theatre director and long-time associate, told PTI. Vijay Tendulkar's Jaat Hi Poochho Sadhu Ki and Ghasiram Kotwal, G P Deshpande's Udhwastha Dharmashala (all from Marathi), Debashish Majumdar's Tamrapatra and Badal Sircar's Pagla Ghoda (both from Bengali) are among the most remembered plays he directed. He also helmed Mohan Rakesh's Drar (sic) as a teleplay. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Kulbhushan Kharbanda, T P Jain, Sudha Chopra were among the founder members of Abhiyan. "Rajinder Nath was among the founders of contemporary group theatre in the Hindi belt," said Arvind Gaur of Asmita Theatre. Others who worked with him include Om Puri, Ram Gopal Bajaj, S M Zaheer and Uttara Baokar. Tendulkar had once described Om Puri's performance in Ghasiram Kotwal as "the most perfect embodiment of Nana (saheb)," wrote Dilip Kumar Basu in a monograph on him. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Financial Support Plans for Disability Applicants Disability Benefit | Search Ads Learn More Undo Actor Sushma Seth said that Rajinder Nath would always give his actors an opportunity to provide their interpretation of a role first. "He would offer his own vision of the character, only if he disagreed with the interpretation," said Seth, who performed in Abhiyan productions such as Hanush, Bikhre Bimb and Ek Chadar Maili Si. Adds Gaur, "In his design of plays, the actor was always at the centre." His plays were appreciated for their austere honesty. Jaat ... .was performed every year from 1978-2004 with the original cast, Rajinder told Sansad TV in a 2019 interview. "Towards the end, hero Zaheer had lost hair. But we went ahead without a wig. When a good actor performs, the magic of theatre takes over," he said. Rajinder was born in Dalwal, in today's north Pakistan's Chakwal district. His earliest memory of acting was delivering a single line in a village Ram Lila. He quickly discovered that he loved acting. And even Partition didn't take it away. In his early college years, he was guided by legendary theatreperson Frank Thakurdas, whom he described as his "guru." "After my post-graduation in English from Kirorimal College, I got clarity that I wanted to teach and do theatre," he said in the same interview. Rajinder taught briefly there but served Rajdhani College as English lecturer from 1965-1994. Abhiyan was founded in 1967. Rajinder was director of Shri Ram Centre for Art and Culture from 1976 to 1981 and again from 1983-89. In 1980, he started the SRCPA repertory company and also its annual theatre festival. In 1977, he received the Sangeet Natak Akademi award for direction. He also edited Theatre India, NSD's journal. It was a rich life, well lived.
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Business Standard
08-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
DBT of central, state aid in agriculture still riddled with challenges
What remains the Holy Grail of DBT is the direct transfer of input subsidies into the bank accounts of farmers, and within it, the transfer of fertiliser subsidies New Delhi Listen to This Article One of the several policy issues identified by the Central government during the fortnight long 'Vikshit Bharat Krishi Abhiyan' based on their extensive interactions with farmers was the need to move towards direct transfer of all subsidy schemes and assistance that the Centre and states give, instead of routing them through intermediaries. The Abhiyan, which concluded a few weeks back, has identified a set of policy initiatives which the Central government could adopt in the years to come; the move towards a more direct transfer of benefits is one of them. In fact, DBT was also one of the ideas
News18
03-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Illuminating Dholpur: ChandraJyoti Abhiyan And The Rebirth Of Democracy From ‘Kitab Ka Pehla Panna'
Every school textbook in India starts with the Preamble to the Constitution—the 'Kitab Ka Pehla Panna". Yet, as Nivrutti keenly observed, this page is often hurried past in the rush to complete the syllabus. Teachers, burdened by curriculum targets, and students, anxious about exams, tend to overlook this foundational text. But in a nation as diverse and dynamic as India, that first page encapsulates the soul of our democracy. Recognising this missed opportunity, the ChandraJyoti Abhiyan was born. 'If we can bring the Preamble out of obscurity," Nivrutti explains, 'we can bring the Constitution to life in young minds." And so began a journey that would transform the educational landscape of Dholpur. Schools as Hubs of Democracy The Abhiyan spread its wings to 350 schools, impacting over 50,000 students from Classes 5 to 11. Through Baal Sansad (Youth Parliament) sessions, children—many from communities historically marred by conflict—engaged directly with the principles of democracy, governance, and civic responsibility. They debated, enacted, and questioned. Primary schoolchildren began reciting the Preamble during morning assemblies, articulating ideals like Justice, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity with a clarity that belied their age. Teachers, too, were empowered. Over 200 educators, especially Political Science teachers, received training aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, enabling them to make constitutional principles a living part of classroom discussions. Debates, quizzes, role-plays, and poster-making competitions enriched the learning experience, fostering critical thinking and civic engagement. Beyond Classrooms: Communities in Action The ChandraJyoti Abhiyan did not stop at the school gates. It reached into the heart of communities through Gram Sabhas and Child-Friendly Panchayat meetings, enabling students to witness and participate in grassroots democracy. Republic Day and Constitution Day were celebrated not just as ceremonial events, but as occasions to reflect on civic duties and constitutional ideals. A particularly innovative feature was the 'Constitution on the Wall" project—vibrant murals depicting constitutional articles on the walls of the Zila Parishad office. Guided tours by Somnath himself demystified complex constitutional provisions, making them accessible to even the youngest learners. The movement culminated in a district-level competition on April 27, 2025, with 15 schools and over 150 students showcasing their knowledge. The winners were felicitated, and a ChandraJyoti Abhiyan booklet was released, capturing the journey and voices of those touched by this silent revolution. From Books to Buildings: The Savidhan Ghar Vision Building on this momentum, Nivrutti envisioned a new chapter: the Savidhan Ghar project. In a candid interview, he shared, 'During my field visits, I observed many unused government buildings—once functional, now lying idle. I asked myself, why not reimagine these spaces as vibrant centres of knowledge and civic awareness? That's how Savidhan Ghar was born—turning forgotten infrastructure into living platforms for constitutional learning and community empowerment." Dholpur has identified 28 unused government buildings across 28 Gram Panchayats. These are being renovated into community libraries—spaces where civil services aspirants, avid readers, and community members can access newspapers, books on law and governance, and educational materials. But at their core, every Savidhan Ghar will focus on the Indian Constitution, reinforcing citizenship, democracy, and participation. Advertisement Nivrutti's vision is not limited to physical renovation. 'My vision," he says, 'is to develop not just readers, but citizens—thoughtful, informed, and empowered individuals." To ensure sustainability, village-level community groups are being formed to manage these spaces, embedding a sense of ownership and pride. The Five Strategic Pillars of ChandraJyoti What makes ChandraJyoti so effective is its foundation in five strategic pillars—a framework that ensures the campaign is participatory, grounded, and scalable: 1. Community-Led and Ownership-Driven: Through extensive stakeholder consultations, local champions from education and Panchayati Raj institutions shaped the campaign's goals. An inclusive Steering Committee, with active representation from PRIs and teachers, ensures grassroots ownership and accountability. 2. Behavioural Change through the Five 'स' Approach: At the heart of ChandraJyoti is a structured journey from awareness to action- सोच (Spark): Why should I care? समझ (Reflect): How does this relate to me? संकल्प (Commit): What will I do about it? सक्रिय (Act & Share): I'm doing it—and others can see it. समाक्रिष्ट (Embed): This is now part of who we are. 3. Spaces of Civic Learning: The campaign created multiple learning spaces- advetisement Schools for learning activities; PRIs for participatory democracy in action; Zila Parishad Office as a living lab where students witness governance firsthand. 4. Culture of Constitutional Citizenship: Dholpur is emerging as a model where democratic values are not just taught but lived daily. The Five 'स' framework and civic ecosystem model are now templates for replication in other districts, nurturing a culture of empathy, ethics, and participation. 5. Resilient Institutions, Informed Citizens: The Abhiyan strengthens trust between government and citizens, especially among youth. Public institutions are better equipped to foster critical thinking and civic values at scale. ChandraJyoti: A Proof-of-Concept for Civic Renewal ChandraJyoti is not just a district programme—it's a proof-of-concept for civic renewal: Transferable Framework: The Five 'स' approach can be adapted to any thematic area or geography. Departmental Convergence: Education, Panchayati Raj, and Administration working hand-in-hand. Productisation: Replicable playbook, dashboards, and materials make scale feasible. 'Through ChandraJyoti," Nivrutti says with conviction, 'Dholpur won't just teach the Constitution—it will live it." advetisement Challenges and Reflections Yet, this journey is not without challenges. A persistent lack of ownership in government buildings often leads to neglect and decay. Teachers, burdened by administrative work, sometimes fail to act as role models for civic engagement. Education, while imparting knowledge, often falls short of equipping the next generation with the skills and values needed to thrive in a democracy. Nivrutti is candid about these realities. 'We need to reimagine the role of teachers as torchbearers of democracy, not just syllabus-finishers," he notes. He emphasises bridging the digital divide—a key element of the Savidhan Ghar model is its integration with the Digital Samvidhan Ghar platform, which will bring e-resources, e-libraries, and interactive modules to rural students. 'This is not just about buildings," he insists. 'It's about building citizens—digitally empowered, constitutionally aware, and community-focused." A Beacon for the Nation As Dholpur's children recite the Preamble and communities gather in Constitution-themed libraries, one is reminded of Nivrutti's closing reflection: 'In today's world, especially in rural India, access to credible information and learning spaces is still limited. If Savidhan Ghar can bridge that gap, even in a small way, then I believe we are sowing the seeds for a stronger, more participatory democracy. It's about building the citizen of tomorrow—starting today."
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Inside Agri Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's bold new vision to modernise Indian farms and farmers
In the first week of June, on a bright and warm day, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited Bihar, an agriculture-dependent state, as part of his ongoing outreach to the farming community. During his visit, Krishan Kumar, a litchi farmer from the state's renowned litchi belt, candidly highlighted a pressing challenge faced by growers in the region. Krishan Kumar, in a video shared on social media, explained how litchis start to turn black and rot within 48 hours of being harvested, drastically reducing their shelf life. This rapid deterioration leads to significant financial losses for farmers who depend heavily on the seasonal fruit for their livelihoods. Chouhan, feeling compelled by the issue, instructed the Indian Council of Agricultural Research ( ICAR ) to soon work on developing a litchi variety that has aclonger shelf life to improve marketability and reduce post-harvest losses. The minister also called for the urgent development of modern storage and cold chain infrastructure in the region. As part of the outreach programme, the 66-year-old former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister has been actively engaging with farmers in Bihar and across the country, demonstrating his hands-on approach by addressing issues directly on the ground and interacting with them. During his visit, Chouhan interacted with several farmers. Notably, Chouhan's ascent from a young activist to the Union Agriculture Minister is marked by his commitment to engaging with people at the grassroots level. In 1991, he walked barefoot across Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, earning the nickname 'Paav-Paav Wale Bhaiya'. Now, 34 years later, Chouhan—a six-time Member of Parliament and the Union Agriculture Minister—was once again on foot. But this time for a bigger mission: Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan . Speaking at a press conference in Delhi on June 18, marking the conclusion of Abhiyan, Chouhan reaffirmed the government's commitment to the ongoing 15-day nationwide Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan. The initiative was launched from Puri (Odisha) on May 29, 2025, and concluded at Bardoli, Gujarat, on June 12, covering 20 states. 'We will take forward the success of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan; this campaign will not stop,' Chouhan declared, signalling that the initiative is set to continue beyond its initial timeline. 'As Agriculture Minister, I will personally visit farms and interact with farmers two days a week.' Live Events Chouhan interacting with farmers during a choupal in one of the villages. Over 1.4 lakh villages covered According to the government, the Abhiyan saw the formation of 2,170 teams comprising agricultural scientists, ministry officials, and subject-matter experts who visited over 143,000 villages across the country. These teams engaged directly with more than 13.4 million farmers, addressing concerns, sharing best practices, and gathering insights from the grassroots level. In 177 tribal districts, more than 8,000 programmes were conducted across 1,024 blocks, reaching nearly 1.8 million farmers. In 112 aspirational districts, teams visited approximately 6,800 villages, engaging directly with 1.5 million farmers. Additionally, outreach extended to nearly 100 border districts and vibrant villages. 'This campaign aimed to fill up the gap between the research labs and the agricultural fields. We have seen remarkable work happening, but challenges persist. Our focus must now be on increasing productivity, reducing input costs, and ensuring that agriculture becomes a profitable and sustainable livelihood for every farmer,' he added. One Nation – One Agriculture – One Team Chouhan articulated the vision of 'One Nation – One Agriculture – One Team', underscoring the importance of a unified, collaborative approach to agricultural development. He emphasised the need for an integrated platform where farmers, scientists, institutions, and policymakers work seamlessly together toward the shared goal of a modern, prosperous, and resilient agricultural sector. Chouhan stressed the urgent need to bridge existing gaps in knowledge, research, and institutional capacity to deliver meaningful, on-the-ground benefits to farmers. He emphasised the pivotal role of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in this effort, announcing that KVKs will serve as nodal agencies in every district, operating as coordinated teams focused on meeting the immediate needs of the farming community. As part of this renewed focus, KVK scientists will now be mandated to spend at least three days a week in the field, directly engaging with farmers to offer guidance and gather feedback. In order to promote progressive agriculture and ensure farmer prosperity, the government stressed the urgent need for enhanced coordination among all institutions. Chouhan announced the establishment of a centralised coordination mechanism that brings together key stakeholders across research, policy, and implementation to streamline and align efforts. As part of this initiative, the ICAR will appoint a state-wise nodal officer for agriculture. These officers will be tasked with overseeing scientific trials, identifying region-specific agricultural challenges, offering expert guidance, and maintaining regular communication with respective state governments. The objective is to ensure that scientific insights and policy interventions are tailored to the unique agro-climatic and socio-economic contexts of each state. The Minister also assured that he, along with senior officials, will hold regular consultations with state governments to align strategies, promote cooperative federalism in agriculture, and deliver regionally relevant, outcome-driven solutions for farmers across the country. He announced that the campaign will be relaunched during the upcoming Rabi season to sustain its momentum and deepen impact. Chouhan announced the establishment of a centralised coordination mechanism that brings together key stakeholders across research, policy, and implementation to streamline and align efforts. In addition, the government plans to amend the Seeds Act soon to enhance seed traceability, safeguard farmers, and ensure the supply of quality seeds in response to concerns over the availability of spurious seeds. As part of targeted follow-up actions, the government will initiate a dedicated Action Plan for Soybean. A stakeholder consultation in this matter is scheduled for June 26 in Indore, and similar focused missions will follow for other key crops, such as cotton, sugarcane, pulses, and oilseeds. In preparation, a national-level hybrid meeting is scheduled on June 24 bringing together scientists, agricultural officers, and state agriculture ministers to review the outcomes of the campaign and chart the way forward. ' Convergence is the solution' Chouhan praised the ICAR and the Ministry of Agriculture for their instrumental role in the successful execution of the Abhiyan. The campaign was organised in more than 700 districts, with participation from 731 KVKs, 113 ICAR institutes, state-level departments, and officials from agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and fisheries as well as innovative farmers. 'To the best of my knowledge, such a comprehensive agricultural campaign or Abhiyan has never taken place in India's history. What truly set it apart was the unprecedented level of coordination; for the first time ever, institutions like ICAR, KVKs, agriculture universities, state agriculture departments, and officials from the Ministry of Agriculture all came together with a shared vision and unified execution strategy. This level of integration has simply never happened before,' Mangi Lal Jat, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General (DG) ICAR, told ET Digital. 'The insights gathered through this campaign will now shape a more targeted and responsive agricultural agenda,' noted Jat. For the first time, our research priorities are being aligned with the real-time needs of farmers, as directly observed during extensive field visits, said Jat. In parallel, the government has mapped the training requirements of each state and is now developing customised training programmes designed to address the specific challenges and tap into the unique agricultural potential of every region. The Agriculture Ministry has identified more than 300 farmer-led innovations across the country during this Abhiyan. Select innovations include a solar light trap for apple borers, glucose collusion to extend litchi life, a spade-cum-whip device for orchard management, an onion seed drill and sugarcane bud chipper, a portable desi egg incubator and a bio-decomposer from vines as a potash substitute. 'We now aim to document these grassroots innovations in detail and assess how they can be scaled or transferred to benefit other farmers in need,' he said. 'In addition, we are exploring the idea of bringing these innovative farmers together for a structured dialogue to learn from their experiences and build a community of practice that can inspire broader agricultural transformation.' The ministry has received extensive feedback from the ground on how to improve the government schemes, said Jat. 'All inputs have been taken seriously, and we are committed to making the necessary adjustments,' he added. Suggestions will be prioritised based on their urgency and relevance so that our schemes become more effective, responsive, and impactful for the farming community, noted Jat. On climate change, Jat emphasised that building resilience in agriculture cannot follow a 'business-as-usual' approach. 'We need a convergence model,' he said. Speaking at a press conference in Delhi on June 18, marking the conclusion of Abhiyan, Chouhan said the campaign will not stop. There is a need to bring the Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry of Agriculture onto the same page, said Jat, announcing plans for a joint meeting to explore collaborative strategies between the two ministries. 'We are aligned in our thinking and will soon roll out a concrete action plan to address climate resilience in an integrated way. The journey ahead may be long, but our focus remains on ensuring their prosperity,' said Jat. Meanwhile, Chouhan's recent visit has rekindled hope among the farming community, with many believing that long-standing gaps in support could finally be addressed. Rupesh Gehlot, a 45-year-old small farmer from Tigipur village on the outskirts of Delhi, noted that farmers in the capital region had largely remained outside the ambit of several central agricultural schemes. However, how these issues will be resolved and how long it will take remain to be seen. Only time will tell.
