Latest news with #Ashik
Korea Herald
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Bangladesh puppet theatre uses fun to teach kids real-life lessons
DHAKA, Bangladesh (Daily Star/ANN) — Growing up, most children develop a certain fondness towards fictional characters. Cartoons, puppets or comics — they serve the same purpose. To entertain, to teach, and to play a vital role in the psychological development of the children. Presently, puppets may not be as popular as they used to be. And puppet shows are a dying art to some extent. Standing against such challenging odds, Kaktarua Puppet Theater is doing some commendable work. What is Kaktarua? A kaktarua, meaning "scarecrow," is an effigy created in human form made out of hay or straw, dressed in old clothes, and often a hat. A scarecrow is erected in order to scare away birds from a farmland and to protect crops. "Similarly, Kaktarua Puppet Theater aims to work by driving away all the negatives and superstitions from society. Hence, the symbolic name," said Asaduzzaman Ashik, the founder who started working with puppets in 2016, but it wasn't until 2019 that he established the theatre. The Puppets There are at least 30 different puppet characters that are used in different shows. Some of these are original characters, created by the members of the theatre. Some of them are based on mythical stories and used to recreate those tales. Others are based on the stories from the Bangla book of primary school, created in order to play out the stories from the books, so the children can learn by watching the puppet shows. "It's one thing to just read. But if you can integrate the lesson in a show, children love that, and this can be a way of teaching. Apu and Dipu'r Golpo is one of our most popular shows, and it teaches children about the demerits of fighting and quarreling," said Ashik after one of his shows where his team had just performed. The team is ten members strong, with Muhammad Aminul Islam Rasel making most of the puppets. The puppet and sound designs are done by Pronoy Sarker. The rest of the members work together to bring a show to reality. The puppet designs are sometimes inspired by the stories. Sometimes they are created based on the need of the story and show, and sometimes the team members just brainstorm and create a new look. Puppets for Palliative care and teaching "The reason I am still working with puppets is to bring joy to the children. I have had a few shows at CRP, NICRH and Dhaka Medical College. There were these children who were in so much pain and suffering. And I made them smile for a little while. By the end of the show, they wanted to shake hands with the puppets. This little girl, who had a cannula in her hand, reached out to me. And that is the moment that stuck with me," recalled Ashik when asked what his greatest achievement with the puppets was. "A lot of people are not aware of this, but puppets can be used as a palliative care and a tool to teach children. Their responses are amazing, and with more efforts into puppets, a lot more can be done for the children. Everyone is so engrossed in screens these days. We can use puppets to entertain them in a different way that is not confined to a screen," observed Ashik, pointing out that, as rewarding as the response is, the funding is very limited. The theatre can barely finance itself. Taking this as a full-time job would be next to impossible. With the rent for the studio, the expenses that go into the creation and maintenance of the puppets and the expenses of travel and others, it makes it a very difficult job to carry on, but Ashik has not given up. Impression As observed during a live show, young children are not only fond of but also interactive with puppets. And throughout the lesson delivered by the show, they remained interactive. This is a credit to the puppeteers as well as the fact that puppets are interesting to children. These shows can be a teaching mechanism, especially for children with special needs. With positive response from the children during different shows as well as organizations who work with children, Ashik and his team can see the potential for more elaborate shows and says he is just a phone call away for those who are interested in working with puppets or puppet shows. Nineties children grew up with puppets, and now those are little more than nostalgic elements. Similarly, bioscopes have gone extinct too. Kaktarua Puppet Theater has revived both of these things and is working to not only popularize them but also use them as teaching mediums. This deserves recognition and perhaps some attention from people so they can carry on the show. Because the show must go on.
Asia News Network
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Asia News Network
Bangladesh puppet theatre uses fun to teach kids real-life lessons
July 14, 2025 DHAKA – Growing up, most children develop a certain fondness towards fictional characters. Cartoons, puppets or comics — they serve the same purpose. To entertain, to teach, and to play a vital role in the psychological development of the children. Presently, puppets may not be as popular as they used to be. And puppet shows are a dying art to some extent. Standing against such challenging odds, 'Kaktarua Puppet Theater' is doing some commendable work. What is Kaktarua? A kaktarua or scarecrow is an effigy created in human form made out of hay or straw, dressed in old clothes, and often a hat. A scarecrow is erected in order to scare away birds from a farmland and to protect crops. 'Similarly, Kaktarua Puppet Theater aims to work by driving away all the negatives and superstitions from society. Hence, the symbolic name,' said Asaduzzaman Ashik, the founder who started working with puppets in 2016, but it wasn't until 2019 that he established the theatre. The Puppets There are at least 30 different puppet characters that are used in different shows. Some of these are original characters, created by the members of the theatre. Some of them are based on mythical stories and used to recreate those tales. Others are based on the stories from the Bangla book of primary school, created in order to play out the stories from the books, so the children can learn by watching the puppet shows. 'It's one thing to just read. But if you can integrate the lesson in a show, children love that, and this can be a way of teaching. Apu and Dipu'r Golpo is one of our most popular shows, and it teaches children about the demerits of fighting and quarrelling,' said Ashik after one of his shows where his team had just performed. The team is ten members strong, with MD Aminul Islam Rasel making most of the puppets. The puppet and sound designs are done by Pronoy Sarker. The rest of the members work together to bring a show to reality. The puppet designs are sometimes inspired by the stories. Sometimes they are created based on the need of the story and show, and sometimes the team members just brainstorm and create a new look. Puppets for Palliative care and teaching 'The reason I am still working with puppets is to bring joy to the children. I have had a few shows at CRP, NICRH, and Dhaka Medical College. There were these children who were in so much pain and suffering. And I made them smile for a little while. By the end of the show, they wanted to shake hands with the puppets. This little girl, who had a cannula in her hand, reached out to me. And that is the moment that stuck with me,' recalled Ashik when asked what his greatest achievement with the puppets was. 'A lot of people are not aware of this, but puppets can be used as a palliative care and a tool to teach children. Their responses are amazing, and with more efforts into puppets, a lot more can be done for the children. Everyone is so engrossed in screens these days. We can use puppets to entertain them in a different way that is not confined to a screen,' observed Ashik, pointing out that, as rewarding as the response is, the funding is very limited. The theatre can barely finance itself. Taking this as a full-time job would be next to impossible. With the rent for the studio, the expenses that go into the creation and maintenance of the puppets and the expenses of travel and others, it makes it a very difficult job to carry on, but Ashik has not given up. Impression As observed during a live show, young children are not only fond of but also interactive with puppets. And throughout the lesson delivered by the show, they remained interactive. This is a credit to the puppeteers as well as the fact that puppets are interesting to children. These shows can be a teaching mechanism, especially for children with special needs. With positive response from the children during different shows as well as organisations who work with children, Ashik and his team can see the potential for more elaborate shows and says he is just a phone call away for those who are interested in working with puppets or puppet shows. Nineties children grew up with puppets, and now those are little more than nostalgic elements. Similarly, bioscopes have gone extinct too. Kaktarua Puppet Theater has revived both of these things and is working to not only popularise them but also use them as teaching mediums. This deserves recognition and perhaps some attention from people so they can carry on the show. Because the show must go on.
The Hindu
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Father's Day: Bonding over with wooden toys at DIY workshop in Coimbatore
The joy of building a paper boat with dad. The excitement of holding the same pair of scissors, the small shared silences while making something together. In a world of screen time and busy schedules, it is rare for fathers and children to sit down and make something together. This Father's Day, bonding with Dad can be done in a new form. At DIY with Dad, a hands-on workshop by artist Ashik Jaffer- Ali, in collaboration with The Little Furnette, a kid's furniture brand, fathers and children can spend quality time together as they build wooden toys. 'There are plenty of 'Mom and Me' programmes, but this one is just for dads. Even an hour hour spent doing something together can create a lasting impact,' says Ashik. Ashik is no stranger to workshops. Over the years, she has conducted numerous summer art camps and creative sessions for children across age groups. One of her main artistic interests is watercolour painting, a medium she often returns to for its fluidity and softness. Her series Secrets in the Folds, which explored the lives of underrepresented women, received widespread attention in recent years for its quiet yet powerful storytelling. 'I love to paint beautiful and pretty things,' she says. People, spaces, and emotions, that I see around motivates me to paint.' Through her workshops, Ashik focuses on making children do something with their hands rather than just playing video games. Most of her workshops are about art and different ways of expressing and creative thinking. 'My approach is to make kids think out of the box,' explains Ashik. Her workshops are thoughtfully curated according to age groups and are limited to 15 participants, ensuring that each child receives individual attention. 'Children are naturally creative and thrive when given the right tools and guidance to explore their abilities,' she says. 'But it's important to challenge them appropriately, based on their age and stage of development, so they can discover new ways of thinking without feeling overwhelmed.' When asked to share a few tips to aspiring artists, she laughs and says, , 'I am inspired by other artists who are true to what they want to represent. A true artist should find their own voice and not get shadowed by other factors' The DIY with Dad workshop includes activities like building a wooden toy, chair, or a caddy. You can take home not just the art, but a cherished memory . The workshop is on June 15 at Ruhftop, Race Course. The workshops begins at 9.30am and there are three sessions. Fee starts at ₹ 3150. To register, call 9500927790
