On the 12th and the 13th of July, Study Hall Educational Foundation (SHEF) organised its theatre festival – ‘Natyotsav’ at Sant Gadge Auditorium. Natyotsav’s ‘Yuva Manch’, which is a platform for promoting theatre among students. Since 2006, our foundation is offering various theatrical productions. The chief guest of the event was the founder of Study Hall Educational Foundation, Dr Urvashi Sahni.

The program highlighted three major plays performed by units of SHEF. It opened with ‘Sara Ka Sara Aasman’, performed by the students and alumni of Study Hall School, Prerna Girls School and Prerna Boys School. The play was about a Pakistani poetess, portraying how she loses her mind fighting the patriarchy present in most of the countries in the Indian sub-continent to pursue her passion for writing. A drama, ‘Soch Rahi Hoon’, presented by students of Vidyasthali Kanar Inter College, Malihabad, portrayed a modern-day woman who stood up against the ‘dowry practices’. The students of Prerna Girls School and Prerna Boys School enacted a poem, ‘Meri Duniya Ke Tamam Bacche’, which was about how the children across the globe can change the world if we teach them, how they can erase the differences among the nations if we let them, and how they can bring peace that the world needs. A dance performance by students of Center for Learning (CFL) ‘Sapna’, showing young dreamers.

Dr Sahni addressed the audience, saying, “Drama is a very important part of education. It provides children a safe space to rehearse life and learn to think critically, which leads to personality development.”

At the core of all these programs, the issues women face was brought to light. The audience appreciated the acting of the children. The program concluded with a vote of thanks.