9th VIRASAT KAMLADEVI
A Cultural Festival to honour the memory of Kamladevi Chattopadhyay 24-27 March 2023, (six plays will be staged during the cultural festival)
Virasat Kamladevi The Centre for Cultural Resources & Training (CCRT) is hosting a four-day cultural festival called ‘VIRASAT – Kamladevi’ to pay tribute to Smt. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, the founder and initial chairperson of CCRT. The event will take place from March 24 to 27, 2023, at CCRT Campus in Dwarka, New Delhi. Shri Rishi Vashist, the Director of CCRT, stated that VIRASAT is a way of honoring Smt. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay’s legacy, who continues to be an inspiration. He also emphasized the significance of the festival happening during what Prime Minister Modi referred to as the ‘Amrit Kaal’ – a time when progress and heritage should progress hand in hand. India’s amplified confidence on the global stage, evident in its role in the G20 and leadership in global affairs, reflects the right backdrop for this event. Vashist highlighted the potential of Indian culture to benefit the world community, encompassing ancient practices, wisdom, music, dance, wellness traditions, and spirituality. He saw VIRASAT as a step to reinforce India’s cultural prowess in this era of ‘Amrit Kaal.
Throughout the festival, six plays will be performed. The first day features ‘Pahatiya,’ directed by Dr. Yogendra Choubey of Natya Vibhag Rangmandal, Indira Kala Sangit Vishwavidyalaya. On the second day, ‘Ek Inspector Se Mulaqat,’ conceptualized and directed by Shri Sharad Sharma of Abhinav Rangmandal, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, will be staged. Day three will present ‘Sardar,’ directed by Shri Ramji Bali from Theatre Wala Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and ‘Sandhya Chhaya,’ directed by Shri Sudesh Sharma of Theatre for Theatre, Chandigarh. The final day will showcase two short plays from a Nagpur-based theater group: ‘Chidiya, Chhilke aur Sahgal,’ and ‘Bhatki Gazal,’ both directed by Dr. Vinod Narayan Indurkar of National Art & Craft Creator, Nagpur, Maharashtra.
The valedictory event, named “Siddhi Samaroh,” on Monday, March 27th, 2023, from 11 am to 01.00 pm at CCRT’s Bharatmuni Natyagriha, will be graced by the Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Culture & External Affairs, Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi, as the Chief Guest. She will inaugurate an exhibition featuring 30 paintings of women freedom fighters and unveil a statue of Smt. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay within CCRT Campus. Additionally, the event will include a Cultural Presentation by CCRT’s scholarship holders and children from Interpretation Centres in Varanasi and Amrit Camps, Udaipur. A special attraction will be a Ramp Walk featuring 35 women artists wearing their personally hand-painted sarees, a creative display from the Art Camp. The evening will witness the Ninth Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay Memorial Lecture, delivered by Prof. Shrinivasa Varakhedi, Vice Chancellor of Central Sanskrit University, Delhi, focusing on “Kala, Sanskriti Evam Sanskrit.” Eminent figures like Dr. Shripad Bhalchandra Joshi, the senior Marathi poet and playwriter, and Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary of IGNCA, will also address the audience.