Acting out a safer place for women
9 March 2013 11:54 PM GMT
'It will make more sense to celebrate International Women's Day when the nation becomes a safer place for the fairer sex', said Rahul Khanna, a theatre actor who is part of a group called 'Asmita', and who also teaches drama at a city school. ‘Men need to change for real change to happen in society,’ he added.
Schools in the national capital such as Rukmani Devi Public School, Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan and St. Mark's Meera Bagh embraced theatre as a means to educate and create an awareness in society. The programme, termed ‘Power to Change’ has been initiated by imminent theatre actor Arvind Gaur. Rahul, one of Gaur’s students, is working with him on the project that aims to make people aware of the need to respect women.
School students from classes V to XII who are part of this project have been performing stage and street plays across the city to create an awareness about crimes against women in the aftermath of the brutal gang rape in the capital on 16 December, which shook the collective conscience of the city. Non-teaching staff from participating schools, including drivers and conductors of buses, have also been roped in as a part of the project. 'We don't have to wait for expensive equipments and facilities. The students just need a chance to express their thoughts,’ he said. Not just theatre, the programme involves other forms of performing and fine arts, and addresses subjects like female foeticide, gender bias, child abuse, and women empowerment.
Action has to start at the individual level. If every individual does his bit to respect women, it can lead to a big change in society,’ said a student.
Schools in the national capital such as Rukmani Devi Public School, Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan and St. Mark's Meera Bagh embraced theatre as a means to educate and create an awareness in society. The programme, termed ‘Power to Change’ has been initiated by imminent theatre actor Arvind Gaur. Rahul, one of Gaur’s students, is working with him on the project that aims to make people aware of the need to respect women.
School students from classes V to XII who are part of this project have been performing stage and street plays across the city to create an awareness about crimes against women in the aftermath of the brutal gang rape in the capital on 16 December, which shook the collective conscience of the city. Non-teaching staff from participating schools, including drivers and conductors of buses, have also been roped in as a part of the project. 'We don't have to wait for expensive equipments and facilities. The students just need a chance to express their thoughts,’ he said. Not just theatre, the programme involves other forms of performing and fine arts, and addresses subjects like female foeticide, gender bias, child abuse, and women empowerment.
Action has to start at the individual level. If every individual does his bit to respect women, it can lead to a big change in society,’ said a student.
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