Remembering Gargi

The Sangeet Natak Akademi, Delhi, has decided to celebrate the 1st birth centenary of the legendary thespian Balwant Gargi in the region in a big way.

Gargi was not only one of the greatest Punjabi playwrights, but also a distinguished signatory in the world of Indian theatre and playwriting. He made an immense contribution to the academics of Indian theatre.

Gargi’s birth anniversary falls on December 4 but the Akademi is likely to celebrate it from November onward. A special meeting of the organizing committee instituted by Sangeet Natak Akademi was held in Chandigarh to chalk out the details of the celebrations.

Six national festivals shall be organised at Bathinda, Amritsar, Patiala, Jammu, Chandigarh and Delhi in which celebrated plays of Gargi will be staged.

Leading theatre directors are being invited to take part in the festival and they include Kewal Dhaliwal, Gurcharan Channi, Sudesh Sharma, Pali Bhupinder, Rani Balbir Kaur and Neena Tiwana. —TNS