Small, but a wave, of change
After the performance of "You Discriminate" at Seva Cafe, a young woman in her mid-twenties from Kerela walked up to me and talked about all her sufferings even though she hails from an affluent family. She said that she had never opened up about her life before this, but now, she will. As its owner, I had never been more proud of Akshat for waking courage in a heart.
Gagan Sethi, owner of Janvikas, Conflictorium, Center for Social Justice & Nyayika cried & hugged the artist (statue) when he saw him in his statue form in "Everything is Untouchable".
The street children of Mirzapur cried and confessed their bad habits and vowed to never repeat them again during "Pankhi-Mujhe udne to do". Few promised to never gamble again, one of them got the guts to confess that he commented on a girl of his age that he'll make her pregnant at the age of 10!
Such were the experiences which moved us, gave us a reason for why we should continue.
Akshat Drama Group does not believe in doing a job & leaving. We created a theatre group "Pankhi" for the street children of Mirzapur which they may use as a means to create an identity for themselves.
I posed for a bare back photograph for “Everything is Untouchable” exhibition which has been my biggest confidence booster in life, for if I myself don’t believe in the cause, there was no point in doing an entire exhibition on it.
Everything Is Untouchable
A live exhibition created to express the hypocrite thought process prevalent in society & instead of presenting history, we chose to showcase live incidences including the Delhi gang Rape, my brother’s accident wherein no one standing there was ready to touch his mutilated leg & yet could talk about him hopefully reaching the hospital, a cartoon comic video with an educated professor pushing away a poor man because he accidently touched his hand & washing it in front of him. The tour of the exhibition ends with a choice, to accept the truth & hang the live statue to death or accept him, a man dripping with blood & gore.
Pankhi
Mujhe udne to do
A theatre group formed by Akshat for the street kids of Mirzapur, to give them a platform to develop, channelize their energies from gambling to acting, to make them a better person because all they need is a chance. It was a 3 month workshop including street plays, expert guidance, documentary filming the experience felt by the kids & a grand finale performance.
You Discriminate
Education starts at home, so does discrimination
A blend of forum theatre and street play, the 15 minute play turned into an hour long debate and passionate participation from the audience at Seva Café & conflictorium. The play focused on discrimination inside the home for improving the roots is better than colouring the leaves.
Kathputli ka Khel
Designed to promote the art of story-telling & lost tales of India, this performance was covered by Ahmedabad Mirror & Divya Bhaskar.
Chotu Chaiwala
Because the dream never dies
Venturing into short movie production with a story which ventures deep into education & human perspective, the campaign began with screening across 10 cafes & 1 digital outlet in Ahmedabad.
