Art is still an effective means to deliver a political message. With this aim in mind, a BJP inclined organisation is holding a theatre festival to fight “misconceptions” among the Dalits about the work done by the Modi government for them and in upholding the legacy of Dr BR Ambedkar.
The theatre festival competition will held in Delhi, ahead of the state elections, to woo the Dalits in the national capital as they comprise over 14 per cent of the population and hold sway in at least 12 assembly constituencies.
Entries are being invited for this festival on the theme - 'Ambedkar ke Vichar ko Poorn Karti Modi Sarkar' (Ambedkar’s ideals being fulfilled by Modi government). The selected entries will then be screened in Delhi around November 26, Constitution Day.
The choice of theme is important as the Modi government had been accused of wanting to change the Constitution and end the reservation policy. These accusations by the Opposition parties had gained traction during the Lok Sabha polls which then led to the ruling party suffering losses in Uttar Pradesh and other states. So, BJP-inclined organisations are trying to counter these allegations as the next round of polls ensues.
The festival will be organised by ‘Gyan’ an organisation which was set up to connect youth with the saffron party’s ideology. Initially, a group, Youth for BJP, was set up in 2009 to engage with the younger population, which then transformed into Gyan. Dr. Sumeet Bhasin, founding member of the GYAN Foundation, said after the initial presentation of selected plays in Delhi, some of the best ones could be taken to other parts of the country.
What is significant about the event is that the organisations with political intent are getting back to the traditional methods to engage with the younger population in the age of social media. Street theatre has been used by cadre-based parties particularly the Left to take their message to the people.
Bhasin who also helms, Public Policy Research Centre, a think tank formally started by the BJP in 2013, said it was the first time such a festival was being organised by any party in the country. “There are many misconceptions spread against the Modi government. Our aim is to provide a correct picture to the people. What is a better way than a theatre festival,” Bhasin said.
Bhasin said the theatre festival titled, Antyodaya Theatre Festival 2024, aims to highlight the various initiatives and policies of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government that resonate with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s core ideals of social justice, equality, and upliftment of the marginalized. “Through this theatre festival, the foundation is showcasing how these efforts have positively impacted society’s most vulnerable communities, emphasizing B.R Ambedkar’s dream of an inclusive India.”
The selected themes for the theatre festival include empowerment of marginalized communities, educational reforms, infrastructural development, digital India, social welfare schemes of the Centre.
A start is being made in Delhi to address the concerns of the Dalit community, if successful the experiment will be replicated in other states.
