Statewide theatre campaign to connect youth with freedom struggle, heritage

Lucknow: To connect youngsters with India’s freedom movement, literary heritage and historical legacy, the UP govt will launch a statewide theatre campaign with plays based on freedom fighters, national icons and celebrated literary works.

The programme, being developed by Bhartendu Natya Academy, will take performances to schools, universities, museums, auditoriums, tourism centres, martyr memorials and heritage locations across all 75 districts.

Among the proposed plays are adaptations of "Anand Math" and "Maharaja Suheldev." Other plays will focus on figures and events such as Rani Lakshmibai, the Kakori movement, revolt of 1857, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Veer Savarkar and Bijli Pasi.

Stage productions are also planned around literary personalities including Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, Agyeya, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Munshi Premchand, Jaishankar Prasad, Suryakant Tripathi "Nirala" and Bharatendu Harishchandra.

Research, script development and artist selection will begin in June 2026, followed by rehearsals in July.

The first major staging is planned in Lucknow in Aug, after which performances will travel to educational institutions between Aug and Nov 2026, and then to historical and cultural sites across the state until Feb 2027.

The academy will invite theatre groups from UP and other states, with a selection process planned to shortlist 15-20 productions for the campaign.

Tourism and culture minister Jaiveer Singh said the initiative aims to create a deeper connection between youth and the personalities, ideas and events that shaped India.

"Through this statewide theatre campaign, we aim to take these stories beyond textbooks and bring them alive before students and youth," he said.

Director of BNA Bipin Kumar said, "This initiative will educate the young generation about their freedom fighters and heroes who shaped and transformed society through grit, courage and knowledge."