Prayagraj: “In Bengal, drama is not just a medium of entertainment, but an integral part of culture, society, and life. Kolkata still has more than 25 active theaters where theatrical performances are held daily, and the audience’s enthusiasm is as strong as that of the performers,” said senior theater personality, academician, and theater thinker, Professor Asim Mukherjee. In the dialogue series ‘Vimarsh’ organized by North Central Zone Cultural Centre, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, the program was inaugurated by lighting the lamp by the keynote speaker Prof. Asim Mukherjee and Centre Deputy Director Dr. Mukesh Upadhyay and Ms. Sushma Sharma.

Prof. Mukherjee said that Bengal’s theatre has its roots in the folk tales of ancestors, “Poto-Shilpa,” kirtan, and the folk theatre form “Jatra.” He explained that Jatra was a form of open-air theatre where performers could reach thousands of audiences without the use of microphones. He said that the Bharatiya Jan Natya Sangh and plays like “Neel Darpan” made theatre a powerful medium for social change and public awakening. He also highlighted the contributions of Utpal Dutt, Shambhu Mitra, Salil Chowdhury, and the legendary pantomime artist Yogesh Dutta.

Sharing his experiences, he explained that Gwalior’s 117-year-old Bengali school and Kalibari still keep this cultural heritage alive. He added that despite technological changes, theatre will never lose its relevance because the power of direct communication between artist and audience is unmatched by any other medium. At the end of the program, Dr. Mukesh Upadhyay honored Professor Asim Mukherjee with a robe and a plant. Numerous figures from the arts, literature, and theater were present.