Narayanpur: Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district is using art, theatre and folk traditions to promote peace, social awareness and development in the Bastar region through the Narayanpur Institute of Tribal and Rural Art (NITARA).
Launched by the district administration, the initiative brings together local youth, tribal artists and surrendered Naxals. The programme aims to preserve and promote the region’s rich cultural heritage while helping people who have returned to mainstream society build new skills and opportunities.
Abujhmad, an area that was previously associated with Naxal violence, is now being presented as a platform for cultural expression, peace and social change through the initiative.
NITARA Brings Surrendered Naxals and Local Youth Together
NITARA was established with the objective of giving Narayanpur’s traditional art and culture a wider platform.
As part of the programme, 18 surrendered Naxals joined local youth and artists for theatre and folk-art training. The initiative provides participants with an opportunity to develop artistic skills while using cultural performances to communicate messages about education, development and government programmes.
Narayanpur Collector Namrata Jain said Abujhmad has been known for centuries for its distinctive folk art, folk songs and traditions.
She said the district administration launched NITARA to bring this cultural heritage to national recognition while involving both local artists and surrendered Naxals.
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NSD Experts Conduct 30-Day Theatre Training
The programme was conducted in collaboration with the National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi.
Experts from NSD provided participants with a 30-day training programme covering different aspects of theatre and folk performance.
The training included:
- Acting skills
- Dialogue delivery
- Stage management
- Expression and presentation
- Theatre performance
- Folk art
The training helped participants develop professional performance skills and prepared them to use theatre as a medium for communicating social messages.
‘Chanda Aur Chakor’ Takes Development Messages to Villages
Following the training, the participants created a theatre production titled ‘Chanda Aur Chakor’.
The play is now being performed in villages across the region and combines Bastar’s traditional culture with messages about social development.
The performance highlights:
- Bastar’s traditional culture
- Local wedding customs
- Folk music
- Education
- Government welfare schemes
- Gram Sabha participation
- Development and social awareness
The production is intended to serve both as entertainment and as a medium for communicating messages related to peace, development and community participation.
The theatre group is touring villages to promote awareness while showcasing Bastar’s cultural identity.
Collector Highlights Bastar’s Cultural Heritage
Collector Namrata Jain said NITARA is intended to provide a national platform for the art and culture of Narayanpur.
She noted that the collaboration with NSD brought together 18 surrendered Naxals and local youth, eventually resulting in the creation of ‘Chanda Aur Chakor’.
According to the district administration, the initiative demonstrates how traditional art can be used to support social transformation while preserving the cultural identity of the region.
Surrendered Naxals Find New Role Through Theatre
For several surrendered Naxals involved in NITARA, the programme has provided an opportunity to use skills from their earlier association with cultural groups in a different way.
Lalu Venjam, a surrendered Naxal participating in the initiative, said he had previously been associated with the Maoist organisation before returning to mainstream society.
He said he had never imagined becoming part of a cultural troupe and is now involved in performances that communicate messages about development, education and awareness in villages.
Another participant, Kesari Gawde, said he joined the Naxal movement in 2002 and left it in 2025. Through NITARA, he learned acting and participated in performances of ‘Chanda Aur Chakor’, including a performance before the Chief Minister.
Gawde said the programme helped him learn new skills and gave him an opportunity to communicate positive messages to people through art.
Theatre Training Helps Former Cultural Performers Rebuild Their Careers
Setupadda, another surrendered Naxal who was formerly associated with the Chetna Natya Mandali, also received theatre training through NITARA after returning to mainstream society.
Having previously performed within the organisation, he is now using theatre to support community awareness and communicate information about government schemes.
The district administration sees such participation as an important part of the broader effort to help surrendered individuals reconnect with mainstream society through constructive and creative activities.
Local Youth Participate in Cultural Transformation
NITARA has also created opportunities for local youth to participate in theatre and cultural activities.
Kaneshwari, who plays the lead character of Chanda in ‘Chanda Aur Chakor’, said the month-long training helped improve her acting abilities. She also expressed her willingness to participate in similar programmes in the future and use theatre as a means of contributing to social change.
NITARA Links Culture With Peace and Development
The Narayanpur administration is positioning NITARA as more than a cultural programme. It seeks to combine tribal heritage, skill development, social awareness and community participation. Through theatre and folk art, the initiative is bringing development-related messages directly to villages while giving local artists and surrendered Naxals a platform to contribute to society.
The transformation of Abujhmad from an area associated with conflict into a platform for cultural activities reflects the administration’s broader effort to promote peace, development and Bastar’s unique cultural identity.
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