Mohd. Yaseen
yaseensalaria@gmail.com)
In a city embraced by mountains, layered with history, and overflowing with untold stories, a quiet theatrical spark was ignited in 1990, a spark that would eventually illuminate the lives of thousands of children and transform Jammu into one of India’s most vibrant internationally recognised centres of Children’s Theatre. What began as a modest summer theatre camp conceptualised and organised by Balwant Thakur and his institution Natrang gradually evolved into a cultural movement of national and international significance, redefining the relationship between childhood, creativity, education, and performance.
For Balwant Thakur, theatre was never merely entertainment. It was a mission, a visionary attempt to revolutionise the intellectual and cultural life of Jammu through artistic innovation, especially by empowering children. At a time when opportunities for creative expression were limited, he imagined a new-age theatre movement that could nurture imagination, critical thinking, communication skills, emotional intelligence, and social awareness among young minds. His dream was not only to create actors, but to shape confident, culturally rooted, intellectually vibrant citizens capable of transforming society itself.
The first Children’s Summer Theatre Camp conducted by Natrang in Jammu became the foundation of this extraordinary vision. More than a workshop, it marked the beginning of an artistic and educational revolution. The camp culminated in the landmark production “Mere Hisse Ki Dhoop Kahan Hai”, a play that went on to become one of the longest-running children’s productions in India. The overwhelming response to the production opened entirely new horizons for Children’s Theatre in the region and established a strong foundation upon which an unprecedented movement would continue to flourish for decades.
As Balwant Thakur’s vision expanded, the voices of young performers from Jammu began resonating far beyond the region. In a pioneering achievement, Natrang became the first theatre group in India to undertake extensive nationwide tours with child actors, presenting productions in major cultural centres including Mumbai, Goa, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, and Delhi. Through every performance, these young artists carried the spirit, creativity, and artistic energy of Jammu onto prestigious stages across the country, firmly establishing the city as a leading destination for Children’s Theatre in India.
What distinguished this movement was its constant innovation. Balwant Thakur believed that children’s theatre needed to evolve beyond conventional methods and become a dynamic tool for personality development and intellectual growth. Determined to modernise theatre education, he travelled extensively to leading centres of Children’s Theatre in the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Italy, China, and Singapore. These international engagements exposed him to contemporary theatre pedagogies, creative learning techniques, theatre games, improvisational exercises, and innovative training methodologies, all of which he carefully adapted for the children of Jammu.
Under his leadership, Natrang gradually evolved a completely new-age theatre culture, one where theatre became a laboratory of imagination, self-discovery, and holistic education. Rehearsal spaces transformed into classrooms of creativity where children learned to think independently, communicate fearlessly, collaborate meaningfully, and empathise deeply with others. Through theatre exercises, storytelling, movement, music, improvisation, and performance, children developed discipline, leadership, emotional maturity, and confidence. The stage became a transformative space where young minds learned not only how to perform, but how to grow socially, intellectually, emotionally, and culturally.
As the movement gathered momentum, Natrang’s productions earned recognition at some of India’s most prestigious theatre festivals. Acclaimed productions such as “Mere Hisse Ki Dhoop Kahan Hai”, “Ek Tha Gadha”, and “Aap Hamaare Hain Kaun” became celebrated attractions at Jashan-e-Bachpan, the renowned Children’s Theatre Festival organised by the National School of Drama. These performances brought immense pride to Jammu and Kashmir and demonstrated the remarkable creative potential emerging from the region.
Over the course of 36 remarkable years, more than 5,000 children have undergone professional theatre training through Natrang’s workshops, productions, and camps. This extraordinary movement was strengthened by the tireless dedication of theatre practitioners including Sumeet Sharma, Neeraj Kant, Anil Tickoo, Sanjeev Gupta, and Gauri Thakur, all of whom devoted themselves to nurturing young talent and building a sustainable theatre culture for children.
Natrang further enriched this movement through collaborations with the Sangeet Natak Akademi and the National School of Drama, inviting some of India’s finest theatre professionals to Jammu. Among the distinguished personalities associated with this journey was legendary theatre mentor Barry John, whose guidance helped cultivate a highly skilled and deeply committed theatre team dedicated to children’s performance and training.
The impact of this movement has been historic. More than 50 young artists associated with Natrang have received National Scholarships from the Government of India in theatre, an achievement unparalleled in the region. One of the brightest success stories to emerge from this movement is Vrinda Gujral, who brought national recognition to Jammu after winning the prestigious Sony Television reality show “Sab Se Bada Kalakaar” against participants from across India.
The year 2026 marks the 26th edition of Natrang’s Summer Children’s Theatre Camp, a milestone reflecting extraordinary perseverance, artistic commitment, and cultural dedication sustained over more than three decades. A major role in carrying this legacy forward has been played by Sumeet Sharma, National Award-winning theatre artist and head of Natrang’s Children and Youth Wing, who holds the distinction of conducting 20 production-oriented theatre camps for children. Alongside him, artists including Neeraj Kant, Gauri Thakur, Mohit Sharma, Rohit Verma, Rahul Singh, Mohd. Yaseen, Karanpreet Kaur, and Palshin Dutta continue to strengthen and expand this inspiring cultural mission.
Perhaps the most emotional chapter of this journey is the emergence of a second generation of participants. Many children who once attended Natrang’s theatre camps are today returning as parents, bringing their own children to experience the same magical world of theatre that shaped their lives years earlier. This rare intergenerational continuity reflects the extraordinary trust, credibility, and emotional connection that Natrang has built over the past 36 years.
Throughout its remarkable journey, Natrang has also contributed significantly to the development of Children’s Theatre by creating more than 35 original scripts, innovative theatre exercises, creative games, and experimental methodologies specially designed for young performers. These contributions enriched not only theatre in Jammu but also the broader landscape of theatre education in India.
Natrang’s achievements eventually crossed national borders when Balwant Thakur’s celebrated production “Aap Hamaare Hain Kaun” was translated into English, French, and Creole and staged internationally. Such accomplishments brought global recognition to Jammu’s Children’s Theatre movement and established it as a meaningful contributor to international theatre culture.
Reflecting upon his vision, Balwant Thakur once observed:
“If we truly want Jammu to grow culturally, intellectually, and educationally, it is essential that our children are introduced to the magical art of theatre. Even if every child does not get an opportunity to perform on stage, they must at least experience live theatre performances. Theatre has the power to transform personalities, develop creativity, improve communication, and build confidence. It empowers children socially, culturally, emotionally, and intellectually, helping them excel in every sphere of life.”
Today, after 36 glorious years, Natrang’s Children’s Theatre movement stands as a shining example of the transformative power of art. What began as a humble initiative in 1990 has evolved into a nationwide and internationally recognised cultural phenomenon, a movement driven by Balwant Thakur’s extraordinary dream of revolutionising the intellectual life of Jammu through theatre and creative innovation.
In this new-age theatre movement, every rehearsal becomes discovery, every performance becomes celebration, and every child who steps onto the stage begins a lifelong journey of imagination, confidence, creativity, and awakening. Jammu’s Children’s Theatre revolution is no longer merely a cultural initiative; it is a living testament to how visionary art can transform an entire society from within.
(The writer is a National Scholarship and Fellowship Holder from Ministry of Culture, Government of India)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
