Row over name of drama school in Lakhimpur

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: There has been a widespread reaction in Lakhimpur regarding the use of the name 'Nata Sainik' by a school of drama which recently came into being in Nagaon.

Reacting over the issue through a press release, the president, working president and the secretary of Nata Sainik, which is an institution in Lakhimpur established for the development of drama along with other cultural activities, called upon the authorities of the Nagaon-based institution to withdraw the name soon.

In the press release, Nata Sainik president Ghana Dutta, working president Atul Dutta and secretary Amanul Hussain said, "The drama-related activities conducted by the leading institution, Nata Sainik have been known to the State since 1988. The institution, which was founded by nationally acclaimed dramatist Ali Haidor, has produced drama, organized workshops on drama, drama festivals and conducted many other cultural activities. Publication of drama magazine, foundation of school of drama, experiments on drama along with the staging of both traditional and modern scripts, were rendered since the time when Ali Haidor was alive and the registration of the institution was done following the ideology of the dramatist. Under such circumstances, the use of the name Nata Sainik by a school of drama in Nagaon has come to the notice of the executive body of Nata Sainik, Lakhimpur."

Though the dignitaries of the institution welcomed the emergence of the new school, they called upon its organizers to remove the name soon so that misunderstanding could be avoided in future as sentiments related to the ideology and works of Ali Haidor was associated with it.

Also read: Assam news