'Natya' means theatre and 'Chetana' means to make the people conscious. Natya Chetana, as an organization was conceptualized by combining these two aspects of human life to arouse human cum social consciousness to fight pervading evils in the society through theatrical medium with a philosophical belief ' live together, plan together and work together.' The beginning was humble and modest. All that Natya Chetana had at this stage was an open air, temporary space to rehearse, then a small rented house in Bhubaneswar. Young and energetic artists with creative mind and indomitable voluntary spirit were the only principal asset. They thought to lead community life in a simplest way. However, this commune grew slowly in the beginning which could out-grow the size of the establishment. Subodh (Founder Director, Natya Chetana) being a visionary, visualized that each member of Natya Chetana may marry one day and raise a family within this bigger family. In such a scenario the available space will be insufficient to hold all of them under one roof. Eventually, the rented building was found too small to accommodate complex households of such players. The cry for bigger space in Bhubaneswar was felt but acquiring such a facility was not possible. The impending future and compelling situation led to an idea to have a piece of land in Bhubaneswar to set up a dream village with an expectation by getting it from the State Government. This did not materialize. However, a patch of barren private land measuring about 2 hectare near to Khurda Town was located in 1990 and later purchased out of own resources. The place was lonely and away from madding crowd but now humming with activities of Natya Chetana and getting crowded slowly but steadily.

THE PLAN AS IN 1991

The thought of living, planning and working together was the core objective of Natya Chetana to imbibe a spirit of togetherness amongst the inmates and to lead a vibrant community life as a model for others. Accordingly a master plan was deviced to demarcate the new site into different portions to fulfill the objectives and accommodate theatre related activities. To carry on such activities in this village premises within following units.

1. Natya Ashram: a residential training complex
2. Natya Gyan: a documentation unit
3. Natya Mandap: a stage for theatre performances
4. Natyashala: a place for theatre repertory
5. Nata Hata: a market of theater related materials and publications
6. Natya Lipi: a publication house
7. Natya Nivas: a complex to stay together by Natya Chetana full timers with families
8. Natya Chetana: the coordination unit of the village

All these when in place shall be a platform for renaissance of theatre and progressive life-style.

EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE

The land remained fallow until Natya Chetana was ready to invest own resources, which was almost a trickle. Therefore, each passing year Natya Chetana put up structures in a phased manner. At first money went to develop a small cottage, then a wire fencing around the area, a circular hall to practice theatre, a hostel with two rooms, few toilets and a well. The complex, sadly enough, was hit by super cyclone in October, 1999 and severely damaged. Natya Chetana also received a grant from NORAD (Royal Norwegian Embassy) to build a concrete building for multipurpose use. We have that structure now for immediate rescue and shelter. But it is designed primarily to establish a museum of folk musical instruments of Odisha. Towards the end of 2002 we had our Natya Gyan (the documentation unit.)

Museum of Musical Instruments: There are 30 folk musical instruments along with photos, books, posters and some selective costumes or properties as exhibits for public viewing. Subsequently we got individual donations from our international friends with which we could repair the damaged Natya Ashram. There is a storeroom and a kitchen added to it. The dinning space on the top of it is yet to be completed. Later on we gradually built the coordination Centre of the theatre village where we would sit for planning together. This complex will be known as Natya Chetana. By the end of December 2004, we used our savings for beginning the construction of residential complex, named Natya Nivas. The core structure has been started, but the main living space for 20 families is yet to come up.

The barren land in 1990 the first Theatre Workshop putting up tents.

There has been a feeling of need to have a Reception Centre during any kind of event when many guests and participants take part. So a temporary reception house used to be built and now it is concretised.

In 2005 January, we organized the 10th People's Theatre Festival, the temporary stage has been replaced by a permanent stage with a dimension of 30'x40' Natya Mandap, as it is called, has been inspired by the design of Classical Indian Theatre mentioned in Natya Shastra (the only theatre guide book written in 300 BC) by having two exit gates in the rear for back stage and green room. There is an area ear marked for Theatre Market (Nata Hata) in the campus, which becomes active during People's Theatre Festival every year. The idea is to facilitate availability of theater related
materials and books in this market. It is designed like a rural weekly market. The Campus has rural pathways, bushes, some trees and a pond which gets filled up in monsoon season. Natya Chetana has resolved not to construct high rising buildings in Natya Gram beyond two storied structures.

DISCIPLINE MAJORS

The campus is free from “smoking”, any kind of “Tobacco Use”, “Alcohol” and “Tea”. (We neither take nor offer tea / coffee. It is a practice since 1987, when we Supported a movement against Tea Companies for which tribal people had to be displaced. Also tea bags were being seized which were injected with slow dose of drugs. Rather during winter or when we feel like, take and offer a hot drink named “Pancharasa”, prepared with five natural / herbal elements. People do like it and many times shift to this practice.)

The campus is not to be treated as a free public place for entering intoit at any time, rather invites people in general during usual visitinghours anticipated by family.The Campus is looking forward to develop a commune living spiritcarrying cultural gestures and traditional rituals with friendlyrelationship.It abhors cultural practices which have an instrumental capacity tohamper the ventilation of Indian culture and self-dignity.

MAJOR ACTIVITIES HERE – NOW

Training: All Natya Chetana's Training activities are being organizedunless until it is so required to have a camp elsewhere. This is used to belonger duration camps for learners to each batch.Seminar and Exchange Meet: Natya Chetana hosts or organizesseminar and exchange meetings here. These are short durationactivities.

 

People’s Theatre

Festival: Usually all villages have a special event of their own. Likewise “Lok Natya Mela” organized by us, as an annual event, has become very popular event now in the locality. A large gathering from cities, towns, other villages and even from abroad meet each other. There used to be solo and group performances, theatre workshops, seminars and theatre market during the festival. This is an event of 5 to 7 days duration.

HOW TO REACH

Natya Gram is easily reachable from Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha and Khurda, the district headquarter. Bhubaneswar is well connected by air and rail with major metropolis and is situated about 35 kms. From Natya Gram near Shialia village. It is only 5 kms. From Khurda Town, which is connected by National Highway No. 5 from Bhubaneswar towards South. The nearest Railway station is Khurda Road Junction about 15 kms. away. When travelling by bus one may get down either at “old bus stand” or “new bus stand” at Khurda. It is preferable to travel from the bus stand in an “auto rickshaw” with an instruction to the driver to drop you at Natya Gram, near Shialia Village on the way to “Anda Bajapur”. If travelling in own car/hired transport it is always better to come from Bhubaneswar on the NH-5 upto Khurda Collectorate Chowk and then taking a left turn towards “Anda Bajapur” crossing about 2 kms, after the approach road to Barunei Hill (Temple). Natya Gram is behind the well-known Barunei Hill Range (a mountain of Herbal Plants and was a junction of freedom fighters of India).

Address: NATYAGRAM, Chadakamara Padia, Near Sialia Village, PO: Daleiput, Dist-Khurda, Odisha, India, Pin-752056