Showcasing inclusiveness

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An international festival that showcased the artistic talent of the disabled in New Delhi

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A festival held in New Delhi this past week yet again proved that if given a chance, people with disabilities can do wonders. Sambhav 2014, organised by Delhi-based NGO Association for Learning Performing Arts & Normative Action (ALPANA), showcased the artistic talent of physically and mentally challenged artistes from 16 countries including India. The three-day festival that ended at the India International Centre this past Sunday, concluded in the weekend of 14, 15 & 16 November 2014 at India International Centre, also included events like an international seminar on “Challenges of working with persons with disability for inclusive growth with special focus on inclusive arts” and a forum for international cooperation to advance the rights of persons with disability besides hosting an exhibition of paintings, sculptures and artefacts made by challenged artists, performances by them from different countries, also a yoga workshop for all the participants including challenged artists from different countries.




Physically challenged artists performing at the SAMBHAV 2014 in New Delhi where participants from 31 countries took part.

The annual festival, on its eight edition now, is organised with “the objectives of Sambhav or possibility to promote inclusive growth and be a catalyst in fulfilling commitments of the global society towards persons with disability.” According to ALPANA, “It is also to showcase inclusiveness of Indian society, to empower challenged persons, particularly artists, through development of skills and enhancement of creativity in various fields of arts and to work towards sharing of ideas, knowledge, achievements and experiences through sustainable interactions among different stakeholders.”

It began with a video message by president Pranab Mukherjee.

According to a media note, “SAMBHAV 2014 set a landmark by providing a platform, where three Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) were signed between ALPANA Society and the representatives of organisations from Mauritius, Myanmar, Russia and South Africa who have been working for inclusive growth of mentally and physically challenged persons through performing arts. The objective of these MoUs was to share the experience in the field for mutual benefit and to provide such platforms in the countries of the signatories to stage similar participative efforts. The MoU signing ceremony was chaired by Ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan.”



Source : The Hindu , 19th Nov 2014