A journey of imagination

SCIENCE RETOLD

Unscientific Storytelling, one of the events at the Yatre, was an unconventional theatre performance that aimed at creating a dialogue in science spaces as well as art spaces. Debates lingered on for an hour after the performance.

The concept, developed by Gauri Sanghi, Rajasee Ray and Deepak Srinivasan of Srishti School of Art Design and Technology, asked some fundamental questions like, ‘Is science politicised?’ While tracing the Indian scientific journey, were our scientists very largely influenced by their colonial baggage? And lastly needling on to the institutionalisation of our education system, ‘does our education system provide very few of those ‘Aha’ moments for a student stressing more on knowledge than imagination?’

The theatrical performance began with the demigods of science, Newton and Galileo, depicted in a more humane manner by etching fictional narratives of their life rather then their robotic rational selves as showcased in our textbooks. What followed was an experiment carried out by the team with government school kids in Madivala. It was showcased as short video clips interspersed between the play. A four-day workshop focussed on astronomy, highlighted how kids if taught with other tools can explore and ask questions that they otherwise would not have asked. “It was fascinating to see kids make some amazing connections and diverge on to topics like evolution,” said Deepak describing the experience.

After a humourous depiction of knowledge versus imagination, they traced the journey of three Indian scientists — P C Ray, Meghnad Saha and J C Bose and left the audience pondering if scientists in India were still rooted to their colonial past? It stirred a debate about the importance of teaching science in a regional language. After many valued suggestions, the play resumed to reach a strange ending with the moon exploding on screen.

Very abstract, with innovative depictions and video clips involving the interaction with kids in Madiwala, along with active participation from the audience made the ‘unscientific storytelling’ a very unique and intimate experience. As a play, it definitely tweaked one’s brain cells and has multiple points of connect for every age group. The Yatre also offers films on astronomy, lectures, workshops and sky-watching sessions.

The schedule is available at www.kalpaneyayatre.org