Lucknow: From the dramatic art of storytelling to the workshops of singing songs through poetry, the children were introduced to a unique dimension of creativity. Through the films screened at the Children’s Film Festival, the audience understood the importance of environment and water conservation.
Workshop on storytelling through acting
The second day of the Gomti Book Festival began with the first session ‘Role Play: Learn and Act’ organised at Shabd Sansaar. Muskan Sharma taught children to express different types of emotions on the stage of Shabd Sansaar. She focused the attention of the children towards her through different types of clapping and explained to the children about the ups and downs of words and sounds through words like ‘Hi, Hello’. Along with this, many interesting activities were conducted with the children. Interesting information about acting was provided to the children. Journey from poem to song
In the second session organized on the stage of Shabd Sansar, Chinmay Tripathi and Joel explained the importance of poems to the children. They told that poetry recitation not only develops our intellectual development but also social development. Chinmay also told the children how we can sing poems by adopting the rhythm and beat of them. Along with this, he gave the children two lines ‘Chalte Jana, Chalte Jana, Zindagi To Hai Bahana’ and gave the children the next two lines to add. The children gave their own feelings a form of poetry and Chinmay mesmerized the children by presenting the lines of the poem given by the children ‘Chalte Jana, Chalte Jana, Zindagi To Hai Bahana, Apni Masti Mein Hai Jeena, Aage Kya Ho Kisne Jana’ in the form of a song.
Mythological stories and literary creativity
Three sessions were organized today in Lekhak Ganj. In the first session, famous writer, novelist, columnist, screenwriter Anand Neelkanthan spoke in detail on mythological stories and spoke in detail on the experiments done with mythological stories. Anand Neelkantan Ji told that in film or screen writing, one has to write according to the audience and director and in novels, the writer writes according to his own understanding.
Along with this, he also told how Ramayana is presented according to the cultures of different countries. There is a lot of scope for literary creativity in this mythological story. This session was conducted by playwright, poet, essayist and critic Professor R.P. Singh.
The second session organized on the stage of Lekhak Ganj was on the completion of 25 years of Kargil Vijay Diwas in which Rishi Raj, Joint General Manager in Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and author of the book ‘Kargil-Ek Yatri Ki Jubani’ was the keynote speaker. Captain Shatrughan Singh, ‘Vir Chakra’, a soldier who fought in the Kargil war, was also present in this session. Rishi Raj told many other facts related to the Kargil war, such as how our soldiers proved wrong the misleading claims made by Pakistan. Along with this, Rishi ji appealed to the whole of Lucknow that the spirit of patriotism should always remain in the country.
Shatrughan ji also shared his experiences with the audience and told how he showed bravery in the Kargil war and despite being shot three times, when everyone declared him martyr, he returned after several days with some important information, preserving the passion of protecting Mother India within him.
The third session of Lekhak Ganj was based on the cultural-creative relations of Lucknow, a city situated on the banks of Gomti. In this session, two speakers Dr. Smriti Saraswat and Vipul Varshney shared their views. The author of this session is Chander Prakash ji, who is a well-known name of the city.
Dr. Smriti Saraswat, while discussing the cultural and creative industry, spoke in detail about the language, cuisine, bone carving, clothing, monuments etc. of Lucknow.
Vipul ji, while talking about the rich architecture of Lucknow, told that the Imambaras and other monuments found here are very special in themselves. The plaster work on these buildings is excellent and different and the reason for this is the work of flowers and writings made in them. Geometrically also it is a very excellent monument.
In the evening, as part of the cultural program in the book festival, a beautiful performance was given by Yugam Band.
Children’s Film Festival was the center of attraction
On the second day of Gomti Book Festival, from 11 am to 1 pm, children were shown entertaining and informative films in the Children’s Film Festival. Children were introduced to topics like nature, friendship and health through films like Agastya, Granny Green Thumbs, My Lockdown Guest, KaiNattu, The Apple, Cracked.
ISRO’s Photo Exhibition
In Gomti Book Festival, ISRO’s photo exhibition was organized showing India’s achievements in the space world. In this beautiful and attractive photo exhibition titled ‘ISRO’s Photo Exhibition Showing New Possibilities’, detailed information was given on space launch vehicles Geostationary Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). ISRO’s future missions like Aditya L-1 and Gaganyaan missions have also been highlighted in detail in this exhibition.
Book launch
Many books were launched at the book festival on Sunday. The readers’ eagerness for new books was also visible at the festival. Many senior litterateurs visited the Gomti Book Festival, including Dr. Hariom, Dr. Rakesh Tiwari, Om Nischal, J.P. Dwivedi, etc.
In the Children’s Film Festival, award winning films made in Iran, Spain, India, Italy will be shown. In the evening, in the cultural program, the students of Lucknow University will stage the play ‘Mughal Parivesh’.
Book Festival is important for both readers and publishers
Rakesh Sinha of Vani Prakashan said that “By organizing such book festivals, readers get an opportunity to come face to face with books. Going to book shops does not give the same feeling as coming to a book fair. Many times new editions of books also come in the book festival.”
Karan ji of Yashika Enterprises said that “The experience of a book festival is good. In such an event, readers and writers can also get the experience of talking to each other face to face.”
Publications on various subjects like environment, science, religion, art, literature attracted readers in the Gomti Book Festival. As a special attraction at the stall of Lalit Kala Academy, sets of prints of paintings displayed in Rashtrapati Bhavan are kept. Each set titled ‘Company Paintings in Rashtrapati Bhavan’ and ‘Select Paintings of Rashtrapati Bhavan’ can be purchased at a price of Rs 750.
Tomorrow’s Attraction
On November 11, 2024, Shabd Sansaar will organize interesting sessions for students at Gomti Book Festival. Anita Bhatnagar Jain will narrate interesting stories to children in the Saath Saath Padhe: Kahani Suna and Tell session. Ambalika Bhat will talk about the revolutionaries of the freedom struggle about whom not much has been written. Seema Vahi will teach puppetry to children in the last session of Shabd Sansaar. Lekhak Ganj will host three sessions on Media and Society, Compelling Stories for the Screen and Through the Lens of Art and Poetry: Edward Lear in Lucknow and Tennyson’s ‘The Siege of Lucknow’.
