Bareilly: A key meeting to review and expand the activities of the Pt. Radheyshyam Kathavachak Research Chair was held at Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University under the guidance of Vice-Chancellor Prof KP Singh. The meeting focused on outlining academic, literary, and cultural programmes for the upcoming academic session.
The newly appointed coordinator Prof Anita Tyagi chaired the meeting, holding detailed discussions with co-coordinators on future initiatives. Emphasising a proactive approach, the Vice-Chancellor stated that the research chair should evolve into a dynamic platform that reaches a wider audience rather than remaining a formal entity.
As part of efforts to strengthen its functioning, the research chair has been allocated a dedicated space within the university’s Training and Placement Cell building. This facility will serve as a hub for seminars, lectures, research discussions, and cultural activities. It will also house literary and research materials provided by Sharda Bhargava, granddaughter of Pt. Radheyshyam Kathavachak, for use by students and scholars.
The meeting highlighted the need to promote the literary, cultural, and theatrical contributions of Pt Radheyshyam Kathavachak among younger generations through regular academic engagement.
Key decisions taken during the meeting include:
- 62nd Death Anniversary (August 26, 2026): To be organised as a state-level event featuring literary discussions, memorial lectures, and cultural performances with participation from scholars and theatre artists.
- Birth Anniversary (November 25, 2026): To include literary and cultural programmes, with special focus on staging plays written by the noted playwright to promote Hindi theatre traditions.
- National Seminar (Mid-July 2026): A one-day national seminar will be organized, bringing together experts from across the country to discuss Kathavachak’s literary and theatrical legacy.
The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the Vice-Chancellor for his continued support in revitalising the research chair. Faculty members, including co-coordinators Dr Ajit Singh and Dr Abha Trivedi, along with other teachers, were present.
Officials expressed confidence that the planned initiatives will help transform the research chair into a vibrant academic centre and promote deeper engagement with India’s literary and theatrical heritage.
Reported by Akhilesh Chandra Saxena, Bareilly
