Lucknow: Theatre practitioners, writers and cultural personalities paid tribute to Dr Sharad Nagar, a distinguished contributor to Hindi theatre, literature and culture, at a memorial evening organised at the UP Press Club on Sunday to mark his 89th birth anniversary. The programme, organised by the Lok Sanskriti Shodh Sansthan, featured personal recollections and discussions on his life and legacy. The organisers also announced plans to produce a documentary film on his personality and contributions.
Speakers described Sharad Nagar as a pioneer of Hindi theatre whose work helped strengthen the theatrical and literary traditions of the country.
Art connoisseur Ashok Banerjee highlighted Nagar’s role in identifying and promoting the observance of Hindi Theatre Day. He said Nagar’s efforts led to the tradition of celebrating the day on April 3 every year.
Amrendra Sahay recalled his association with Nagar after joining the Bharatendu Natya Akademi (BNA) in the 1980s. He said Nagar had sent him to Shahjahanpur, where he organised a workshop on the play Konark, an experience that remained an important part of his professional journey.
Dr S.K. Gopal, former editor of Chhayanat, underlined Nagar’s contribution not only to the development of Hindi theatre but also to the preservation and promotion of literary heritage. Through the collection, editing and publication of Amritlal Nagar’s literary works, Sharad Nagar helped preserve an important body of literature for future generations.
Richa Joshi, Sharad Nagar’s daughter and an adviser to the Sanchit Smriti Nyas, shared memories of her father and reflected on his multifaceted personality and creative pursuits.
The gathering also included theatre director Lalit Singh Pokhariya, Chitra Mohan, Munalshree Vikram Bisht, art critic Rajveer Ratan, cinematography expert Rakesh Sinha, Subhash Mishra, puppeteer Pradeep Tripathi, musician Asha Srivastava, Lok Sanskriti Shodh Sansthan secretary Dr Sudha Dwivedi, magician Suresh Kumar, Manu Rai, Dr Anil Gupta, Akhilesh Dwivedi, Sushil Chandra Srivastava, Tarun Kumar, Rajendra Verma, Milan Yadav, Narendra Panjwani, Narendra Verma, Dr Apoorva Awasthi and Sonal Thakur.
Participants shared their experiences and recollections of Sharad Nagar, recalling his enduring influence on theatre, literature and the wider cultural landscape. The proposed documentary is expected to help preserve his life story and contributions for future generations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=RtToJsBhYBatUrym&v=mOuYNSdhjHA&feature=youtu.be
