A thought for forests and nature

KOCHI:  To propagate the message of nature conservation, ‘Mazhavillu’, a children’s theatre group,  will showcase its new play   ‘Chipko Chipko’ on July 24. Organised by  Lokadharmi and Changampuzha Cultural Trust the play will be staged in Changampuzha Park, Edappally, at 6 pm.  Based on this year’s World Environment Day message — Forest, Nature at your service, the play was developed by the students during the summer camp. “The play is based on the lives of the 363 Bishnoi women who sacrificed their lives to protect trees in 1773. “This is an attempt to make children aware of our culture as well as social realities that exist in our society,” said Shirly Somasundaran, director of ‘Chipko Chipko’.  The protests by the Bishnoi women against felling of trees to build King Abhay Singh’s palace is considered the first attempt by women to safeguard trees in history. The play is set against a Rajasthani background. ‘Mazhavillu’ was officially inaugurated on December 15 with a premiere of children’s version of ‘Charandas Chor’.‘Mazhavillu’ has produced many plays, including B V Karanth’s ‘Panjarasala’, ‘Chandrasekhar Kambar’s ‘Alibabayum 40 Kallanmarum’,  ‘Bommanahalliyile Kinnara Yogi’, based on the poem by Kuvempu which was designed and directed by Chandradasan, Rabindra Nath Tagore’s ‘Mughdhadhara’ and Arun Puthezhathu’s Tom and Jerry both directed by Sudheer Babu and ‘Girl in the Photograph’ written and directed by Shirly Somasundaran. The plays were performed in various festivals in Kerala and also in New Delhi and Ahmedabad.Students from  Government High school, Edappally, Vidyodaya School, Thevakkal, Government Girls High School, Bhavan’s Vidya Mandir and other schools who are with Mazhavillu will participate in the play.