A History Of The — Jana Natya Manch: Plays For Th...

A History of the Jana Natya Manch: Plays for the People (2012) is a comprehensive chronicle of (Janam), a radical Delhi-based theatre collective active since 1973 . Written by Arjun Ghosh , a faculty member at IIT Delhi, the book functions as a "biography" of the group, detailing its four-decade evolution from the legacy of the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) to its role as a major force in political street theatre. Key Themes & Content

The book explores Janam’s founding in 1973 by student radicals and its emergence from the Delhi branch of the IPTA. A History of the Jana Natya Manch: Plays for th...

It documents the group's transition to street theatre in 1978 and its methods for scripting, training talent, and performing "skin-to-skin" with spectators in working-class industrial areas. A History of the Jana Natya Manch: Plays

The book highlights several landmark productions that defined political theatre in India: Performing Solidarity: 50 Years of Jana Natya Manch It documents the group's transition to street theatre

A central focus is the life and 1989 murder of founder-member Safdar Hashmi , which occurred while the group was performing the play Halla Bol . Major Plays Discussed

Ghosh examines Janam's close ties to the organized Left in India and its focus on issues like labor rights, caste, gender equality, and communalism.