“Anger, frustration, hatred have to be relieved in some way. My experience has been that performing arts is the most powerful medium of bringing out those emotions.” Sipping up her cup of tea and narrating her story of attachment with art, Aditi Desai talks about her journey to us as a theatre woman. She further says that bottling up of emotions does take place and when they do not come out in a proper manner they lead to depression.

Director of two successful Gujarati plays, Kasturba and Akupar, Aditi Desai shares with us, her experiences in the theatre world. Working with Muslim women of Gujarat who still have the dark memories of 2002 riots engraved in their souls, she tells that theatre workshops have helped these women to express their anxiety and anger as well as relieve themselves of all those emotions. She had a similar experience while conducting workshops in a jail with female prisoners. Drawing, creative writing, theatre exercises have proved to be very useful in bringing out those hidden emotions.

When asked about her inspiration behind ‘Kasturba’ which has turned out to be a very successful play, Aditi Desai gives the credit to her own mother. I had seen that my mother had a major role to play in my father’s success. But the society never recognized it. My mother always faced all odds taking care of the family so that my father could achieve a dignified position in theatre.

All these experiences planted a seed called “Kasturba” in my mind. Not many people know that the first lesson of non-violence was taught by Kasturba to Gandhi. By the end of the play they are enlightened about Kasturba’s role in Gandhi’s life and achievements. Audience connects to the character of Kasturba and get to explore the relationship that could have been between Gandhi and Kasturba. “Kasturba was someone who fearlessly put forward her point in front of Gandhiji. Gandhiji educated her and brought her into public life from household. She was not only a wife and mother but also a leader.”

She adds: “Gandhi and Kasturba have mutually learnt a lot from each other so, it is about a couple who was so unusual in its times. Nowadays, we witness higher rates of marriages ending at an unfortunate note, but if a couple starts respecting and learning from each other and their strengths and understand each other’s shortcomings, I am sure situation may improve. Gujarati women can take up Kasturba as their role model”

Theatre is always looked upon as a reflection of the society. The socio-cultural situations portrayed in a play or performances are indicative of the changes and happenings taking place in the society. Ms. Desai talks about the challenges faced by her as a woman. “While doing proscenium theatre I have learnt everything by myself. There was no one to guide me. As a director you have to come up by your own self. There are no means of training women as directors. Female directors have to learn going through all hurdles and challenges as there have been no means for proper training. That has been a great challenge for me. In a way I am happy that I have overcome some of the challenges of the mainstream theatre with our two successful plays: Kasturba and Akupar.”

Asked about young girls willing to enter the field of performing arts Ms. Desai says that times have changed and girls do wish to enter and mark a mark for themselves in this field but giving sufficient time and commitment to theatre is an issue with some of them. “This is a group activity and parents have an impression that their daughter might get “spoilt” or “maligned” if she enters in this profession.”

While talking with Aditi Desai, we readily gather that it is very important for a woman to channelize her emotions and express them through mediums like theatre or even take up a creative hobby such as dancing, painting, sculpture making, creative writing and many more or just by some fruitful conversation.

Be it positive or negative: Emotions have to come out and must not be subsided within or suppressed.

When asked about a platform like Oowomaniya.com; Aditi Desai says, “Understanding a woman with a holistic approach is a very good initiative and should be taken further down to the root concerns.”