SHILLONG: After taking several initiatives to create awareness among the urban voters in the run upto upcoming polls , the election department chose the means of street plays to attract the rural voters.
Chief electoral officer Frederick Kharkongor said that as part of its Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) initiative, the election department with the support of RITI Academy organized a series of street plays aimed at ethical voting, right to vote responsibly and VVPAT awareness and enrolment.
The street plays were performed at strategic rural hubs in various parts of Khasi and Jaintia Hills so as to coincide with the market days ( Sngi Iew) at these various locations.
The street plays were performed from October at Iewduh, Shillong, followed by performances at Smit, Pynursla, Sohra, Mawngap Umsning, Dawki, Nongpoh , Nongstoin and Kynshi
The second phase of performance will be rolled out in Garo Hills region.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the markets ,and in the midst of trading and commerce, the street plays had aroused much curiosity and elicited some searching questions from the onlookers ranging from Dawki on the Indo Bangladesh border to large swathes of West Khasi Hills, pockets of Jaintia Hills and across many rural hamlets dotting Ri Bhoi and the East Khasi Hills.
According to Kharkongor, in Meghalaya, the house of mourning or “Iingiap” in Khasi society is generally a place for casual gossip, rhetoric, storytelling laced with humour and sarcasm often with a social thrust and focus.
The overnight vigil is a social occasion and a local custom that facilitates young people to stay awake, to partake in grief, and it is often a fit platform for discussion on various social issues and in election season, conversations are often rooted in politics.
“This culture has prevailed amidst a cross section of communities for generations. At every house of call, there is always a peculiar character, perceived as: “Kohshynrain” who is capable of passing sarcastic remarks on every casual incident , the Kohshynrain is also a metaphoric image and in the context of the street play, has been devised as both a protagonist and antagonist”, Kharkongor said.
The street play performance culminates in the chanting of phawars- the khasi couplets accompanied with drums to underpin the central thrust of the performance.
Visual artwork serves as the backdrop of the theatrical exhibition and the artists invariably involve the crowd.
The street play employs a combination of elements that include visual art, music, folk narrative, road-show and theatre.
“The series of street plays which are currently underway have been performed in the dramatic context of a typical discussion taking place at a Iingiap and include overriding elements of informed & ethical voting, enrolment of first time voters, voting for the right candidate, & VVPAT awareness”, the official added.
