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New Delhi: In a special letter to ALPANA, HE Smt. Draupadi Murmu, President of India, wrote, “I am delighted to learn that the Association for Learning and Norming Action in the Performing Arts (ALPANA) will celebrate its 18th international event, SAMBHAV 2023, on November 18-19, 2023 at the India International Centre, New Delhi to reaffirm its commitment to empowering Divyangjans (people with disabilities). Since its inception, ALPANA has been actively working through SAMBHAV, a platform for Divyangjans to showcase their talents and prove to the world that their efforts are not hampered by any barriers. Guru Alpana Nayak is a professional Odissi dancer who has contributed immensely to the spread of Indian culture in India and abroad through dance. I learnt that she is one of the few exponents of Odissi dance who trained Divyangjans in Indian classical and folk dance forms for their all-round development in the society. I extend my warmest greetings and congratulations to all those associated with ALPANA and wish a successful SAMBHAV 2023. all the best.”
The Association for Learning Performing Arts and Normative Action (ALPANA) is a Delhi-based NGO that has been working tirelessly since 2004 for the empowerment and mainstream inclusion of Divyangjan (people with disabilities).
ALPANA has been hosting SAMBHAV, an international event that showcases Divyangjan talent through inclusive art, every year since 2006. SAMBHAV has become an important milestone for India to reaffirm its commitment to Divyangjan revitalization. SAMBHAV, which means “possibility” in Sanskrit, is a platform to showcase Divyangjan talent and prove to the world that their efforts and courage will not be hindered by any disability barrier.
SAMBHAV 2023 is the 18th consecutive SAMBHAV and aims to celebrate and showcase the holistic and inclusive growth of Divyang Artists from India and abroad and be a unique showcase of the will to succeed irrespective of the region and culture they belong to. It is an attempt to build global synergy to serve humanity.
After a gap of three years, this year’s SAMBHAV was held in offline format at the India International Centre, New Delhi on November 18 and 19, 2023, with participants from Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, Iran, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia and Sri Lanka, besides groups from Delhi, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland, Punjab, Odisha, Rajasthan and West Bengal. SAMBHAV 2023 included an international seminar on “Disabled Divyang Artists in an Inclusive Society”, yoga workshops and seminars, international exhibition of paintings and handicrafts created by Divyang artists, art and craft workshops, dance therapy and music therapy workshops, international performances by Divyang artists from different countries and states of India. This year’s SAMBHAV attracted participation from Divynag artists, trainers, researchers, experts and stakeholders from all over the world.
The SAMBHAV inauguration ceremony was held on the morning of November 18th with the lighting of ceremonial lamps by the Chief Guest, Ms. Mamta Dubey, former head of the Forest Force, Government of Uttar Pradesh and Secretary, Indian Forest Service, and the Guest of Honour, Ms. Nandita Gupta, Chief Marketing Officer, Government of Himachal Pradesh, Senior Advisor, Indian Forest Service and Secretary, Indian Forest Service, Mr. Abhay Kumar, Secretary, Indian Forest Service and Mr. Sandip Ghosh, Publisher of Outlook Magazine and Deputy Director General, Indian Forest Service. At the inauguration ceremony, participants from various groups dressed in their national costumes and holding national flags took turns to walk on the stage and posed for pictures.
After the launch ceremony, Ms. Shubhrata Prakash, Commissioner of Income Tax, Government of India inaugurated an international exhibition of paintings and handicrafts created by Divyang artists, followed by a dance therapy workshop conducted by internationally renowned Kathak Exponent duo Padma Shri Ms Nalini and Kamalini Asthana.
Since teaching of Arts and Crafts is an important course in any training institute for persons with disabilities, every year an Arts and Crafts workshop is organized for all the participants of Sambhav. At the SAMBHAV 2023 Arts and Crafts workshop, Ms. Alka Agrawal, Director, ALPANA Academy, presided over the workshop. On the second day, Dr. Anant Gopal of S-Vyasa University, Bangalore, conducted a Yoga workshop for the participants followed by a Yoga workshop. Ms. Bijay Laxmi Hota, Yoga guru and author, presided over the workshop while Prof. Rabindra Acharya of S-VYASA University, Bangalore, presented a well-researched paper on “Effects of Yoga on Persons with Disabilities”.
After the yoga session, an international seminar was held, chaired by Padma Shri Dr. Uma Tuli, Founder and Chairman Secretary of Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust, Delhi. Seven papers were presented at the seminar by Ms. Suzanne Louise Whiteman from Australia, Ms. Sudha Joshi from Gujarat, India, Ms. Sudikshya Dongol from Nepal, Ms. Marina Sukharkova from Russia, Ms. Devika Seth from Bangladesh, Ms. Thushari Fernando from Sri Lanka and Ms. Made Widayanti from Indonesia. Mr. Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, IAS, Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, graciously attended the international seminar and entertained the participants.
In the afternoon, Ms. Suzanne Louise Whiteman from Alstonville Studio in Australia held a very interesting music therapy workshop.
Over the two evenings, Divyang artists from 22 groups from different parts of the world presented colorful, vibrant, exuberant and mesmerizing performances. On the first day, Shri Apurva Chandra, IAS, Secretary, I&B, Government of India, was the Chief Guest, while Dr. PS Gahlaut, Managing Director, Indian Potash Corporation Limited, HE Dr. Shankar Prasad Sharma, Ambassador of Nepal to India, Shri Pradeep K Mohanty, Provost, National School of Drama and Padma Shri Ms Nalini Kamalini Asthana, Kathak Exponent, graced the occasion as Guests of Honour. At the closing ceremony of SMBHAV 2023, Shri Tarun Bajaj, IAS, Former Secretary, Revenue, India, was the Chief Guest, while Shri Jatindra Swain, IAS, Former Secretary, Government of India and Shri Rajeev Sharma, Senior Advisor, Tata Power, were the Guests of Honour.
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