Certificate Course in Theatre concludes at JU with scintillating performance

The Certificate Course in Theatre organized by Skill Incubation Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Centre (SIIEDC) in collaboration with the Department of Students Welfare, University of Jammu culminated today with an impressive performance by the participants. Prof. Umesh Rai, esteemed Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu was the Chief Guest and Padmashri Balwant Thakur, eminent theatre personality was the Guest of Honour. The Concluding function of the Certificate course was organised at Brig. Rajinder Singh Auditorium, University of Jammu.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Rai emphasized the essential role that skills, incubation, and innovation play in today’s rapidly evolving world. He spoke passionately about the importance of theatre in personality development, encouraging the students to continue refining their skills and to explore new creative avenues.

Prof. Rai expressed his admiration for the commitment and dedication of the course team, acknowledging their efforts in nurturing the artistic talents of the participants. He also congratulated the participants on their impressive personal growth throughout the program, noting how their journey exemplifies the transformative power of experiential learning.

Prof. Rai also highlighted the University’s 12 Clubs, which provide the youth of Jammu with countless opportunities for self-discovery and holistic personality development. He emphasized that these clubs are instrumental in helping students harness their inner potential, leading to overall growth and confidence.

Padmashri Balwant Thakur, in his address, praised Prof. Umesh Rai for his visionary leadership under which the University of Jammu is achieving remarkable progress. He commended the University for being the first institution in Jammu and Kashmir to introduce this unique course, which he described as a long-awaited initiative that will greatly benefit the region's youth. Sh. Thakur also expressed his delight in watching the students' performances, which showcased the positive impact of the course.

Prof. Alka Sharma, Director, SIIEDC, provided insights into the certificate course, explaining that it was designed to give students a deeper understanding of theatre and its immense benefits. She noted that theatre is recognized as one of the most effective tools for personality development, and this course has notably sharpened the soft skills of the participants, which will be beneficial in their academic and professional pursuits.

Earlier, Prof. Monika Chadha, Chairperson, Campus Cultural Committee, welcomed the gathering and shared that the course aimed to awaken the innate creative and aesthetic capabilities of the participants. She highlighted that the positive feedback and performances from the participants clearly demonstrated that the course’s objectives had been successfully met.

The course was guided by Prof. Garima Gupta, Coordinator of the Skill Development and Career Planning Vertical, with Sumeet Sharma, Drama Instructor, Department of Students Welfare, as the course coordinator. Sumeet Sharma, with his extensive experience in theatre, provided valuable knowledge and expertise to the participants. The resource persons for the course included Mr. Krishan, Ms. Vaishali Chowdhary, Mr. Kamal Sharma, Dr. Kuldeep Raina, Ms. Nitika Aggarwal, Mr. Sanjeev Gupta, and Mr. Gaurav Jamwal.

Participants were awarded certificates by Prof. Umesh Rai and Sh. Balwant Thakur in presence of Prof. Alka Sharma, Director SIIEDC, Prof. Prakash Antahal, Dean Students Welfare, Prof. Monika Chadha, Chairperson Campus Cultural Committee, Prof. K. S. Charak and Prof. Garima Gupta, Coordinator SDCPV.

A highlight of the event was the captivating performance of the play "Pollution Ka Solution," written and directed by Sumeet Sharma, which received widespread acclaim. The event was skillfully conducted by Ramneet Kaur, with the support of a talented team including Arjun Pratap Singh, Avni Sharma, Riya Jandial, Mahi Gupta, Rishiv Prabhakar, Malvika Kalra, Kartik Kumar, Sumakshi Pandita, Medha Gupta, Dyutima Kesar, Sohana Gorka, Subani Kaur, Kakun Mahajan, Dr. Arun Gupta, and Kananpreet Kaur. The sound was managed by Kulbhushan Thakur and Arif Paul, with hall management handled by R. P. Singh, Sachin Sharma, and Jatinder Singh.