Organizing Team
Ms. Jyoti Mhapsekar, President Stree Mukti Sanghatana–Conference Convenor: Jyoti Mhapsekar, the Conference Convener, is one of the founder members and at present President of Stree Mukti Sanghatana (Women’s Liberation Organization), which was founded in 1975, and has an active Theater Group.
She was the editor of WPI bulletin in 2001. She served as a member of the Executive Committee of WPI for two consecutive terms. She brings her own organizing skills and the support of a highly developed feminist support network to the planning of the conference.
Ms Mhapsekar is a Librarian by profession and an Activist, Playwright and Song writer by choice. She is postgraduate in Sociology with additional degree in Library Science. She composes music for her plays and also known as singer and has acted in several performances of her plays. She has received several awards for her contribution to women’s movement in India including Best music director award from Government of West Bengal. Her first play Mulagi Zali Ho (Girl is born) has been translated in several languages. A song written by her (half the sky is ours) is included in the post Beijing poetry published by University of Minnesota.
Prof. Waman Kendre, Director – Academy of Theatre Arts – Mumbai University – Conference Director: Prof. Waman Kendre, the Conference Director, has served since the last five years as the Director of the Academy of Theatre Arts- Mumbai University that is an official sponsor of the Conference and a co-host.
With a rich academic background in Dramatics & Dramatic Arts, Prof. Kendre has conducted more than 150 workshops throughout India and abroad and imparted theatre training to professionals and amateurs for the last 20 years and created a generation of talented actors, directors, playwrights and designers who have made a great impact on regional and national theatre scenes. He has created a rich body of work that not only reflects his superior craft but also his sensitivity to social, cultural and political issues. Prof. Kendre is the recipient of numerous awards at both the State level as well as the National level.
Sushama Deshpande – Conference Director: For Sushama Deshpande, Theatre is a passion and communication a profession. She is a proprietor of Anjor communications through which she has made several documentaries in last two decades.
She is conducting workshops for different women organizations to develop leadership skills in rural area (Using theatre of oppressed techniques for this). She is known all over Maharashtra for her One-person performances ( ‘Whay mi Savitribai’ and ‘Tichya aaichi goshta artat mazya athavanicha fad) and she is deeply attached with Theatre
movement in Maharashtra
.She has attended 2 conferences of WPI in 1997 and 2003 respectively and at present she is on the advisory committee of WPI. Recently she has directed the play, ‘My Mother, Her Gharawali, Her Malak and His Wife.’ with Sangram and Vamp Sangali in which artist are from community. ( Prostitutes and their Children).At present she is working on the Script ‘Baya dar Ughad’ (Dear women friends open the door of mind) Script is about women saints of Maharashtra, India.
|
