Drama: Born from Vedas, dressed for stage
The story behind the birth of dramatic literature is that, after the creation of the Universe, there was a need for the creation of the fifth Vedas, which would bring pleasure/soothing to both eyes and ears.
The Justicemakers Mela 2025 concluded here on Sunday on a lighter note with unforgettable series of performances such as -Roots, Routes & Rhythms with Gauley Bhai and thoughtful Himalaya Aur Hum with Nila Pahad, evoking a sense of responsibility to nature.
The tale of “A Second Life” with Shailendra Kaushik and a session on “The Power of Commons” with Kailash Nadh also drew attention of participants.
Advertisement
In another session, an awakening call by Waterman of India Dr Rajendra Singh to save the Aravallis in the context of last month’s verdict by the Supreme Court in the wake of mining in the foothills of the mountain range made echoes.
Advertisement
Singh saw the issue as the most crucial one that is bound to impact on worrisome manners, the present and the future life of our country and the people. “Protecting a mountain range is not an environmental issue — it is a justice issue,” he said.
All this made Sunday another day packed with workshops, showcases, performances and participatory installations across the Rajasthan International Centre (RIC) in Jaipur.
Sessions throughout the day deepened the three guiding themes of this year’s Mela — Nyay Shakti, Samadhan and Utthaan. Participants engaged with powerful ideas and lived experiences through : Prisons @2047 Experiment, a live imagination lab on the future of prisons.
Justice from the Heartland, creating for Uttar Pradesh, Courts Open Up, open data, online hearings, and future-ready courts was also applauded.
Community-led dispute resolution with panchayats and justice committees and Social Audit of Courts (PUCAR) were also talked about.
The Book Nook, hosted by Free Libraries Network, featured readings on leadership journeys, belonging, and literature that shapes justice consciousness was drawing delegates.
The Innovation Pop-Ups on Resolution, Data, and Environmental Justice highlighted models and tools that demonstrate how creative problem solving can reshape how justice is understood and experienced.
Art, Expression & Collective Creativity
Several all-day and pop-up art experiences continued to build a new visual vocabulary for justicemaking, including, Hearing a Forest Heal, Sewing Justice, Block Print Your Mela, Make a Climate Plan, Together.
The Kaavad Stage hosted evocative storytelling sets including : Bahata Paani — Rajasthan’s water journeys, The Weave of Thriving by Nand Kishore Chaudhary, ‘This Land Is Our Land’ by Phoolkali Devi.
With more than 1,000 participants across 100-plus sessions, the two-day Mela reaffirmed its role as a national hub for collective action and justice innovation. Collaborations were forged, experiments were launched, and creative ideas took shape, grounded in community wisdom, lived experience, and multi- disciplinary practice.
Advertisement
