The Department of Sociology, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) organized a Nukkad Natak (Street Play) on ‘Freedom from Substance Abuse’ celebrating 75 years of Indian Independence, on 12th August, 2022, as part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) celebrations and in support of Government of India’s Drug De-addiction initiative on “Say Yes to Life, No to Drugs”.
The 25 minutes long play was written and directed by Ms. Shabal Kalim, a student of final year, B.A. (Hons.) Sociology at the Department, under the guidance of Prof. Manisha T. Pandey, Head of Department and the Student Advisor, Dr. Sumbul Farah. Sixteen students from JMI participated in the street play that consisted of several acts highlighting the seriousness of substance abuse. It emphasized the short-term and long-term consequences of addiction on the individual as well as society.
The street play was followed by a pledge taken by the students against the abuse of drugs and other addictive substances. The event concluded with the singing of the national anthem. The Independence Day celebrations were enthusiastically attended by students and faculty members of many Departments/Centres. The street play was extremely successful in raising awareness on the issue of substance abuse as it attracted many to join the event. In addition to this, the fervour of Har Ghar Tiranga was amply visible in the Tricolours being carried around by the students.
