When art becomes the language of learning, education transcends classrooms. On Tuesday evening, Bhopal will witness this truth unfold as Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav inaugurates Anugoonj, a state level cultural spectacle that brings together the rhythm, spirit, and creative promise of Madhya Pradesh’s young minds. Organised by the School Education Department at the Government Subhash Excellence School, the event will see nearly 500 students from government schools across the state presenting a mosaic of music, drama, and dance that celebrates India’s living cultural pluralism.
The programme is structured in two vibrant movements, Dhanak and Rangkaar. Dhanak will open with evocative performances of Indian classical dance traditions, including Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Manipuri, accompanied by live instrumental music. The second segment, Rangkaar, will feature the play Tana Bana Toot Na Jaye, an exploration of perseverance, harmony, and human resilience, performed by students who have spent the past month perfecting their art through discipline and collective passion.
More than an event, Anugoonj is an experiment in creative pedagogy, an initiative that reimagines education as a medium for expression and holistic development. To shape this experiment into excellence, the department has engaged some of India’s finest cultural mentors: renowned musician Maurice Lazarus, Odissi exponent Bindu Juneja, Bharatanatyam virtuoso Bharati Hombal, celebrated Kathak guru Padmaja Raghuvanshi, Manipuri maestro M K Hojainngamba Singh, eminent theatre director Saadat Bharti, and acclaimed stage commentator Vinay Upadhyay. Their involvement is a tribute to the belief that true mentorship does not just polish talent but awakens artistry.
The stage itself mirrors grandeur, inspired by the divine architecture of Ujjain’s Mahakal Lok, symbolising both the continuity of ancient tradition and the vibrancy of young India. As lights rise and music fills the air, Anugoonj will remind the audience that education is not merely about literacy but illumination, that to nurture the future, a society must also teach its children to dance, to dream, and to create.
