Dreams and Reality: The True Face of the Theater

Presented from the inside as a member of the academic council of Nepal Music and Drama Academy, this article reveals the governmental structural weaknesses and the devaluation of art within the institution. In Falgun 2079 B.S. (February/March 2023), when I was entrusted with the responsibility of serving a four-year term as a member of the academic council of Nepal Music and Drama Academy, it was not merely about holding a position. To me, it was a new test of the sweat and accumulated dreams I had poured into the theater. As an artist and playwright, the illusions I had about the institution from outside began to dissolve one by one after stepping inside. It soon became clear that there was a significant discrepancy between the grand government structure visible outside and the operational reality inside.

It did not take long to realize that the value of art and artists is profoundly undervalued in the governance mindset. The true reality only emerges when one engages with concerned departmental bodies and administrative files. From the state’s perspective, art remains an unproductive sector and fails to rise beyond a decorative showpiece. While outside observers believe a firm decision or a proper plan could instantly wipe away artists’ tears, inside the institution, one finds a complicated web of procedures and an overwhelming bureaucratic paper trail rather than creative freedom.

Many of our indigenous folk tunes are disappearing, and some dramatic styles are breathing their last. Yet the agony of not even having a well-equipped hall to preserve these priceless heritages can only be truly understood by those occupying such positions and responsibilities. For someone who understands the hunger and thirst of artists, witnessing creativity being stifled in one’s own space and budgets being spent on rituals rather than creations tightens the heart with knots. Truly, these walls of government structures are so thick and cold that it is almost impossible for the warmth of artists’ sensibilities and creativity to reach inside.