X was founded in 1944 by B, as a travelling troupe with 150 members, which staged productions across India. Its maiden performance was Kalidasa’s classic “Shakuntala”.X was later renewed by Z and his British wife Y in the memory of their father B.
Y, the driving strength, mentor and inspiration of X who died on 7 September 1984. The theatre was not allowed to close on the day of her death, and the ‘show went on’ in true theatre tradition. Ustad Zakir Hussain, of whom Y was great fan, performed on her birthday, 28 February during the festival, along with Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. Ustad Zakir Hussain has continued to perform every year on this date– probably the only place where audience members can experience Indian classical music without amplification – in the classic style of a ‘baithak’ - as was traditionally performed.
The Indian government issued a commemorative stamp in 1995 to mark 50 years of X. In 2006, its annual festival celebrated the birth centenary of X, and was titled, “Kala Desh ki Sewa mein”(Art in service of the Nation).Identify X, Y, Z&B
Y, the driving strength, mentor and inspiration of X who died on 7 September 1984. The theatre was not allowed to close on the day of her death, and the ‘show went on’ in true theatre tradition. Ustad Zakir Hussain, of whom Y was great fan, performed on her birthday, 28 February during the festival, along with Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. Ustad Zakir Hussain has continued to perform every year on this date– probably the only place where audience members can experience Indian classical music without amplification – in the classic style of a ‘baithak’ - as was traditionally performed.
The Indian government issued a commemorative stamp in 1995 to mark 50 years of X. In 2006, its annual festival celebrated the birth centenary of X, and was titled, “Kala Desh ki Sewa mein”(Art in service of the Nation).Identify X, Y, Z&B
