City theatre performer moves to Assam island to train tribal students

Theatre artiste Adith AK was doing well for himself with a handful of shows and classes across the country. After a point, he craved to have a different experience in life. “Once you follow the same routine, you end up creating the same art and as an artiste, it won’t help me expand. I wanted a break and decided to explore and bring novelty to my art. Through one of my friends, I came to know about a primary school called Hummingbird School in Majuli, an island in the Brahmaputra river in Assam. It’s a rural island with around one and a half lakh population. I decided to move there to teach the students dance and theatre,” he says.

This city-based artiste, who has been working with the school for the past two years, says that shifting from Chennai to Majuli was a gradual decision. “When I packed my bags, I didn’t think of staying there for so long. But when I landed on the island, I started looking at life from a different perspective. I needed life experiences for my art to create newer things and to be honest, I am enjoying this phase of my life,” says the storyteller-performer.

Though he joined the school to teach dance and theatre, Adith ended up doing multiple activities. “Right from taking charge of administrative works like accounting, HR to curriculum design creation, I am having many responsibilities. The locals are very supportive and welcoming. The students in the school are very curious to learn and it makes things easier for me,” shares the 26-year-old, who helps teachers integrate theatre into learning practices.

Things weren’t as rosy for Adith — he found it extremely tough for the first couple of months. He was badly anaemic at one point. “My health went for a toss. I am a vegetarian and my meals for the past two years were just rice and dal.

The resources at the river island are scarce and when you are living in a community, you have to adjust to extreme life situations. It was so difficult for me at one point but my passion for the work I do pull me through,” the youngster smiles.

Currently, the artiste is in Cuddalore training students in storytelling and theatre. “I have applied for a design summit in Uganda. If I get enough finance, I will be going to Uganda in August. After I return, I will be leaving for Assam,” he remarks.

The youngster is happy the way things have turned out in his life. The island has become his home and he loves the lifestyle. “I have so much to learn from the tribal communities in Assam and in return, I could teach them theatre and dance,” Adith sums up.