My best moment of the year 2015 was when I 2 THE GLOBAL TIMES | MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015 won a prize in inter house handwriting World Mirror competition. News and Views Vanalika, AIS Saket, IV A Pulling the strings of change They lit up the streets and courtyards with their bright costumes and bubbly banter. From being the heart of the town, the legendary Kathputlis of have tragically dwelled into oblivion

Ground Reporting The Kathputli colony of Shadipur Depot in Sheel Chandra, AIS Noida, XI C Delhi is home to the

mongst the numerous small and world’s largest big, dilapidated and intact community of Ahouses in Shadipur depot, a magicians, snake colourful array of shacks stands apart. If charmers, acrobats, you hear the sound of the dhol and spot women dressed in red lehengas amid singers, dancers, blue coloured houses; you know you’re actors, traditional in the Kathputli Colony. Enter a small healers, musicians, room in one of the houses of this com- especially kathputlis or pact community and you are likely to witness young, bubbly men rehearsing puppeteers from the to a recorded Rajasthani monologue state of . amidst various brightly dressed clay and wooden puppets of different sizes. Each puppeteer in the Kathputli colony has his/her own talents, bound with the love for dance, music and drama. But the most important force which unites them is the fervour to revive the art which their ancestors had shaped. Luckily, they have met their angel in disguise. ‘Kayakalp’, an initiative of the Enactus Society of the Shri Ram College of cial issues, reciting the story of Amar worker, the latter masters the art of mak- hit Bangkok. The credit for the same, of mein heera’. Commerce, is pulling the strings of Singh Rathore on the occasion of Durga ing Japanese puppets called Bunraku. course, goes to Kayakalp. All that this community needs is a con- change. It has groomed these amateur Puja and just as competently apprising These freelancers who earlier did 2-3 When the corporates knocked on their noisseur to appreciate its beauty and to puppeteers into professional artists. you with the importance of health, sani- shows per month, with low wages are doorstep with a proposal to demolish the bring kathputlis back to life. Kayakalp Their endeavour starts with identifying tation, girl safety etc. now doing at least 8 shows per week col- colony for a new plot, Enactus stepped has taken the first step. Hopefully, this low income puppeteers, developing their Kayakalp has nurtured numerous pup- laborating with various well known up for the puppeteers by starting a peti- group of boys will accomplish their script writing skills professionally and peteers and performers, giving them an artists including those associated with tion and garnered the support of the res- dream of forming a renowned band of providing them global exposure to edge over others. We met two such bril- the famous show, Gali Gali Sim Sim. idents and various other organisations turban wearers with wooden putlis, play- broaden their horizons. The puppeteers liant people ‘Superstar’ and ‘Ravi Today, they are performing not only in and the colony, now, stays intact. ing music and shuffling beats radiating working with Kayakalp put together tra- Bhaat’. While the former is skilled in the Delhi-NCR region but also in Mum- In Vikram Bhat’s words, another pup- not only waves of a cultural revival, but ditional characters and modern day so- playing dhol and is also an active social bai, Nagaland and are soon expected to peteer, the colony is ‘koyle ke khaan also soft breezes of social change.G T

Saudi Arabia World at a glance World’s tallest tower Saudi Arabia has planned to build the world’s tallest tower, which could reach GT keeps the newswire ticking by bringing to 1 kilometer into the sky. The Jeddah Tower will be built at the cost of $1.23 you news from around the globe billion approx.

India overtakes China as the fastest growing country Due to robust and France improved domestic demand and Paris hosts UN climate change manufacturing output, meet India has surpassed China More than 150 world leaders with a 7.4% growth in gathered in Paris for the quarter 3 compared to China’s United Nations Climate 6.9% growth. Analysts say Change Conference to that lower commodity prices discuss and find a and strong domestic demand solution to the effects provided some relief to the of climate change. The markets, leading to higher event, the largest GDP. USA gathering of world leaders, saw US tightens rules for VISA free developing nations visits after attacks commit to reducing Indonesia After the Paris attacks, the US emissions. government will tighten security Airbus A320 crashed due to faulty procedures for its visa waiver computer programme for visitors from friendly According to investigators, Airbus countries. They will now ask more Burkina Faso A320, which had plunged into Java questions to be eligible for the visas. Sea an hour in flight in December Burkina Faso elects new president 2014, crashed due to faulty parts Despite three decades of autocratic rule and civil and the crew losing control. The war, the western African country elected a new rudder control system glitch had leader Roch Marc Christian Kabore. Kabore is the occurred 23 times in the 12 months second civilian to become president since the West prior to the tragedy. African country won independence in 1960.