The 12th IPTA National Conference & Cultural Festival was held at Lucknow from 14th to 16th Nov 2005. The event was very well organized and successful. The main features of the event were – cultural rally, seminars, plays, open air performances, delegate sessions and film shows. The Conference was held at the Gandhi Bhavan, Kaifi Azmi Nagar and some events were held at auditoriums like Ravindralay, Rai Umanath Bali Auditorium and the Bengali Club.

Shri A.K.Hangal presided over the Conference and participated in the Cultural Rally. He also unfurled the flag on the first day of the Conference. IPTA Mumbai congratulates Shri Hangal on being re-elected as the President of IPTA’s National Committee. Our senior members Shri Abid Razvi and Shri M.S.Sathyu were also present at the Conference as part of the National Committee.

The Conference was inaugurated by the Chief Guest Ms. Shabana Azmi (Patron, IPTA Mumbai). Ms. Azmi participated in the Cultural Rally from GPO to Shaheed Smarak, singing songs with the various groups of singers along the way.  In her inaugural speech she spoke of IPTA’s responsibilities as the leading theatre group in the country and appealed to the delegates to continue working towards promoting the composite culture of our nation through the medium of theatre and performing arts.

A total of 800 delegates from 21 states across India participated in this event. IPTA Mumbai participated with a delegation of 46 members (38 artistes and 8 delegates). This was a unique opportunity for our members to interact with IPTA artistes and members from other states.

IPTA Mumbai staged two shows of the play MOTERAM written by Safdar Hashmi and Habib Tanvir and based on a story by Munshi Premchand. These shows also coincided with the 125th Birth Anniversary of Munshi Premchand which was celebrated at the Festival.

IPTA Mumbai’s Music Choir presented Faiz’s poetry during the Inauguration Ceremony alongwith musical presentations by other IPTA units.  IPTA’s landmark film DHARTI KE LAL was also shown in the film section of the festival.

In the delegate session all the state reports as well as the General Secretary’s Report (National) were tabled before the house. Elections to the National Committee were also held. IPTA Mumbai members inducted in the National Committee are – Shri A.K.Hangal, Shri M.S.Sathyu, Shri Abid Razvi, Shri Javed Siddiqi, Shri Kuldip Singh, Shri Aanjjan Srivastav and Ms. Shaili Sathyu.

The national IPTA website www.iptaindia.com was launched on 16th Nov. The IPTA Calendar for 2006 as well as books and CDs brought out by various State Units of IPTA were released. A Charter of Demands and Resolutions were also passed at the Conference.