By Amrit Pal Sidhu
Chandigarh | 14 November 2026
Street theatre brought a powerful message to the Open Theatre opposite T.S. Central State Library, Sector 17, Chandigarh, as students came together for an **Inter-School Nukkad Natak Competition on the theme Nasha Mukt Bharat.
Organised as part of the library’s National Library Week-cum-Children’s Day Celebrations 2026, the event gave young performers a creative platform to speak about the harmful effects of substance abuse and the importance of making healthy, positive choices.
Street Plays with a Purpose
Schools from Chandigarh and Mohali participated enthusiastically, using impactful performances to spread awareness about a serious social issue. The competition brought together students from:
DAV Public Senior Secondary School, Mohali
AKSIPS 41 Smart School
Saint Soldier International School, Sector 28-B, Chandigarh
Government Model High School, Sector 53, Chandigarh
Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 26, TM, Chandigarh
Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 32-C, Chandigarh
Government Model High School, Sector 11, Chandigarh
The performances were judged by i Balkar Sidhu and Shri Rajesh Atreya.
Celebrating the Winners
After the participating teams delivered their messages through street theatre, the prizes went to:
First Prize: Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 26, TM, Chandigarh |
Second Prize: Saint Soldier International School, Sector 28-B, Chandigarh |
Third Prize: Government Model High School, Sector 11, Chandigarh |
Individual talent was recognised too. Aaryan Bhatt, a Class IX student at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 26, TM, received the **Best Actor (Male)** award. **Gurnaman**, a Class IX student at AKSIPS 41 Smart School, Sector 41-B, received the Best Actor (Female) award.
The programme also featured special Nukkad Natak performances by Vriddhi Educational Society and Abhyudaya Youth Club. Both guest performances reinforced the message against substance abuse.
Saraswati Vandana by Somesh added a cultural touch to the celebrations.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Neeza Singh, Librarian and Organiser, highlighted the National Library Week programmes centred on “Nasha Mukt Bharat.” She emphasised how creative platforms such as street theatre can help students understand social challenges and encourage responsible choices.
Neelam Bansal, Library Incharge and Patron, welcomed the participating schools, appreciated their enthusiasm and congratulated the winners. She also stressed the importance of educating children about the ill effects of substance abuse.
The event reflected the spirit of the library’s celebration theme: “Nasha Mukt Bharat – Pustakon Se Pragati Ki Aur.
By bringing education, awareness and creativity together, the competition highlighted how public libraries can be more than places to read. They can also be spaces where young people engage with important issues, share ideas and contribute to their communities.
This Children’s Day, the students’ message was clear: healthy choices matter and young voices have an important role in building a drug-free society.