Puppetry to Spread Awareness on Census 2027
Dr Anamika Ray Memorial Trust collaborates with Department of Communication and Journalism to promote public awareness through traditional folk media
GUWAHATI: In an innovative initiative combining traditional performing arts with contemporary development communication, students of the Department of Communication and Journalism, Gauhati University, in collaboration with the Dr Anamika Ray Memorial Trust (ARMT), staged a series of puppetry plays to create awareness about Census 2027 and the importance of providing accurate and complete information during the enumeration process on 15 October, 2026.
The performances were organised in front of the BKB Auditorium on the Gauhati University campus, attracting a large gathering of students and members of the university community. Through engaging narratives, relatable characters and interactive storytelling, the student performers sought to communicate the significance of the forthcoming census and encourage responsible public participation in the nationwide exercise.
The initiative demonstrated how puppetry, one of the oldest forms of traditional communication, can be effectively adapted to address contemporary issues of public importance. By presenting essential information through an accessible, entertaining and culturally familiar medium, the performances attempted to simplify the census process, address possible misconceptions and underline the importance of truthful and comprehensive responses.
The programme also highlighted the continuing relevance of traditional folk media in Communication for Development (C4D) and Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC), particularly in reaching diverse audiences and encouraging informed participation in public initiatives.
The Dr Anamika Ray Memorial Trust, which collaborated in organising the programme, has earned recognition for its sustained efforts to revive traditional puppetry and reposition it as an effective instrument of development communication and social transformation.
Over the years, the Trust has experimented extensively with different forms of puppetry, including string puppetry, glove puppetry and rod puppetry, adapting these traditional techniques to communicate important social and developmental messages. Its innovative puppetry-based communication initiatives have been undertaken through various projects supported by organisations and institutions such as UNICEF, the Government of Assam, the Government of Sikkim, the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), NEDSSS and other development partners.
The Trust's puppetry productions have addressed diverse developmental concerns, demonstrating the potential of culturally rooted communication practices to generate awareness, facilitate dialogue and influence social and behavioural change. Its productions have reached audiences beyond Assam and have been screened extensively in different parts of India as well as in neighbouring countries, including Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh.
By integrating entertainment with educational messages, the Trust has consistently demonstrated that traditional puppetry can serve as a powerful participatory communication medium, especially when complex public information needs to be conveyed in a simple, engaging and memorable manner.
The collaboration with Gauhati University's Department of Communication and Journalism also provided students with an opportunity to experience the practical application of development communication theories and explore the creative possibilities of indigenous communication traditions. The performances illustrated how communication students can move beyond conventional media platforms and employ culturally grounded approaches to promote public awareness and civic responsibility.
At a time when digital communication increasingly dominates public information campaigns, the initiative served as a reminder that traditional communication forms continue to possess considerable relevance, particularly in promoting inclusivity, cultural continuity and community engagemen
The Census 2027 awareness performances thus represented not merely a cultural presentation but a meaningful experiment in participatory communication, bringing together academic learning, traditional artistic expression and public-interest messaging.
Those interested in exploring the innovative application of puppetry in development communication may visit the Dr Anamika Ray Memorial Trust (ARMT) YouTube channel, which features puppetry-based productions developed for various awareness, education and social and behavioural change communication initiatives. The productions offer valuable insights into how traditional performing arts can be creatively transformed into effective communication tools for contemporary development challenges.
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