Asian Journal of Sociological Research

7(2): 18-29, 2022; Article no.AJSR.1168

In Search of Better Life: A Pioneer Venture to use

Forum Theatre at Virtual Medium
Nandan Bhattacharya a*, Aditi Dasgupta b, Sreya Maity c++, Meghanil Sinha d,
Pritam Dey e#, Paromita Mistri f and Ritwika Bhattacharya g
a
Human Resource Development Centre, Jadavpur University, Block LB, Plot 8, Sector III, Salt Lake
City, Kolkata-700106, West Bengal, India.
b
Department of Philosophy, West Bengal State University, West Bengal, India.
c
Department of Home Science, Christopher Road Govt. Sponsored H.S. School for Girls, Kolkata,
India.
d
Atabagan, Kalitala (Near Kalyan Parishad Club), P.O.- Laskarpur, P.S.- Narendrapur,
Kolkata – 700153, India.
e
Camellia Institute of Engineering & Technology, Dist: Burdwan (E), India.
f
Computer Science, IGNOU, Kolkata, India.
g
Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India.

Authors’ contributions

This work was carried out in collaboration among all authors. All authors read and approved the final
manuscript.

Received 26 October 2022

Original Research Article Accepted 29 December 2022
Published 31 December 2022

ABSTRACT
Socio – economic issues affected the educational scenario severely in India as well as developing
countries during the COVID 19 pandemic. The article intended to focus on such issues through
forum theatre. The forum was practiced by the group theatre Goria Sucharcha, Kolkata in the online
Workshop entitled as ‘Drama for a Better Personality, Better Life’, organised by Department of
Philosophy, West Bengal State University, India. Faculty members and students were the
participants of the study. The main purpose of the study was of two fold. Firstly to analyse the pros
and cons of online education and secondly the utility of forum theatre as a tool to discuss the issue
even in virtual medium. An online baseline random survey was made through social media before
the forum session which showed clear opinion of middle class people against online system of
education. More than 80 per cent mentioned about the increase of mental stress in this form of
education. 21per cent of the students and teachers took active part in the forum. 42per cent time
was spent in discussion. The forum declared that in a poor, class discriminated society online
education and/or ‘education for all’ is a paradox. Simultaneously forum agreed about the limit
situation occurred during this pandemic and need for more and more dialogue at community to
overcome such dark time and to liberate mankind. The article thus suggested Forum theatre to be
equally effective to address social issues at community level in online mode also with further
innovation in technique which would be more relevant and applicable form.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
++
Assistant Teacher;
#
Assistant Professor;
*Corresponding author: Email: nandan1b@yahoo.co.in, asstdirhrdc@jadavpuruniversity.in;
 Bhattacharya et al.; AJSR, 7(2): 18-29, 2022; Article no.AJSR.1168
Keywords: COVID 19; pandemic; online education; forum theatre; dialogue; theatre of the oppressed.
1. INTRODUCTION
“In the dark times will there also be singing? Yes,
there will also be singing. About the dark times”
(Brecht)
It was the usual Saturday evening like other days
at the square of the village Godrano, a little
village in Sicily, 40 km from Palermo village of
Italy. A gentle man of theatre with his team went
all the way from Brazil to create history. Not a
single precedence was there for them as
guidance and reference. They were to be the
pioneer. The man was Boal and the day was of
first experiment of Theatre of the oppressed, the
first ever venture for Forum Theatre. History was
created when the theory of Paulo Freire was
brought into existence through theatre. At that
evening if Freire was the Einstein Boal certainly
was Eddington. But what is the forum theatre?
Why this has been at prime focus in the studies
and experiments of alternative theatre practice
for more than half a century? Which elements
attributed it to be one of the most unique styles
throughout decades? To describe forum theatre
Jackson said,
‘‘Forum Theatre is a theatrical game in which a
problem is shown in an unsolved form, to which
the audience, again spect-actors, is invited to
suggest and enact solutions. The problem is
always the symptom of an oppression, and
generally involves visible oppressors and a
protagonist who is oppressed. […] After one
showing of the scene, which is known as ‘the
model’ (it can be a full-length play), it is shown
again slightly speeded up, and follows exactly
the same course until a member of the audience
shouts ‘Stop!’, takes the place of the protagonist
and tries to defeat the oppressors’ [1].
Thus theatre of the oppressed rubs out the
distinction between spectator and actor. It
indulges dialogue. Following the ideology and
praxis of Freire (Pedagogy of the Oppressed) it
inspires discourse and debate instead of
cathartic conclusion leading to true liberation of
mankind through theatre. After Boal the form has
been practiced throughout the world and used in
different social, political, economic and
educational issues. Apart from all other let us
focus on the educational field and have a quick
survey where this form was used. Raju and
Thambu [2], Thambu and Balakrishnan [3],
Howard, [4] and stated on the usage of Forum
19
Theatre as a Moral Education Pedagogy.
McSharry and Jones [5] worked on Role-play in
science teaching and learning. Social issues in
school level using theatre were addressed by
Sanders, [6], Day [7]. Non-hierarchical
approaches to learning practice using forum
theatre was described by Rae [8]. Osburn [9]
described the empowering capacity of forum
theatre in students. Forum theatre, as an
effective tool particularly for knowledge
mobilization was stated by Bleuer et.al. [10].
Nordentoft and Olesen [11] reported the efficacy
of forum theatre in postgraduate students to act
out and critically reflect on everyday dilemmas.
But as COVID induced a worldwide prison of
isolation and all the systems are moving towards
virtual mode the question comes that can forum
theatre also be experienced virtually where the
foremost criterion for forum i.e. meeting of actor
spectator physically and building up ‘artistic
communion’ is absent? Boal himself said,
‘Contact with the audience in the Forum Theatre
sessions was always established following the
same format: physical warm-up and disinhibition
of the spect-actors by means of games and
exercises, then Image Theatre work, and finally
the Forum Theatre piece itself’. Will then the
usage of forum theatre in virtual field going to be
obsolete? Will it be just like any other extinct
form of art with historical value only or it will take
new adaptation with the change of time. Will it
also be ‘smart’ enough to continue in changed
scenario with new variation?
Keeping this in mind, therefore the article
intended to explore the applicability of Forum
Theatre in virtual mode. Like that evening of
Boal, we also had no existing example and
anxious equally for just the fulfillment of the
experiment where the success and/or failure was
a secondary issue.
We took the issue of so called ‘New Normal’
education system. Throughout last few months
education system had to be completely virtual or
at least blended. Educationists found both
positive and negative consequences of online
education and its effects on social life worldwide.
Lot of works throughout the world has been done
regarding online system of education. Benefits of
online study was described by Jena [12]. Online
Education in Schools was studied in Georgia by
Basilaia and Kvavadze [13], in Indonesia [14,15],
in Malta [16], in England [17], in Hong Kong [18],
 Bhattacharya et al.; AJSR, 7(2): 18-29, 2022; Article no.AJSR.1168
in upper secondary school in Finland [19] and
many others. In higher education different
aspects of online learning were reported by
Chakraborty et.al. [20], Coman et.al. [21],
Mudenda et.al. [22]. From student perspective
Hasan, [23], Laili and Nashir [24], Adnan and
Anwar [25] worked on the attitudes of higher
education students towards compulsory digital
and distance learning university courses. Asio et.
al. [26] assessed the internet connection
availability of learning devices of students at their
homes. The challenges and barriers faced by
teachers were explored by Joshi et al. [27]. But
so far the use of theatre particularly Forum
Theatre in online educational point of view is
scanty even it can be said no literature is found
hitherto. Perhaps this was the first attempt ever
to implement Forum Theatre at a virtual mode.
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
For this experiment the Workshop on ‘Drama for
a Better Personality, Better Life’ organized by
Department of Philosophy, West Bengal State
University, West Bengal, India on April, 29, 2021
from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM has been chosen.
‘Talk and Natak’ (Talk and Theatre) was the title
of the programme where in Bengali
language Natak means drama or theatre. The
name was such chosen just for alliteration. The
motive of the programme as well as the
experiment thus was two folds, firstly to define
and clarify better life and secondly how an
individual or mankind as a whole can achieve
that in the current pandemic situation taking
online education system as perspective.
Technique of forum theatre was chosen to
accomplish the process.
The experiment was done through three steps.
A. An online survey through social media was
carried out with the following questionnaire
i. Name
ii. Age
iii. Are you in favour of online mode of
education system?
iv. Do you suggest this mode as only future
system?
v. Do you think this method is more effective?
vi. Do you feel that this system increases
mental stress in students more?
Then statistical analysis was done on the basis
of the given answers.
20
B. Group members of Goria Sucharcha theatre
group surveyed of their own with people they
associated with and discussed the matter with
more than five hundred persons irrespective of
gender, religion, cast etc. Simultaneously
literature survey was carried out on the issue.
After that the group organised five sessions of
two hours each to discuss the issue on the basis
of peoples’ opinion, literature survey and the
given feedback from the online questionnaire
mentioned above. In those sessions the
theatrical structure or the framework for the
programme was also prepared.
C. The programme was performed following
methods of forum theatre [1].
3. RESULTS
3.1 Online Survey
In the online survey regarding the first question
majority stated against online system. More than
90 per cent thought that this online method
should not be followed in future. Absolute
majority of the people commented against the
efficacy of online method of teaching learning.
Above all more than 80 per cent considered
online system as responsible for increasing
stress (Fig. 1).
3.2 Group Discussion
On the basis of this interaction with people the
theatre group members discussed the matter in
detail and following points emerged to be the
merits and demerits of online education
(Table 1).
The forum session: The whole session was of
56 minutes. It was found that the duration of
proposition, Theatrical performance and
discussion among the peers (may be called as
spectators here etymologically) were of 14.29 per
cent, 33.93 per cent and 37.50 per cent
respectively (Fig. 2). The rest time was lost due
to network issue and for preparation of
performances. The percentage was calculated
on the basis of screen presence.
Among 46 persons present at that session 19.57
per cent were actors, 21.74 per cent were active
participants and 58.70 per cent were passive.
According to ‘spect-actor’ concept it comprised
around 40 per cent and thus the session was
distributed into a 40-60 distribution (Fig. 3).
 Bhattacharya et al.; AJSR, 7(2): 18-29, 2022; Article no.AJSR.1168

Table 1. Merits and demerits of online education

Sl. No. Advantages of Online System Disadvantages of Online system

1. Students can pursue different other Poor network availability particularly at rural areas.
vocational courses simultaneously.
2. Open Book Examination. Peer discussion is not copious.
3. Better time management. Teacher student communication is unobtainable.
4. Recording of the programme provides Practical classes for science and engineering subject
resource for recapitulation. are impossible.
5. Bullying or ragging in institutions can be Mental stress for both students and teachers.
prevented.
6. Advantage to have multimedia Passive presence of students.
presentation during lectures.
7. Judgement of students in examination is not proper.
8. Role of teachers are restricted only in teaching but
grooming of students regarding learning is absent.
9. Learning of social and moral values are not possible.
10. Human contact is totally absent

Fig. 1. Distribution of responses of questions in the online survey

Fig. 2. The division of time duration for different activities

21
 Bhattacharya et al.; AJSR, 7(2): 18-29, 2022; Article no.AJSR.1168
Fig. 3. The distribution of participants according to their activity status
The session started with different slogans usually
heard during the rallies of different political
parties of West Bengal particularly during the
election period. At that time video was off and
only the audio could be listened. Then
Anchor/Jokar proposed the theme of the
programme as follows.
(1) People usually are immersed in slogans
instead of the process of liberation [28].
(2) Better life (according to the subject of the
workshop) should be synonymous to
liberated humanity.
(3) To achieve this liberation we need
dialogue.
(4) Through dialogue communion can be built
up.
(5) In each social issue there arises conflict of
interest among oppressed which invariably
leads to a limit situation where dialogue
ends supposedly.
(6) At this point of time slogans prevail and
oppressed are disintegrated into race,
politics, cast, religion etc.
(7) To rise above this further dialogue is
essential. Only through dialogue and active
participation oppressed can change their
perception of world and eventually willingly
prepare themselves to change the system.
With regard to the present workshop the example
of the online education system was taken. This
situation has created a wide spreading debate
among people. Certainly conflict of interest is
arising. This obviously is creating limit situation.
22
To overcome can theatre be effective? Can
theatre help to initiate dialogue? Can theatre
even facilitate to change the perception of world?
Taking all this in account the programme was
started. The issues were presented through two
different stories.
The first story: The group presented a short
script. A group of young people were assembled
in front of their college gate at a tea stall to
submit their semester fees. It could be submitted
online also but their intention was to meet each
other which have been stalled since lockdown.
They were gossiping while a couple with their
young daughter came to drink coffee. One of the
students, a girl tried to make friendship with the
teenage girl but she remained reluctant watching
her cell phone. Her mom insisted her to say
‘Hello’ but the reaction was bursting on which her
father scolded her to maintain sociability. He also
‘accused’ her wife for ill training at home as she
is house wife and attached more with the
daughter. The mother felt hart and accused back
her husband for having no ‘feeling’ for his family.
At this point three of them separately expressed
their stands to the virtual spectators. The mom
said that it was alright before lockdown. The child
used to go to school, spent her time learning,
playing football, singing aloud. She was just a
lively cute little girl. She wanted to be a teacher
in her life. But it was the lockdown and this online
education which confined her into the cell phone
and she became addicted. The mother still
accepted the system but in the changed scenario
she also realised that her child must have
 Bhattacharya et al.; AJSR, 7(2): 18-29, 2022; Article no.AJSR.1168
sophisticated instruments and gadgets to cope
up with. She needed special training offered by
different private educational agencies or
companies. If the neighbour’s child had the
privilege to learn in learning apps so why not
she? The father entered. He asked his wife
wheather she was aware about the money
needed for subscription of those apps. He then
presented his view. He was a middle level worker
at a private company with average income.
Mounting price of everything but without
upgrading of salary made it impossible to
maintain the family. How could he manage the
excess money for learning app? Still he was
trying at his level best. But it made him really
angry when he found her child day and night
addicted with cell phone. Now it was the turn of
the child herself. She explained her situation as a
miserable one without friend, playground, school,
every entertainment she had earlier. Was it not
enough to be depressed? But who cares, she
cried.
At this point Joker stopped the play. He asked for
suggestion from the audience to solve the
conflict of interest arose inside the family,
especially the father and mother and how they
could get better life. A lady participant joined the
forum and stated that the crisis was due to the
pandemic and there was no short cut to
overcome it. She suggested the father and
mother to be more patient, more empathetic to
the child to manoeuvre the situation. One of the
Author raised another debate stating that
education system might be open under
lockdown. Several countries declared lockdown
keeping the institution open. So it was the ruler
who determined the situation and we were the
sufferer. Another lady, a Clinical Psychologist
pointed out the fact that instead of accusing each
other they could talk in more ‘positive’ approach.
This view was endorsed by the previous lady.
Forum appreciated both ideas and tried to enact
accordingly.
The scene started at their home. It was morning.
The mother spent quality time with the child.
They sang. They tried to be happy. Evening
came. Entered the father tired and somewhat in
a depressed mood. Keeping the suggestion from
the spectators they talked quietly not in accusing
mode. The wife attended him with a glass of
water and more positively they started
discussion. The mother requested him to spend
time with the child playing football and all others.
Father realised the need but stated that it was a
pressure for him to do so after the day’s
23
tremendous workload which the company
assigned. Due to lockdown private companies
are also under pressure and any time recession
might happen. So every worker was under
guillotine. It was a stressful scenario. He
described the day’s experience when his boss
scolded him due to failure for fulfilling the target
of the day and called him a worthless impotent
guy and threatened him for a salary depreciation
or even recession which caused his depression.
Under these circumstances how could he be
positive and calm?
Forum agreed that in this situation it was really
hard for one to be in a feel good mood. It was the
circumstance that governs people and in such
pressure cooker individual effort to achieve better
life or to be precise achieve liberation from
oppression was impossible.
The second story: A group of students of
undergraduate or post graduate standard
gathered. They were discussing about the
classes going on in their institution. A boy
expressed his satisfaction in online system
stating that it was really helpful for him because
he had not go to the college and by that time he
could attend other online courses for better
carrier. The online education was proved to be
time saving and more feasible way to learn. But
one of them, a girl contradicted him. She
reported poor mobile internet facility at their
locality for which she faced tremendous problem
to follow the classes. One of her friend
suggested to get WIFI at her home. The girl said
that her father was the single earning member of
the family and was not in a situation to afford her
such expensive gadget.
There again conflict of interest arose. The Joker
stopped the play and asked probable alternatives
for the better life of the girl. Forum suggested
that institution could share the responsibility and
subsidise the money for recharging the internet
facility. One of the student spectator here
expressed his view that usually students never
dare to request the authority for these kind of
demand but another student contradicted and
forum decided that they should approach the
Principal of the institution for it.
The play started again as per the suggestion.
The students entered the chamber of the
Principal and placed their demand on the table.
Principal was sympathetic. He listened attentively
but the solution was beyond his jurisdiction. He
must had to submit the proposal to the
 Bhattacharya et al.; AJSR, 7(2): 18-29, 2022; Article no.AJSR.1168
Governing Body, the authoritative committee of
the institution. Then the institution must ask the
Government for the subsidy and ask for more
fund allocation.
Somebody said that Principal could provide
money for the girl which also was enacted and it
was stated logically that the process was never
going to successful because there were lots of
students facing similar problem and Principal
could do nothing with personal initiative.
Therefore Principal asked them to write an
application which he assured to forward to the
Governing body as well as Government for
allocation of money. But forum discussed this
process to be a time taking one and by that time
the examination could be over. Simultaneously
the girl also pointed out another problem, i.e.
shortage of space at home. Forum asked
suggestions regarding this issue also. Two
students here suggested to go to any friend's
home. The suggestion instantly brought into live
and it was found that one of the friends agreed to
accommodate the girl but not for ever. His family
could make objection as COVID was prevailing
and intrusion of outsiders might cause infection.
The girl still had no way to achieve better life.
At this point an eight years old child, the nephew
of a lady participant who was listening the
session suggested that the system could run
another way. It could be all open with mask and
sanitizer and other preventive measures. One of
the participant, the principal of a private Teacher
Training Institution endorsed the statement of
that child. But one participant, a faculty member
present there contradicted and mentioned that it
was possible for the well maintained private
school but what about the public sphere? So it
was time for the group to enact again
keeping these two contrary aspects. They
presented a Government primary school where
the usual teacher student ratio was 1:80 or even
more than that. So it was found that no close
monitoring regarding preventive measures taken
by those children could be possible for a single
teacher and moreover the kids were unruly and
agile by nature. They were more interested in a
mango brought by one of their friends and tried
to scrimmage the fruit. Where have all the masks
gone! That was the horrible reality of any primary
level public school. He reacted again extending
his previous view and stated that until the change
in the whole system occurs no way is there for
better life could be achieved. Now the question
automatically asked who would dare to ring the
bell! The forum ended there raising the question,
24
who would dare to ring the bell. It was a
perception of reality which could only be
achieved through the theatrical performance and
a stage rehearsal of the future struggle which
could be performed.
4. DISCUSSION
Two issues are to be discussed in this article.
The first issue is the merits and demerits of
online education system and its effects on
society with special emphasis to Indian
perspective and the second is the relevance and
validity of forum theatre in virtual medium. One of
the important aspects of Forum Theatre is the
participation of audience, a concept which Boal
referred as spect-actor. Instead of didactic
presentation problem solving activity of the
spectators are expected. But in case of online
medium where no physical contact is possible
the only way to evaluate the participation is to
measure the screen sharing of audience. Before
going into the detail discussion a few points
should be mentioned first. The distribution of
active participants which we showed earlier (Fig.
3) could be much more but due to network
problem some of them might not join the session
at proper time. Some of them called the author
personally later over phone and stated that they
were eager to act but they could not.
COVID 19 has shuttered the whole society and
mankind for last two years. Education sector like
other faculties of society is not exempted from
disaster [29]. Educationists may agree with the
benefits of online education [12] and discussed
the opportunities [30] or somebody may be in
favour of adopting such technology based
system as a sign of progress and modernization
but there are lot of issues must not be ignored. If
we look into the scenario of poor countries and
find some statistical data on the socio-economic
structure the matters could come clear. The
negative impacts of COVID 19 on India’s
economy and human life standards as a whole
was referred by Ghosh et.al., [31]; Ghosh, [32].
“May 2021 was only the fourth month since at
least January 2016 when overall unemployment
rate breached the double-digit mark” said
Financial Express [33]. The price of Petrol and
other fuels already crossed 100 INR, first time in
Indian economic history. As inevitable
consequences data showed that Indian inflation
increased for food (5.15 percent vs 5.01
percent); fuel and light (12.68 percent vs 11.58
percent); and clothing and footwear (6.21 percent
vs 5.32 percent) (Trading Economics). “While
 Bhattacharya et al.; AJSR, 7(2): 18-29, 2022; Article no.AJSR.1168
India maybe one of the fastest growing
economies in the world, it is also one of the most
vulnerable and severely afflicted economies in
terms of economic inequality. The rich continue
to grow richer at a faster pace while the
impoverished struggle more than ever before to
earn a minimum wage.” [34]. Significant
inequality of wealth distribution was reported by
IMRG, with more than 50% of all households
have an annual income of less than £2,000 per
year i.e. less than 20000 INR. Now to maintain a
considerable mobile internet data for higher
education around 2-3% of monthly income is
needed as on date. Is it possible for poor people
to afford that? Now if we consider Mobile network
issue we found the internet penetration rate was
around 50 percent in 2020 i.e. 50% of the total
population was out of access to internet [35]. Atul
Thakur [36] reported a shocking scenario that
“33% of Indians live in less space than US
prisoners”. “900 Million Indians are forced to live
in homes with 2 rooms or less” said Waghmare
[37] (For further research in this issue view
website of Office of the Registrar General &
Census Commissioner, India).Along with the
socio-economic scenario stated above, poor and
developing countries like India have additional
issues like the inexperience of teachers with
regard to this technology based advanced
education system, the information gap, the
proper environment at home, and so forth
[38,39]. Under this backdrop and socio economic
perspective education in the developing and poor
countries are being carried out at present time.
Therefore the issues discussed during the forum
session were very much justified and in tune with
the statistics mentioned above.
But the part so far discussed was focusing just
on the hindrances and constrains of online
education system. But if we look into the issue of
better life we gradually move on to further greater
depth of the experiment where the use of forum
theatre is actually evident. UNESCO said,
“Ambitions for education are essentially captured
in Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) of
the 2030 Agenda which aims to ensure inclusive
and equitable quality education and promote
lifelong learning opportunities for all by 2030”
(UNESCO).But it is obvious that the goal is going
to be challenged in the prevalence of inequality
and oppression worldwide. The current
researches supported this view worldwide where
the financial crisis and other issues were referred
to be the reason of student drop out from schools
and higher education [40-42]. Mental health
issue of higher education students was reported
25
by Dumlao [43]. Thus effluent and well to do
families may be a satisfied and successful slice
of the society under the virtual education system
but those who are suffering from the problems
referred earlier must suffer from severe
undernourishment in context of education. At this
backdrop conflict of interest is obvious. This
conflict of interest in one hand disintegrates
society into several fractions and on the other
hand it indulges selfishness [44]. Furthermore it
restrains mankind in the realm of ‘slogans’,
obstructs ‘dialogue’ and in consequence
prevents liberation. Forum theatre in contrast
encourages dialogue to comprehend the
situation, percept the world view holistically and
instead of being immersed into slogans people
gradually try to get rid of this limit situation
through dialogue [28,1]. Praxis of liberation is
initiated, continues and would finally be achieved
one day. The limit-situations are thus not "the
impassable boundaries where possibilities end,
but the real boundaries where all possibilities
begin”. They are not "the frontier which
separates being from nothingness, but the
frontier which separates being from being more
[45]. During the session the limit situation arose
several times and through dialogue the forum
tried to find the way out of that. Finally at the end
forum reached to a point where it was somewhat
evident that without changing and abolishing the
existent oppressor-oppressed societal structure
achievement of better life for all was a utopian
idea.
COVID 19 pandemic caused loss of loved ones,
economic disaster, psychological trauma etc. but
above all these materialistic glitches it is
producing a sociological and philosophical
catastrophe for the whole human race. Due to
lockdown and ‘social distancing’ (the term itself is
incorrect and should be termed as physical
distancing (Kerkhove [46]) a stagnation in social
life has occurred and every democratic and
social channels of communication has been
sojourned. Yes indeed the distancing is needed
to prevent spreading of virus but that must not
lead to the discontinuation of communion. A tiny
organism of 120 nm in diameter and molecular
weight of 40000 kDa must not win over the
millennium old human journey for liberation.
Education is one of the greatest ways to realize
the oppression (remember Brecht’s quote
‘Hungry man, reach for the book: it is a weapon.’)
and through online mode the very concept of
‘education for all’ is prohibited. This is a new
normal form of oppression. Therefore instead of
asking questions regarding oppression in a
 Bhattacharya et al.; AJSR, 7(2): 18-29, 2022; Article no.AJSR.1168

subjective way like ‘Who is really oppressed?’; [As per journal policy, preprint /repository article
‘Are they really oppressed?’; ‘Aren't others can be published as a journal article, provided it
oppressed as well’; forum experiences is not published in any other journal]
oppression as more and more objectively and in
more clearly identifiable way. In turn, the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
oppressed are able to resist and fight against
oppression [47]. Therefore we should find it The authors deeply thank Department of
through virtual mode as optimal as possible Philosophy, West Bengal State University, West
under this present context. Forum theatre as one Bengal, India for providing the time and space for
of the best method for such communion should the experiment. We honestly acknowledge co
be alive in virtual medium also. speaker Mrs. Sonali Chattopadhyay for her
valuable comments and discussion during the
5. CONCLUSION session. Our heartiest gratitude is there to the
group theatre Goria Sucharcha and its members
The new normal education system though might Arijit Chakraborty, Projay Ghosh, Bappaditya
have some advantages and merits but at the Das Sharma, Deep De, Pritam Haldar, Moumita
same time it caused several problems also. In a Dey, Srijata Mukherjee, Dia Dasgupta for sincere
class divided society and economic structure it effort in this experiment.
could be proved as a bias medium for education
feasible for the effluents and the poor or lower COMPETING INTERESTS
middle class people it seemed to be a hazard.
There might be many possible ways to express Authors have declared that no competing
the demerits but the study opted the forum interests exist.
theatre technique as it has been proved to be a
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