Diksha Tiwari: From the Spotlight to the Spoken Word
NEW DELHI – For an artist who has spent two decades navigating the physical rigors of the stage, the transition to a stationary art form might seem like a step back. But for this National School of Drama (NSD) alumna, her debut in Dastangoi—the ancient art of oral storytelling—was less of a performance and more of a spiritual homecoming.
In a recent soul-stirring conversation, the artist opened up about her debut performance at Dyal Singh College, her mentorship under the renowned theatre artist and Dastango Syed Sahil Agha, and how breathing life into Ismat Chughtai’s "Chidi Ki Duggi" changed her forever.
A River of Ancient Echoes
When asked if her first Dastangoi performance felt like a stage or unknown territory, she described it as a river—slow, deep, and carrying the voices of centuries.
"I had walked the floorboards of theatre for twenty years," she shared. "Suddenly, I found myself on a boat made of words, where it isn't about acting, but about the soul of the narrative breathing through you."
The shift from being a "theatre practitioner" to a "Dastango" was profound. In theatre, she explains, the body speaks; in Dastangoi, even the silence speaks. While the stage teaches one to project the voice, Dastangoi teaches the power of the pause, the rhythm of the comma, and the weight of the full stop.
The Ismat Connection and Mentorship
The journey was guided by Syed Sahil Agha, whom she describes not just as a teacher, but as "an anchor of faith." Under his tutelage, she learned to trust the story and, more importantly, herself. Choosing to perform Ismat Chughtai, a powerhouse of Urdu literature, was an intentional dive into the "rough surfaces of truth."
"Ismat’s stories are mirrors of society’s hesitations and a woman’s voice," the artist remarked. "While performing, it felt like I wasn't telling the story—the story was telling me."
The Bridge Between Training and Heritage
As a product of the prestigious National School of Drama, the artist views her evolution as the completion of a circle:
• NSD gave her the platform.
• Dastangoi gave her a legacy.
• The Result: A bridge between "acting" and "narrating" that defines her true identity.
Why Storytelling Matters in a Digital Age
In an era of flickering screens and short attention spans, the artist believes Dastangoi is more relevant than ever. She likens the art to a lamp fueled by the past, flickering in the winds of the present, and lighting the way for the future.
"The hunger for a human story never changes. The glare of a screen is fleeting, but a true voice settles in the heart."
The Road Ahead: Giving Voice to the Silenced
Looking forward, her path is not one of simple walking, but of listening. She intends to seek out stories written on the margins—the tales of women, the echoes of silence, and the moments that have been left behind.
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