Kolkata-based blind theatre group Shyambazar Anyadesh (Registration No. S/1L 48227 of 2007-2008) was established in 2006 following a split from arguably the first blind theatre group in India, Blind Opera, founded back in 1996. Shubhashis Gangopadhyay, the artistic director of Shyambazar Anyadesh, had been one of the founders – and also the artistic director – of Blind Opera which eventually he parted ways with due to some creative and foundational differences.

While Shyambazar is a well-known place in the northern part of Kolkata, the phrase Anyadesh in Bangla means, quite literally, A Different Country. Effectively, this phrase serves as a metaphor since this group keeps searching for a different space for the visually impaired people and also, in a wider sense, for the marginalized and underprivileged ones in society it’s been working with since its inception.

A distinguished center for theatre practice and theatre pedagogy, Shyambazar Anyadesh has currently 30 visually impaired actor-members who, interestingly enough, manage the organization too. It would be hard to find such a dynamic blind theatre group, solely managed by the blind performers themselves. Apart from the theatre-related activities this group remains committed to taking care, to the best of its capacities, of the physical and psychological well-being of its members.

1. Shyambazar Anya Desh (estd. 2006) is a unique theatre-based institution, conceived and specially designed for the visually impaired persons. It is a hugely active theatre group consisting of people with varying degrees of visual impairment.
2. Comprising both theatre practice and researches on theatre-based activities, Shyambazar Anya Desh remains a great enabler for the visually impaired people.
3. Inclusivity being its mantra, Shyambazar Anya Desh reckons visual impairment to be an ordeal with a social dimension.
4. Physical disability coupled with immense psychological stress and financial burden keeps making their lives difficult. Shyambazar Anya Desh remains committed to leading these persons to an alternative plane of living, rich in artistic dignity and financially more stable.
5. In addition to drama therapy and music therapy for the marginalized people, Shyambazar Anya Desh arranges educational classes and keeps sensitizing them to different kinds of constitutional rights they’re entitled to.

Shyambazar Anya Desh since its inception has stuck to its goal of setting up a center for theatre practice and pedagogy where the visually impaired persons from all over the world can meet, stage productions if any, and to top it all exchange experiences leading to some meaningful dialogues. On a wider spectrum, it is going to remain open to marginalized people of different sorts whatsoever, not just the visually impaired ones.