The Delhi Development Authority (DDA), in collaboration with the National School of Drama (NSD), has launched the first batch of 'RangBaag' — a six-week, production-oriented theatre workshop — at the Maya Art Gallery inside Indraprastha Park, New Delhi. The initiative, which began on Saturday, 3 May 2025, marks the first institutional collaboration between DDA and NSD aimed at transforming Delhi's public parks into structured spaces for arts education and community engagement.

What RangBaag Involves

The inaugural batch includes 21 children between the ages of 12 and 16 years, guided by NSD-trained theatre educators. According to an official statement, the intensive programme covers communication exercises, movement-based activities, storytelling, improvisation, and basic performance techniques — all delivered in a collaborative and play-based environment.

The workshop is designed to nurture self-expression, confidence, empathy, and teamwork, while deepening participants' sensitivity towards their surroundings through the medium of theatre. The programme is expected to culminate in a final public performance on 14 June 2025, where participants will showcase their creative journey before family members and mentors.

The Vision Behind the Initiative

The initiative aligns with Delhi Lieutenant Governor and DDA Chairman Taranjit Singh Sandhu's stated emphasis on reimagining Delhi's public green spaces as vibrant centres of community learning and cultural engagement. Officials described 'RangBaag' as a scalable model for integrating arts, education, and community participation into the capital's public infrastructure.

Notably, this is not the DDA's first foray into cultural programming within its parks. The authority recently organised heritage walks and cultural performances at the Mehrauli Archaeological Park, which reportedly attracted thousands of Delhi residents — with Lieutenant Governor Sandhu himself participating in the event.

DDA's Role in Delhi's Green Spaces

The DDA is one of India's largest custodians of urban ecological infrastructure, managing large parks, biodiversity zones, and city forests across the national capital. While these spaces have traditionally served as centres for environmental stewardship, 'RangBaag' represents a deliberate institutional shift — extending the mandate of public parks beyond recreation and ecology into the domain of cultural and creative education.

The official statement noted that both DDA and NSD reaffirm through this initiative their commitment to