SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 15: As part of events to celebrate World Mental Health Day, a special workshop named ‘Tzc’are Poup – The Clapping’ – was organised at the Institute of Music and Fine Arts, University of Kashmir.
The brainchild of Rafia Jan, Fellow at the Azadi Leadership Program, New Delhi, the workshop aims to create spaces for emotional well-being. Inaugurated on October 10 by the Principal of the Institute, Prof. Rubi Zutshi, the two-day workshop used creative media such as theatre and art to engage young minds and explore their emotions. Different sessions were conducted by experts in theatre and art therapy, with over 30 students from various colleges and universities in Kashmir participating.
Throughout the two days, experts conducted specialised technical sessions. The inaugural session was conducted by Rafia Jan, the organising fellow, and Naushad Hussain, Head of the Department of Applied Arts. They both emphasised the importance of the workshop and the continuation of such sessions beyond World Mental Health Day 2024, particularly in raising awareness about the emotional connection and its significance. They stressed how such workshops can help connect on both mental and physical levels, allowing participants to channel their energies productively.
Shahid Malik, an NSD-certified theatre trainer, used theatre techniques during the sessions. He has worked on many similar projects, including EdRAAK, involving children and youth. Ghumar Shaheen, an experienced counsellor and Kashmir-based art therapist, used art as a tool to study emotions, involving participants through the use of colours. She focused on how our emotions are connected to colours in nature and how these can be used for healing. It is worth mentioning that Ghumar has been conducting art therapy throughout Kashmir and is open to holding further sessions.
A unique session led by behavioural scientist Afreen Zehra helped participants understand their individual “emotional maps”—the journey of how young minds express their inner feelings, which are often not given space in family or educational settings.
Speaking about the workshop, organiser Rafia Jan said, “It is not just a routine event, but a movement. It’s about connecting our youth to their feelings and sparking a dialogue through arts and creativity. We have joined this journey of self-discovery, where every story, through colours or writings, by our young minds is a step towards identifying ourselves and discussing these experiences in the safe spaces we create. The New National Educational Policy also focuses on such interventions, like emotional well-being.”
Iliyas Rizvi, co-organiser and founder of EdRAAK, added, “Such unique sessions encourage us to know more about ourselves and help us grow in knowledge and enlightenment. These activities contribute to psychological sensitisation, and beyond World Mental Health Day, we must continue working together with students who have extraordinary acumen and need further mentorship. The present education system merely focuses on syllabi and top positions in exams, which not only overburdens students but at times makes knowledge uninteresting.”
Zoya, a class 12 student, shared a joyful story as a participant. She said, “Beyond routine classroom learning, it taught me so much about the inner self of people, their lives, and different aspects of life that are usually ignored by educational institutions.”
The organisers thanked ‘Parsa Foods’ for supporting the workshop.
