Bhubaneswar: In a remarkable cultural exchange, a group of 10 students from KISS and as many students from KIIT are gearing up for a unique experience-they will stage a play by the legendary playwright William Shakespeare in the prestigious World Shakespeare Festival to be held this May at University of Craiova, Romania.
This initiative is believed to be a first in India, where students from an educational institution have trained in Shakespearean drama and gone on to perform it on an international platform.
A group of 10 students from KISS—ranging from PhD scholars to undergraduate and BBA students—will participate in the prestigious festival. They will present Shakespeare’s works in indigenous tribal languages, bringing a fresh and vibrant twist to the global stage.
In total, KISS students will perform three of Shakespeare’s plays in their native tongues—an achievement that is being hailed as a matter of pride not just for the institution, but for tribal communities and the entire state of Odisha.
Adding to this, 10 students from KIIT University, representing disciplines such as Electronics & Computer Science, Computer Science Engineering, Electronics & Telecommunication, IT, Film & Television Production, and Journalism, will also take part.
Interestingly, even though these students are not from tribal backgrounds, they will perform in tribal languages—truly a case of crossing cultural boundaries and embracing diversity.
The students will stage adaptations of classics like ‘Romeo and Juliet’, ‘Macbeth’, and ‘Hamlet’ in the Santali language. The timing is especially significant, as the Santali language’s Ol Chiki script has recently completed 100 years.
During their two-month stay in Romania, the students will continue rehearsals and performances, immersing themselves in both theatre and cultural learning. They will also earn certification in Romanian language and culture—killing two birds with one stone by combining art with academics.
Expressing his delight, KIIT and KISS founder Dr Achyuta Samanta congratulated the students. He noted that while KISS students have already made a mark globally in sports and academics, they are now ready to take the cultural world by storm as well, truly adding another feather to their cap.
