Sambandh 2023

Swami Agnivesh- Praful Bidwai- B. M. Kutty Memorial

21st Annual Sambandh Inter-School and Inter-Collegiate

One Act Plays Competitions on:

Impact of War and Violence on a Family

Telugu, Hindi and Urdu

22nd and 24th August 2023-
Birla Planetarium and Science Museum, Hyderabad
Organised by COVA Peace Network,

In Association With: NASIM Foundation USA, CNDP, Dwani, ICAN and Youth TRAC.
Media Partner: SITI Vision Digital Network and
Event Sponsors: Drapes & More and fanzart

Sambandh Competitions are organised annually to commemorate Hiroshima and Nagasaki and celebrate the memories and contributions of Swami Agnivesh and Praful Bidwai of India and B. M. Kutty of Pakistan to honour their invaluable contributions for peace.

Theme for Sambandh 2023: Impact of War and Violence on a Family

Objective: Sensitise society to long term devastation of individuals and families from different forms of violence.
52 Plays were performed on suffering of common people:

  • Because of wars and armed conflicts
  • From loss of life, property and curfews due to caste, communal and sectarian violence;
  • Discrimination against castes, minorities
  • Plight of unmarried woman and orphaned children
  • Perils of being poor
  • Partisan behavior of some law enforcers
  • Sufferings of families of martyred Soldiers
  • Nuclear bombs, Hiroshima, disease and death

Twenty Award Winning Plays will be posted on different social media platforms for mass circulation in the next 2 months.

All the Plays succeeded remarkably in bringing out the sufferings and struggle of families and common people due to these conflicts and have potential to sensitize society at large to the devastations caused by different social conflicts.

312 performers from fifty two schools were awarded medals, certificates and Mementos for their acts and cash prizes were presented to 6 schools and 3 colleges for securing 1st , 2nd and 3rd Places. Consolation Prizes were awarded to 2 colleges and 9 schools..

1st Prizes were awarded to:

  1. Unique High School and
  2. St Georges Degree College for Women

2rd Prizes were bagged by

  1. New Modal High School,
  2. Birla Open Minds International School
  3. Gyanam Jr College Girls

3rd Prizes were secured by:

  1. TMRJC Charminar Girls-1 – College,
  2. Javid Mission High School Global High School,
  3. St Marks Boys town High School
  4. Global High School

Best Performers:

Rishika Roy of Birla Open Minds International School and Shaik Mohammed Moinudddin of Unique High School

Best Anchors: Gungan of Sharada Vidyalaya High School and Sri Ram Shanmukh of St. Andrews High School

Eleven Consolation Prizes were presented to:

  1. Hyderabad Mission High School
  2. Oshin High School
  3. Scholar’s Model High school
  4. Brilliant Mission High school
  5. Mamta High School
  6. St Andrews High School
  7. Javid Mission High school
  8. Iqra Mission High School – (Girls)
  9. Sharada Vidyalaya High School
  10. Iqra Junior College
  11. Asian Grammar Junior College

Mr. Santosh Mehra, IPS, former Director General of Police inaugurated the Program on 22nd August 2023 and spoke about the need to combat stereotypes and discrimination that some Plays portrayed so effectively.

Delivering the Valedictory Address on 24th August 2023 Mr. Gareth Wynn Owen, The British Deputy High Commissioner of Hyderabad complimented the students for the mesmerizing performances and the powerful messages conveyed.

Other Guests who delivered inspiring messages and presented awards on the Inaugural Day and at the Valedictory Program were Mr. K. Venkateshwarlu, former Resident Editor, the Hindu, Mr. Vithal Rao Arya of Arya Pratinidhi Samaj, Mr. Jaywant Naidu, President Hyderabad Management Associations, Ms Mateen Ansari, Founder of DOBARA, Mr. Vijay Bharatiya, SAPA; Ms. Maria Arifuddin, Educationist, Ms Amina Niloufer Hussain, Kaam4U, Mr. Anwar Khan, Educationist, Mr. Salauddin Masood Builder and Philanthropist, Mr. Amirudddin Mohammed Business Person and Philanthropist, Mr. P Vijay Singh, Teachers and Lecturers Union; Mr. Abbas Ali Akhil Consultant Renewable Energy and Ms. Roshan Shaik, Social Media Professional from and USA Mr. Syed Saad Mohammed Aadil, Banker from UAE.

Bro. Varghese Theckaneth, President of COVA Presided at the Inaugural Function, Ms. Aparna Adhikari, Secretary COVA conducted the Concluding Session and Dr. Mazher Hussain, Executive Director of COVA welcomed the gathering and introduced Sambandh Program. M. Ajay of COVA proposed the Vote of Thanks.

Judges for the One Act Plays were Capt. Chitta Srinivas, Mr. T. Vijaya Raghava and Mr. Bharat Kidambi.

15 Students of the Dhwani Groups of St. Anns College, Mehdipatnam, Hyderabad provided invaluable voluntary services that greatly contributed to the success of the Program. We are especially beholden to Ms. Bhamarashree and Ms. Padma, Faculty of St. Anns College who coordinated the participation of the volunteers.

Annexure 1
Prize Winners: Schools and Play Titles

  1. Unique High School – Nation and Diversity
  2. St.George’s Degree College – Kya Pata Kal Ho Na Ho
  3. Birla Open Minds International School – Adhuri Udaan
  4. New Model High School – Change: Ek Koshish
  5. Gyanam Junior College (Girls Block) -Domestic and Physical Abuse
  6. Javid Mission High school – Zimadar Kaun?
  7. Global High School – Impact of War and Violence on a Family
  8. St. Marks Boys Town High School – Desh Ki Khani Meri Zubani
  9. TMRJC Charminar Girls-1 – Freedom for People in Independent India
  10. Hyderabad Mission High School – A Shop Keeper
  11. Oshin High School – Impact of wars in the world on a family
  12. Scholar’s Model High school – Effect of Curfew on a Family
  13. Brilliant Mission High school – Bhed Bhav (casteism)
  14. Sharada Vidyalaya High School – बुरे वकत का अनुभव
  15. Iqra Mission High School (Girls) – Jung Aur Khaandani Jaddo Jahad
  16. St Andrews High School – Kashtephali
  17. Javid Mission High school – Working Lady
  18. Mamta High School – Kuttumbam Pai Himsa Yudam vati Prabhavam
  19. Asian Grammar Junior College – Impact of War
  20. Iqra Junior College – Aman Ki Talaash

Mazher Hussain
Executive Director
COVA Peace Network
Hyderabad, India
Email. mazher@covanetwork.org
Whatsapp : 9394544244