Involved with drama and Gujarati theatre for almost half a century now, 62-year old Jyoti Bhasker Vaidya has been a witness to the evolving of Gujarati theatre in the city and its progress. Born in Surat on September 9, 1935, Vaidya completed his schooling at the T and TV High School in Nanpura and later did his Masters in English literature. It was during his college days that he came in contact with Dr R I Patel, whom he describes as, ``What Jyoti Vaidya is today is because of Dr R I Patel, my guru.''

However, theatre is not his only passion. He was teaching English literature in many of the city colleges before retiring three years ago as the Head of English Department at the Navyug College. An authority on the English language, Vaidya even rewrites popular English plays in Gujarati nowadays.

Formed a couple of decades ago, `Malhar' has to its credit the making of nationally acclaimed dramas including Ek Mutthi Dhumas, Hun Tame ane Mastram, Ulka and of course Aakhet. Aakhet and Ulka have been chosen to represent the contests for the national award.

Vaidya has received many awards including awards instituted by the South Gujarat University, the Surat Municipal Corporation, and state national-level awards. He has directed over 15 one-act plays including Mrityunjay, Bandh Darwaja, Shah Badshah, Chandalika and an equal number of three-act plays including Ek Muthi Dhumas, Eklo Jane Re, Yatra among others. Besides, Vaidya has also acted in a number of award-winning plays, a serial and a film between 1952 and 1977.

How did it all happen? ``It was somewhere in 1951-52 when Chandrakant Vaidya, my cousin asked me to perform a play at his school. I wrote, directed and acted in the play and since then, things just kept on moving,'' recollects Vaidya.

The beginning of his tryst with theatre is interesting. For the first time in 1950-51, candidates clearing seven subjects were declared passed in the SSC. ``But clearing eight subjects was necessary to get admission in college and me and my friends were practically doing nothing for the year and so took up theatre during that span of time,'' says Vaidya.

Vaidya is deeply attached with Gujarati theatre. ``It's creativity is as good as Bengali or Marathi or for that matter any other vernacular theatre,'' says the man, who has spend most of his life in theatre.

``Sadly, theatre is not being publicised. We do not look beyond frontiers of the city or the state,'' he says, adding talent and art is being wasted and at this rate, the history of Gujarati theatre would not take long to be written.

``Gujarati theatre can be as famous as any other vernacular theatre, but we need to encourage live contact -- theatre and drama. If people are a little more sensitive, Gujarati theatre can reach new heights,'' he says.

This is the message. It is not that good theatre does not exist here, but an appreciative crowd is simply missing here.