Kirti Jain, a professor of the New Delhi-based National School of Drama (NSD) is a theatre historian who strives to establish traditional indigenous art forms in world drama.

Born in 1949, Kirti, is an MA in English Literature from Delhi University and has a diploma in Theatre (specialisation in Direction) from NSD. From 1995 she has been serving in NSD as Professor in Indian Theatre History. Moreover, Kirti has worked in the "Documentation and Publication Programme", and the "Regional Resource Centre of the School". She says, "We have diversified, rich indigenous theatrical art forms like Katha Gyan and others in every region of Indian subcontinent. The presentation of these art forms is narrative, dance-drama, ritualistic and other forms. The most interesting thing is that each of the indigenous art forms has a very bold theatrical expression."

Why have we failed to develop theatrical history on the lines of the Europeans? Kirti says, "Political turmoil, Turkish invasion, illiterate bards, poverty and lack of knowledge of the art forms are the main obstacles. During the British period their only aim was to diffuse their culture into ours. They have penetrated their traditional theatre concepts into ours. Moreover, many cultures have been blended during the Turkish invasion in India, which interrupted the tradition. As the bards of the indigenous art forms were illiterate, we do not have many written texts of the art forms, which is one of the major obstacles of developing our own theatre history. Further, we are not rich enough to give exposure to our theatre as Japan has done for Kabuki and Noe art forms, though these are not their indigenous forms but are practised by the elite class. But the major problem is that the artistes in the subcontinent lack knowledge about our indigenous theatrical art forms. That is why these rich theatrical forms have been sidelined."

Kirti Jain is a prominent stage play director in India. Her production Aur Kitne Tukde (2000) based on Urvashi Butalia's The Other Side of Silence won tremendous appreciation and was invited for several National Festivals in different parts of the country, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi's Golden Jubilee Festival. It has also been invited for the International Theatre Festival in Lahore, Pakistan. Some important productions- Lehron Ke Rajhans with NSD Repertory 1992, Holi with Bhartendu Natya Akademi 1996, Subarnalata with Kshitij 1999, Tinka Tinka, 2001with NSD students, based on the Gujarat earthquake, Kaun Thagwa Nagariya Lutal Ho, 2004, based on Kashinath Singh's story, also with NSD students. Kirti says, "I have my own theatre troupe. Moreover, I work as the guest director for several other theatre groups. I also direct plays for the Repertory group of NSD."

"I am basically interested in directing plays on the social milieu. I request the playwrights to write on important social issues," she adds.

Kirti has not watched much Bangladeshi theatre. But, the few plays that she has seen have made a lasting impression on her. As Kirti says, " A few years back I watched Bhelua Shundori, a Centre for Asian Theatre production, based on an indigenous art form. It was a superb theatrical presentation."

As the director of NSD from 1988-1995, she introduced the Theatre in Education Company. Kirti has acted in and directed several plays including one at UK, Dartington College of Arts in 1982. Moreover, she has been contributing entries for the Companion to the Indian Theatre published by Oxford University Press (OUP), India and contributed entries on Indian theatre to the Oxford Dictionary of Theatre and Performance, being published by OUP, UK.