Indian People's Theatre Association

In an All India People’s Theatre Conference held in Bombay on 26th May, 1943 in Marwari Vidyalaya, Bombay. The name People’s Theatre was suggested by the scientist, Homi Jehangir Bhabha. The first General Secretary of the IPTA was Anil de Silva, a vibrant artist from Sri Lanka and trade unionist, N.M. Joshi its first President. Benoy Roy, K.T. Chandy, Mama Varerkar, K.A. Abbas, Makhdoom Mohiuddin, Dr Rashid Jehan, S.A. Dange, Shambhu Mitra, Bishnu Dey, Rajendra Raghuvanshi and others were among those who were elected to the executive and as office-bearers.