The Evolution of Theatre of Bengal from Gupta Dynasty's Conquest to Pre-Liberation War of Bangladesh of 1971
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PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATION (2021) 58(4): 2123-2129 Article Received: 08th October, 2020; Article Revised: 15th February, 2021; Article Accepted: 20th March, 2021 The Evolution of Theatre of Bengal From Gupta Dynasty’s Conquest to Pre-Liberation War of Bangladesh of 1971 Diana Ansarey Department of English, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya, Malaysia. Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT The paper discusses the origins, changes, and overall development of theatre in Bengal prior to the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971. It looks at the influences of Sanskrit and European drama on the beginnings of theatre in this region. In addition, the article examines the decline of theatre in West Bengal after the 1947 partition and explores the reasons behind it along with an analysis of its eventual convalescence. Besides that, the paper evaluates the efforts of women working in the theatre industry, fighting against oppression and eventually finding their identity amongst the important roles in the theatre world today. The study chronicles the works of all the visionaries who have worked against the grain to establish the theatre in a once conservative region. The findings of the study is based on the interviews of various theatre professionals who have seen and grown through the turmoil of the industry over the years Keywords Theatre, Sanskrit, European, West Bengal, East Bengal, Theatre Industry, Visionaries, Theatre Professionals dynasty‟s conquest of Bengal led to the integration of Introduction Northern Indian Aryan culture into ancient Bengali culture, introducing the tradition of theatre in Bengal. The Sanskrit Theatre, at its core, is simply the act of acting out theatre practice was a „reflection of Brahmanical thought‟. something; it does not require a special building and stage, Its targeted audience were the members of the aristocracy for it can take place on a threshing floor, in a street corner, and the intelligentsia i.e the sahridaya (intellectually or on anything one can place their feet on. The word advanced). A popular Sanskrit drama was, Shudraka‟s „theatre‟ also indicates the predominant collaborative, Mricchakatika (The Little Clay Cart) which dramatizes a complex system of play production, i.e., acting out an revolt of a pretender (Mricchakatika) who usurps the throne imagined or past event in a building specially built for the and becomes the king and eventually wins the day. purpose of theatrical presentation or on a stage equipped Another play, Vishakhadatta‟s Mudrarakshasa (The with different sets and sceneries. So, the meaning of the Minister‟s Seal), was a historical play in ancient India. Here word 'theatre' can be anything between the two definitions Chanakya conspires to overthrow a king and to support an mentioned above, and hence, in the wider sense, theatre had allied king of his choice. His character modelled on the existed even before the writing of the play. prominent minister Chandragupta Maurya (322-298 B.C.) In the same way, theatre has existed in this region for as who wrote a political treatise “Arthashastra” for the reigning long as civilization has existed. Therefore, it seems Emperor of his time. Akbar (A.D 1556-1605) and Shah unsurprising that, over the centuries, the Bengal Theatre has Jahan (A.D 1627-1657) tried to encourage Sanskrit literature slowly evolved and progressed into a rich and magnificent and pursued translations of works such as Upanishads and medium of self-expression for the people. The aim of this Bhagavad Gita in the Mughal era (1526-1761). However, research paper is to analyse the overall development of Sanskrit drama tended to disappear by the time of the theatre in East Bengal and West Bengal respectively and muslim invasion in the tenth century due to attitudes of show how it has developed into one of the most beloved art- muslims towards art and drama and Persian being the forms which has shed light on matters previously remained enforced court language. Only the folk drama like jatra undiscovered. survived the Mugal conquest. Early narratives of early jatra improvised around legendary stories of Krishna and myths of Gods staged in open courtyards. Jatra was to play an Origins of Theatre in Greater Bengal important role later as a form of resistance against the oppressive West. However, the Bengali community, While sketching the modern history of theatre in culture, art, etc., have always been syncretic, fusing Bangladesh, it is observed that the tradition has existed for concepts that appear incompatible, while maintaining centuries and has slowly evolved to its contemporary state. recognizable local characteristics in their aesthetic The early practices of theatre took different forms in manifestations. Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, Islam, narrating the story, for instance in the narrative form, the Christianity, and many other different religions and cultures addition of song and dance and the use of supra-personae, have contributed to the distinct and diverse aesthetic thus creating a ceremonial ambience. But the true origin of heritage of this region. theatre in Bengal can be said to have begun in the 4th In 1757, the British conquered Bengal and brought with century AD in the form of Sanskrit drama. The Gupta them Shakepeare plays which were signified discursive 2123 www.psychologyandeducation.net PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATION (2021) 58(4): 2123-2129 Article Received: 08th October, 2020; Article Revised: 15th February, 2021; Article Accepted: 20th March, 2021 power representations in a historical context. However, to In March 1872, Ramabhishek (The Welcome of Ram) was be more specific this portrayed the colonial power functions staged at Purbobango Rangabhumi, the first theatre of East via the legitimization of Shakespeare as the authoritative Bengal (now Bangladesh). However, Dhaka only English text. Thus began the beginnings of 200 years of represented what was a fraction of the mainstream theatre colonial rule. The British introduced theatre and practice of Kolkata. Tantibazar Theatre was established in entertainment to the elite Indians who looked for a new 1873; and, so troupes from Bengal National Theatre, Hindu sense of identity as they mimicked the British in language National Theatre, and Classic Theatre of Kolkata frequently and style. The British regime ironically, ended through performed in Dhaka. These frequent trips by the Kolkata protest instigated through drama productions. Utpal Dutt troupes generated a lot of interest amongst the elite of used postcolonial and anti-imperialist reading of armed Dhaka. This inspired the founder of the local Jubilee High resistance and rebellion in the history of colonial India as School, Kishorilal Roy Chowdhury to build a theatre by the themes for his Jatra palas. He used the popular medium of name of Diamond Jubilee Theatre, commemorating the the jatra for the propagation of certain political ideologies sixtieth anniversary of the coronation of Queen Victoria. which finally led to the 1947 independence of India. The ownership of the theatre was later transferred to another enthusiast of stage theatre in Dhaka, Mirza Abdul Quader, popularly known as Quader Sardar. Diamond Jubilee Theatre during the Colonial Period Theatre was later re-christened as Lion Theatre at Islampur and has since been converted into a cinema house. A few A substantial turn in South-Asian theatre took place during years after the foundation of the Diamond Jubilee Theatre, the British colonial period. The British introduced what is Rakhal Basak founded Crown Theatre in the vicinity of the called today the „proscenium theatre‟, but it had mostly been Ahsan Manzil, the palace that housed the Nawabs of Dhaka. centered in Kolkata . Nevertheless, like a ripple effect, the This encouraged the young people of Dhaka to form various traditional format of theatre was being practiced in the drama clubs for irregular and amateur performances on remotest areas of today‟s Bangladesh. English colonizers different festive occasions; and, most of them gained huge from 1757 onwards took political and economic measures popularity. Prominent amongst these were the Sabji Mahal which eventually led to the Bengali renaissance in the early Dramatic Club, Wari Dramatic Club, Gandaria Dramatic 19th century; and this affected all aspects of intellectual Club, and Farashganj Dramatic Club.Other theatres pursuits in what is now Bangladesh. The European theatre established in Dhaka towards the end of the nineteenth was diverse and dynamic because of the urban intelligentsia century included a theatre named Jagaddhatri Natyamancha. elite who responded to and supported the needs of the urban It was built in Munshiganj; and, it exists even to this day. spectators. The inauguration of the European theatre in Quite a few theatres were also established outside Dhaka Bengal took place in 1856 with a performance of Svarna during the first two decades of the twentieth century. These Sharnkhal (Golden Sharnkhal) by Durgadas Kar at Barisal included the Edward Theatre, Khulna Theatre, and in Bangladesh. Coronation Dramatic Club. Also, in this period, the Stage theatre as „proscenium‟ stage presentation began on zamindars of Santosh, Elenga, Shibpur, Aloa, and Karatiatin November 27, 1795, with the staging of a Bengali Tangail established a number of theatres. translation of an English play, The Disguise, by a Russian Theatrical activities in Dhaka (then Dacca) closely followed called Herasam Stepanovitch Lebedeff at the Doomtollah the trend of Kolkata and was exclusive to the affluent theatre, built by Lebedeff himself in Kolkata Another play landlords, merchants, barristers, well-known doctors or was also translated but not staged in 1795 titled Love is the businessmen, and a few distinguished families. This was Best Doctor. The „proscenium‟ stage was rekindled in the until the establishment of the medium as a fully professional palaces and garden houses of the aristocrats living in and commercially feasible form of art. However, Dhaka Kolkata. First amongst these was the theatre built by lagged far behind Kolkata.