Puppetry in Assam

by Gitali Saikia | 2018 | 39,831 words

This represents a methodological study of Puppetry in Assam, which forms a major part of their ancient traditions and folk dramas. The art of puppetry has close relation with Assamese culture and society. Even though the availability of local literature is limited, there are many books on Indian puppetry....

Puppetry in Assam (Introduction)

Puppetry is one of the popular art forms of Assam. The actual time of the existence of the tradition of puppetry in Assam is not clear. Many written evidence about puppet theatre in Assam indicates that it is a pre Sankarian art form. The reference of puppetry in the Kalikapurana is the strong and trustworthy example of existence of puppetry in Assam from before the 9th century.The Kalikapurana is believed to composed between 9th and 11th centuries. The term “Panchalika vihara” used in Kalikapurana indicates the existence of puppet tradition in those times. In Sanskrit language “Panchali” or “Panchalika” mean puppet and “Panchalikavihara” may be indicating a particular type of puppet show.

The Katha-Guru-Carita, also has reference of existence of puppet thetre in Assam.The Katha Guru Carita is biography of vashnavite saints of Assam. According to the Katha-Guru-Carita, shadow puppet show was organized in Shri Sankardeva’s father Kushumbar Siromoni Bhuyan’s residence to celebrate Sankardeva’s birth.

The show was organized after twenty two days of Sankardeva’s birth.

“Very significant references in the Katha Guru Carita, an early 18th century text,to the two varities of puppet shows bolster up the contention that puppetry was a popular and influential art form at the time of the composition of the celebrated biography of the saints.The first is a direct reference to a shadow puppet show being performed at the residence of Sankardeva’s father on the twenty second day of the birth of the saint.”[1]

Unfortunately,at present there are no any shadow puppet group in Assam. Noted scholar Kaliiram Medhi had the opinion that Sankardeva had utilized elements from indigenous forms in creation of Ankia nat.Those indigenous forms used by Sankardeva was ojapali, puppet theatre, dhuliya bhaona etc. Kaliram Medhi was supported by many Assamese scholars,as direct or indirect influence of folk theatre forms of Assam can notice in bhaona. The reference about puppetry in neovaishnavite literature of Sankardeva and his followers supports the theory of Kaliram Medhi. Their compositions have clear evidence of existence of puppet shows. Sankardeva and other authors of his time used the term tatak-tatek-natak to indicate puppet shows and tatekia and bajikar to indicate showman or puppeteer.Bajikar is specialized in the art of animating the puppets with the help of mechanical devices known as yantra.

The Assamese Bhagavata also has several references of puppetry.Those references indicate the existence of wooden puppets (kasthara, kasthamaya putula or daru putula) and shadow puppets (chaya–putula).

Some of the references are represented below:

“As the showman makes the lifeless puppets dance on the machine” (tatekiya yena jada putalaka yantrata tuli nacawe).”

“As the wooden puppet is manipulated on the machine” (Kasthara putali yena yantrata nacawe).”

“As the gopis are made to dance in the manner of shadow–puppets” (gopika nachanta yena chaya putalaka).

“As the shadow puppets are made to dance on the machines”. (Chhaya putalaka yena nacawai yatane).

According to well known puppeteer Narayan Deka,string puppetry is the only form of puppetry practiced in Assam.”[2] . Narayan Deka is basically a traditional puppeteer.However, it is seen that some enthusiastic new puppeteers are using both rod and string puppets in their shows according to the demand of the story they wished to present through puppetry.The puppet wing of Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakhetra are trying to promote rod,glove, shadow and even water puppets. Scholars and experts believe that water puppet or jol putli existed in Assam long before 15th century. Initiative step up to took to promote water puppet in Assam was seen in puppet festival held in 2011 in Sankardev Kalakhetra. The puppet wing of Kalakhetra performed water puppet on request of Sangeet Natak Akademi.An interaction with Chabin Rajkhowa, reveal that water puppet was once a very popular among village people of Assam. Jol putli was performed on baots or rafts of banana tree.The raft ofm banana tree is known as bhur in local language in Assam.Unfortunately it migrated to Vietnam and now it is treated as national heritage of Vietnam.[3]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Datta Birendranath:Puppetry in Assam Past avd Present,North Eastern Archival Centre for Traditional Art and Folklore.,1999,p:4

[2]:

Informant:Narayan Deka,Makhibaha,Nalbari,5/5/16

[3]:

Informant: Chabin Rajkhowa,Guwahati,3/5/14

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