Indian Folk Theatre and social issues

In 2016, I got a wonderful chance to participate in A.K.Ramanujan Paper Reading Contest 2016. Unfortunately due to some reasons the contest was postponed afterwards. Here I would like to share a brief overview of my subject on which I was working.

Indian Folk Theatre and social issues

“Bhavai- form of Folk Theatre of Gujarat and the social Issues”

Abstract

FOLK THEATRE

Folk Theatre is the Theatre which originated and evolved among, and has been transmitted through, the common people. Its relationship with the common people is deep, multiple and multi-layered. It is a kind of entertainment but not entertainment alone. It carries entire culture with all the positive and negative aspects. We find reflection of customs, rituals and beliefs of common people of a state.

BHAVAI- Popular Folk Theatre form of Gujarat

Bhavai, known as Vesha or Swang, is a popular folk theatre form of western India especially in Gujarat.

Bhavai may have been derived from Sanskrit word, Bhava (ભાવ) means expression. It is also associated with Hindu goddess Amba. Bhav means Universe and Aai means Mother, so it is considered art form dedicated to Mother of Universe, Mother Amba. Bhavai is also known as Vesha (વેશ) or Swang (સ્વાંગ) which literally means 'get-up'.

Bhavai is believed to have originated in the 14th century. Asaita Thakar is traditionally credited for its origin. Bhavai Veshas portray people from all classes of society.

Social issues in Bhavai

The performance of Bhavai at any particular time tends to become a mirror of the prevailing society reflecting its literary, social and political aspects.

The majority of the veshas of Bhavai are social and they depict various aspects of the prevalent ways and manners of people. Many pictures of prevailing customs and manners, beliefs and superstitions, fashions and fobias, can be obtained from the Bhavai. Certain social evils are also frankly described and criticised like the evil of incompatible marriage (here the marriage between a young boy and a grown up youthful woman), the evil of untouchability, the evil of superstitious beliefs and much more.

Reference:-

1.) Bhavai :- Sudha.R.Desai (Gujarat Unviversity, Ahemdabad)

2.) History of Indian Theatre, Volume 2 :- Manohar Laxman Varadpande

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