National Symposium on Indian Folk Theatre: A Conduit of Cultural Heritage
On August 13, 2024, under the auspices of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, the second day of the three-day national symposium on “Indian Folk Theatre: A Conduit of Cultural Heritage” (August 12-14, 2024) was held. Participants from various states represented their regions through their papers across four intellectual sessions. Prof. Rajendra Singh (Professor, Hindi, Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Bihar) convened the symposium, dedicated to the rich culture and traditions of India. The first session of the second day was chaired by Prof. Harimohan Budholia (Scholar, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla). In his presidential address, Prof. Budholia emphasized that folk life is the foundation of humanity, and the connection with folk culture is essential for human existence. He highlighted that this symposium is devoted to the essence of folk culture.
The symposium’s convener, Prof. Rajendra Singh, remarked that today’s sessions are an extension of the sessions held yesterday. In the fourth session, Dr. Pushpa Baranwal presented a paper on “Women in Hindi Folk Theatre,” Prof. Hitendra Mishra on “Folk Theatre and Society,” and Dr. Manisha Patil on “Jambhul Akhyan: Reimagining Draupadi through Marathi Folk Theatre.”
The fifth session was chaired by Dr. Om Prakash Sharma (Tagore Scholar, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla). In this session, Prof. Jai Kaushal (Professor, Hindi Department, Assam University, Diphu Campus, Karbi Anglong, Diphu, Assam) presented a paper on “Ankiya Nat and Srimanta Sankardeva of Assam,” Dr. Anup Lathar on “Revival of Kauravi Folk Theatre Saang,” and Dr. Amit Mishra on “Major Folk Theatres of Rajasthan: Their Various Regions and Forms.”
The sixth session was chaired by Prof. Ashok Sabhrwal (Professor and Head, Hindi Department, Punjab University, Chandigarh). In this session, Dr. Santosh Gundappa Gajale presented a paper on “Analysis and Interpretation of Maharashtra’s Folk Theatre Tradition and the Popular Tamasha Genre,” Prof. Naveen Chandra Lohani on “Kauravi Folk Literature Genre Swang,” and Prof. Rajendra Gautam on “The Role of Ragini in 19th Century Haryanvi Folk Theatre Saang.”
The seventh session was chaired by Prof. Birpal Singh (Head, Hindi Department, Central University of Haryana, Mahendragarh, Haryana). In this session, symposium convener Prof. Rajendra Singh presented a paper on “Voices of Social Change in Kauravi Folk Theatre (With Special Reference to Mahashay Dayachand Maina),” Dr. Rajesh Kumar on “Comparative Study of Malwa’s Folk Theatre ‘Mach’ and Haryanvi Saang,” Dr. Vijay Pradhan on “Folk Theatres of Western Odisha,” and Dr. Bhawani Singh on “Himachal Pradesh’s Famous Cultural Heritage: Thoda Folk Theatre.”
