An in-depth look at Bengali folk theatre

Shawpan Guha speaks at the programme. Dr. Christina Nygren and Ramendu Majumdar are seen seated.Photo: Mumit M.

The publication ceremony of "Boundless Bengal," a research-based book on Bengali folk theatre traditions, was held at the Seminar Room of Central Public Library yesterday. Swedish folklore researcher Dr. Christina Nygren is the author of the book.
Dr. Nygren, noted theatre personality and ITI President Ramendu Majumdar and Chief of Jatra Unnayan Parishad Milon Kanti Dey, among others, spoke on the occasion. Eminent folklore researcher Professor Shamsuzzaman Khan presided over the programme. Theatre Bank was the organiser of the programme.
The book is the output of an eight-year-long research by Dr. Nygren. Nygren first came to Bangladesh in 1992 to attend a seminar at the "Folk Theatre Festival" arranged by ITI. She was introduced to Bangladeshi folk art, in particular folk theatre, at the festival.
"I requested the organisers to arrange a 'jatra pala' performed by a rural troupe but they initially declined," Dr. Nygren said at the programme.
"Later I enjoyed a 'jatra pala' performed by Kohinur Opera, which encouraged me to learn more about it," she added.
Though "Boundless Bengal" highlights the folk theatre forms of both Bangladesh and India, traditional 'jatra pala' got an emphasis and priority in her research, according to Dr. Nygren.
Apart from 'jatra pala', other traditional performing art forms like 'shong pala'; theatre performances by sex workers and inter-sex communities; religious rituals like 'Muharram' and the baul lifestyle have been featured in the book.
The book has been written in Swedish and the original title is "Brokiga Bengalen." 'Brokiga' means multi-coloured, a description Dr. Nygren thinks fit for Bengali folk theatre traditions. An introductory writing on the book in English was provided at the programme.
The English version of the book is in the pipeline and a Bangla version would also be published in near future, said Shawpan Guha, one of the research associates of Dr. Nygren. Guha is chief of a Khulna based organisation 'Rupantar Institute of Folk Theatre.' The organisation has taken the initiative to publish the book in Bangla and English.
Noted 'jatra' artistes S.M. Mohsin and Sultan Selim also spoke at the programme. A traditional 'shong pala' was staged after the publication ceremony.