Folk Theatre Pandwani : Based on the Epic Mahabharata

Niranjan Mahawar

ISBN 10: 8170175399 / ISBN 13: 9788170175391

Published by Abhinav Publications, 2013

About this Item

Pandwani is a monodramatic form of Chhattisgarh which originated among the Pradhan Gond tribe as a long ballad. Gradally it evolved into a theatre form. In its original form it contained many Gond myths and ethnographic elements. But gradually those elements were weeded out and the theatrical performers adopted the text of the Mahabharata of Sabal Singh Chauhan which is in Avadhi language and written in Doha-Choupai metres. The beauty of the form is every performer improvises the text in his own way and everyone has his own style of performance. Pandwani theatre now is extablished throughout the world. In the year 1984, 1985, 1987 and 1988 Madhya Pradesh Adivasi Lokkala Academy organized Pandwani festivals at Bhopal, Raipur, Durg and Raipur respectively. In this search programme more than 50 Pandwani parties were identified. This shows that unlike other folk theatre forms of India, Pandwani is still flourishing. About the Author: The author did his post-graduation in economics in the year 1960 from Sagar University and went to Bastar in 1962 to look after their family business of rice mill. He was fascinated by the tribals and their way of life. While living in Bastar he developed interest in anthropology and culture of the people and started documenting various aspects of arts and culture. Gradually, he developed interest in the tribal culture and various art forms of Central India and since last fortyfive years he has been documenting tribal and folk arts, folk theatre forms, folklore, tribal myths and other aspects of tribal and folk ways. On the basis of his work which is spread in more than four decades span of time he has planned five books on tribal and folk arts, eight books on folk theatre, four monographs on tribes and three-four books on folk tales and folk songs and ballads. All these works will be appearing soon gradually. The author has a very large collection of artifacts of his own which includes tribal bronzes from Bastar, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand and West Bengal. He has also a large collection of folk and tribal paintings, artistic wooden tribal combs, tribal ornaments and other ritual objects. He has gifted his collection of terracotta artifacts numbering about six hundred of Central India to the Anthropological Survey of India Museum at Bastar. The author has published fifty articles on various subjects of tribal art, folk theatre, folklore and some tribes. He was the executive committee member of Madhya Pradesh Adivasi Lok Kala Parishad as an expert on tribes for eight years. He was on the advisory board of Choumasa for twenty years, a journal of the M.P. Adivasi Lok Kala Parishad. He has been a member of South Central Zone Cultural Centre for eight years in all its committees as an expert on tribal and folk culture. Presently, he is engaged in finalizing his works for publication. He is also working on the encyclopaedia of folklore of North Indian languages.

Seller Inventory # 114513

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Folk Theatre Pandwani : Based on the Epic Mahabharata
• Publisher: Abhinav Publications
• Publication Date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 8170175399
• ISBN 13: 9788170175391
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: New
• Dust Jacket Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Pandwani is a theatrical form of India which has gained fame throughout the world. It is a mono theatre form of presentation that originated among the Pradhan Gond tribe of Chhattisgarh. Originally in the form of a long ballad containing many Gond myths and epigraphical elements, today many of these elements have been replaced by the text of the Mahabharata. Theatrical performers improvise on the Mahabharata text of Sabal Singh Chauhan which is set in Doha-Choupai metre in Avadhi language. Performers improvise this text in numerous ways while performing with the result that everyone has his own method of performing. The volume is a detailed study of the Pandwani theatrical form. It examines different episodes from the various styles of Pandwani, such as Dewar Pandwani and Pardhan Pandwani. It explores the Pandwani text as set down in verse by Sabal Singh Chauhan detailing the episode of Kichaka Vadha killing of Kichaka. Supported by numerous illustrations of the artistes in the act of performing the episodes, it details the text and rendering of present-day Pandwani especially as rendered by Jhaduram Devangan, one of the topmost performers of Pandwani who followed the text of Sabal Singh Chauhan. It details his favourite episode, Swargarohan (Journey to Heaven), which he performed in sitting posture with mimes like the abhinaya of Kathak dancers. The book presents the full text of the verse, with the dohas in Avadhi followed by their translation in English. The author, Niranjan Mahawar has been documenting tribal and folk arts, folk theatre forms, folklore, tribal myths and other aspects of tribal and folk ways. He has published numerous articles on the subject. He was the executive committee member of Madhya Pradesh Adivasi Lok Kala Parishad as an expert on tribes for eight years and a member of South Central Zone Cultural Centre in all its committees for eight years.