Description

Puppetry is an ancient art form that may have originated as long as 3,000 to 4,000 years ago. Over centuries puppetry has been an effective and practical medium of instruction in the village culture and also a method for imparting education and morality. One of the most significant roles of puppetry was entertainment which is prevailing even today. Puppeteers in India are like the minstrels of medieval Europe who move from village to village and perform with their puppets, narrating stories from the Sanatana religion, epics, legends, historical sagas, escapades and various incidents related to quotidian rural life. The puppeteers are invited during village fairs and religious festivals; they come with their handmade puppets to perform. They present their art in a theatrical manner before their audience, covered by a red cloth. Santhali songs are played in the background that creates a mesmeric atmosphere all around.
In India, the Sanskrit texts have the mention of the word Sutradhara which translated into “holder of string”; Sutradhar also means narrator or story teller and they were the main character of any play. Apart from Sutradhar, two singers and a drummer are also required to stage a pupper play. There is evidence of puppetry in Indus valley civilization. The edicts of Samrat Ashoka also elucidates about puppetry. Puppets have been found in ancient tombs of Egypt that bears testimony to their antiquity. Chadar Badar puppetry, also called as Chadar Badhni is an indigenous form of puppetry of the Santhal tribe and is an integral part of the Santhali culture. This art is prevalent among the Santhal tribes of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa. As per the practitioners of the art, during olden days when the subjects used to visit the landlord or zamindar of the village on Dashami or the 10th day of the Durga Puja, they staged before him and his family an ostentatious Chadar Badar show that was enjoyed the entire village community as well. In return they were awarded generously in cash and kind that included crops and different types of comestibles.
All our artists involved in this art of puppet making are from the Santhal tribal community whose ancestors lived in the Indian subcontinent around 3,000 to 4,000 years ago. This ancient form of puppetry is in a state of decadence which needs our wholehearted patronage. It’s only though our collective and constant support that we’ll succeed in saving this primeval art of puppetry.