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Living Traditions of Performance

Living Traditions of Performance

-  Prof H. S. Shiva Prakash

This course intends to lead the student to an in-depth study of a handful of living traditions of performance from across the country in the light of both continuities and breaks between these forms, on the one hand, and canonical treatises, on the other. Different aspects of performances like space, mythico-ritualistic framework and societal contexts will be examined. Also, the survival of these forms in the age of globalization will be addressed critically. Attention will be bestowed on different uses of these forms in contemporary performing arts and politics. The real life situation of the performing people will receive sufficient emphasis in the course. The practicum based on one of the forms will be an optional component of the course. Apart from a general survey, close attention will be paid to the following forms: Yakshagana/bayalata, Purulia Cho Nach, Bhavai and Therikuththu. The classes will involve lectures, brief workshops and viewing of documentations.

 

Bibliography:

• Rangacharya, Adya: Indian Theatre • Natyashastra: an introduction & Natyashastra: translation

• Vatsayan, Kapila: Traditional Theatres of India • Karanth Shivaram: Yakshagana

• Naikar, Basavaraja: Bayalata • Shiva Prakash H S Traditional Theatres

• Goswami, Indira: Ramayana from Ganges to Brahmaputra

• Gargi, Balvant: Theatres of India • Subbanna, KV: Theatre and Community

• Lal, Ananda(ed): Oxford Companion to Indian Theatre • Rasa (vol. 1 &2)

• SangeetNatak No 137 & 137 (September 2000) • Barucha, Rustom: Theatre and the World

 

 

A warm welcome to the modified and updated website of the Centre for East Asian Studies. The East Asian region has been at the forefront of several path-breaking changes since 1970s beginning with the redefining the development architecture with its State-led development model besides emerging as a major region in the global politics and a key hub of the sophisticated technologies. The Centre is one of the thirteen Centres of the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi that provides a holistic understanding of the region.

Initially, established as a Centre for Chinese and Japanese Studies, it subsequently grew to include Korean Studies as well. At present there are eight faculty members in the Centre. Several distinguished faculty who have now retired include the late Prof. Gargi Dutt, Prof. P.A.N. Murthy, Prof. G.P. Deshpande, Dr. Nranarayan Das, Prof. R.R. Krishnan and Prof. K.V. Kesavan. Besides, Dr. Madhu Bhalla served at the Centre in Chinese Studies Programme during 1994-2006. In addition, Ms. Kamlesh Jain and Dr. M. M. Kunju served the Centre as the Documentation Officers in Chinese and Japanese Studies respectively.

The academic curriculum covers both modern and contemporary facets of East Asia as each scholar specializes in an area of his/her interest in the region. The integrated course involves two semesters of classes at the M. Phil programme and a dissertation for the M. Phil and a thesis for Ph. D programme respectively. The central objective is to impart an interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding of history, foreign policy, government and politics, society and culture and political economy of the respective areas. Students can explore new and emerging themes such as East Asian regionalism, the evolving East Asian Community, the rise of China, resurgence of Japan and the prospects for reunification of the Korean peninsula. Additionally, the Centre lays great emphasis on the building of language skills. The background of scholars includes mostly from the social science disciplines; History, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, International Relations and language.

Several students of the centre have been recipients of prestigious research fellowships awarded by Japan Foundation, Mombusho (Ministry of Education, Government of Japan), Saburo Okita Memorial Fellowship, Nippon Foundation, Korea Foundation, Nehru Memorial Fellowship, and Fellowship from the Chinese and Taiwanese Governments. Besides, students from Japan receive fellowship from the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.