In the context of National Behrupiya Festival, 2018, organised by Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi in collaboration with Martand Foundation, Udaipur, the debate regarding Behrupiya tradition and its continuity and change has resurfaced. Organiser Sub-editor Shaan Kashyap talked to Dr Sachidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA, to understand the nuances of Behrupiya tradition. Excerpts:
Behrupiyas are simply seen as comical impersonators. However, they have also played the crucial role of information and idea carriers. How do you sum up this tradition?
It is an important tradition and style of story-telling which includes the elements of drama, music and dance. It is an Art which combines many art-forms. In ancient times, when there were a few modes of entertainment, behrupiya was a major source of entertainment and more significantly, information. In fact, in early India, behrupiyas were used to spread important social messages by the ruler. They played a crucial role in spreading communication on crucial information.
Dussehra is here and Ramlila has been a folklore tradition which popularised Ramayana. Do you think the Ramlila tradition can be seen as an extension of behrupiya tradition?
No, Ramlila and behrupiya tradition is entirely different. The process of the artist making in both traditions is different. Behrupiya is an independent art, whereas Ramlila is a group art. Ramlila also has an element of ethos which is dominantly religious. Though some behrupiya artists play roles in the Ramlila, tradition-wise both are different.
Behrupiyas on the whole are upset that society now mocks them for being so. Why do you think degradation in the appreciation of such an art-form came?
Development in technology has boosted our options of information and entertainment. Now, society feels that it doesn’t require these artists to act as those sources. Secondly, people do not have much time that they fail to lend their attention to these performers on the streets. Thirdly, there is a social security element, let’s consider, if someone is playing a police officer or a robber, people won’t engage much. And lastly, we have failed to prepare our younger generation to appreciate such a fantastic art-form.
