Theatre with Tribals In India

Both European and Eastern philosophy believe that human being while developing their life living in jungle at the down of civilization started performing the special knowledge gained by an individual or group in the form of imitation/dramatic imitation/improvisation/representation for the fellow members of the community to get the knowledge transferred, acquired suddenly/tactfully to hunt an animal for food to survival. It means the ancient dramatic practice on this earth was started by the tribal community. Most of the tribal have a section among them who are specialised in performing elements like storytelling, drumming, singing, dancing, painting, tattooing etc. The ancient texts in world like Panchtantra and Hitopadesh are full of animal or non-human characters who are dramatic exposition of human being in other living body or even in a non-living objects or in fantastic, imagined dramatic characters. So, they understood and defined the world they lived in their diverse practice in the forms of cultural expressions which are mostly composed with natural elements that are specialised training and development of the important role of vocal, verbal, physical, psychological, ecological, hypothetical aspects of humans interrelations with nature. 

Theater is still an organic practice of body, voice, mind and subject by a living human body in a space for a human observer. The tribal are living in the habitat where natural happenings somehow same which were at the beginning of civilization and are wonderful for those who are urban. To the get closer to the nature, feel it's close relationship and physiological, psychological, ecological existence in our instincts, creative compositions in the representative diverse cultural expressions which are mostly composed with natural elements and objects to worship the powers of nature. 

They actually need this wonderful art of dramatic practice which will empower them to document, share the social practices, take forward the traditional knowledge and the contemporary understanding of the world. They may express their pain, agony and emotions, expectations from the world, share their anger, frustration in a nonviolent way.

Indian democratic system somehow have kept them marganilsed, unexplored. They are deprived of their rights. Their habitats are been destroyed. They need this dramatic art to analyze their status, strategic position and their creative reposition in this world. Sangeet Natak Akademi feels it's responsibility to develop the practice of this unique art which keeps correcting your body, mind and understanding the relation of self and the world. No other practice is ready to focus on other self to correct every moment.

This workshop is been planned for the Out of School children and are being given training to sustain their livelihood. Now after 30 days of spending their time with their self, trained under experts and explored special power to control and balance their physical ability to give others, the observers a kind of pleasure for their soul.

Let's hope we will be able to get support from the local administrative authorities, tribal ministry, department to understand the need of extend this kind of training and extension of this to develop repertory companies for tribal communities to preserve their living traditional, knowledge, practices, language and their understanding of the contemporary world they are living. In history, they are been neglected, and it is high time to invest a lot on their cultural sector. Most CSR funds should be motivated for them as they are mostly based in the forest/tribal areas.

Only education, cultural practices among their own community and ownership of their cultural assets will ensure a better future for them, for the nation. 

Drama is such an art which may give them high self and social status, opportunities and sustainability.