Drama, Art and Culture  Of   Dhakuakhana

 

By:- Nanda Chutia

                                                                                 

 

# Drama : - Dhakuakhana has a rich culture tradition since long back .In marriage  ceremonies  or some  special   festive  occasions, the  well –to –do  families  arranged plays   in the  open yard   covering  the four sides with  clothes.  Interested young men only after few days rehearsal  staged the play. The hosts honoured  the actors , directors and   other workers  propitiously offering  money or other items  as they could  afford  to. Such  theatrical  performance article influence the young boys , who imitating their  elders, Set open with reeds twigs, leaves , trees in fields and staged plays while  harding cows .

            As enthusiasm  grew for staging plays, an as people preferred  such entertainments, some noted artists like Bhuban  Gogoi ,  Sarat  Das, Mula nath  Chetia ,  Numal Chetia , built up a  theatre hall attached  to the Namghar at Konwar  gaon  and in 1919 staged the play – BALIBADH.  Inspired  by  that night show ,   some leading persons  viz- Krishnach. Gogoi , Ananda Dutta ,Guna nath Hohain ,Dasiram Das ,etc.felt the need of a public  theatre hall  at the  centre of Dhakyakhana and in 1920built up one not far away from the present Natya Mandir . The first play staged in the new hall was the BIDYAWATI . Sweet voiced Mulanath Chetia and Bhulanath Gogoi (who played the role of Kalidasa) could impress the audience. In 1921 the theayre hall was named “Dkakuakhana Natya Mandir ” and its managing committee- Dkakuakhana Natya Samaj.

             In 1922, the Natya Mandir attached to the Baligaon Namghar and till date it is these .  The first  secretary  of the Natya Samaj was the eminent educationish  Kula Nath Gogoi .Since them , the teachers ,doctors ,forest officers, post masters, police officers and such other interested people from far and wide joined the Natya Samaj and enriched its functioning. Noted social worker, cultural organizer, actor ,singer KasinathBarma came to Dhakuakhana in 1926 as surveyor of the local Board , who did a lot for the improvement of the stage . Like the  Dance Drama of today , a kind of dance of small boys called the ChuksaDance aws presented before the start of the full –length play . some boys keeping cope with musicdance moving in circular way hanging red handkerchiefs tide to the fingers of horh the hands . Gyan Sarkar taught this chukra Dance . Famous artish Muktinath Bordoloi painted the somes of ther plays . Hence, till independence  a healthy dramatic movement flourished  ast Dhakuakhana centring round the Natya Mandir and other theatre hall built up since the twenties else where.  A good Library with a fine treasure of all plays published in Assamese language till -1962 was a rare picec of ornament of the natya Mandir . But the devastating flood of 1962 destryed this library.

            Efforts were taken to strengthen the tic of plains and hills by the Natya Samaj led a culture trop to artist of Arunachal Pradesh. As such , the Natya Mandir  created  a  number of artists , painters , musicciaus and even some playwrights. But this aged Natya Mandir could get its registration only in 1985. The responsibility to look after the Natya mandir today is every body’s duty and the shabley skeletoa of it today determines that it is nobody’s duty . However , the Natya Mandir could create a sunny cultural atmosphere in the region since the twenties. It was perhaps in the middle of sixties that co-acting on stage started at Dhakuakhana.

Inspired by the Natya Mandir ,a number of theatre halls , theatre groups started staging plays vegularly in villages . The Chaurok Barpatra Natya Mandir -1924,Bhaskar Natya Mandir –Gharhi gaon in 1968 ,the contemporary Dipti Kala Kristi Bhawan at Dhakuakhana west etc. Added new dimeusion to the field of drama and other cultural activities.

     Today ,a great number of theatre groups, cultural organizations can he named which , with commendable labour ,have been working for the promotion of art and culture in different  levels . Ujani Jalbhari Naty  Samaj , Asami  Jank sangha-Bhagamukh , NavarupYunak Sangha-Hiloidari ,Gohain  Handikue Yanak Sangha, Bamun gaon-Yunk sangha, Govindapur-Yunak Saugha, Bakulguri Theatrical Society , Kherkatamukha- Murong ghar ,Bhuma Lagachu theatre hall ,The Nakshatra ,jyoti  Natghar , Dharam and many ,such other  groups are doing a lot only in staging plays,but organinsing healthy cultural programmes, workshops etc.                  

                  In 1999- the Panchoi –a pusely female theatre group was created and the Panchoi has here staging plays every year with all female astish and    worker .

                 The  religious Rasa Mohotsav is also stayed for three to four   night every year by a number of theatre groups  mentioned alone .         

                 Some  adventurous young  artists organised morning  theatre groups also . The  Asomi theatre produced  by Bipin Chetia flourished for aleonh line years in the early eighties. The  Agniban  theatre produed by   Bhola Nath Gogoi steps into its glorious second year in 2003

                         Prominent playwright  at Dhakuakhana are Phanidhar Borgohain ,M.Borma ,Dr .Chandradhar Choumah, Amiya Kr.Handiqui,Nanda Chutia ,Siva Prasad Gogoi  ,Hemen gogoi Sukumar Phukan,Navajyoti Das ,Tosheswar Chetia ,Indreswar pegu etc    Khagen Gogoi of kouwar goan was the most prominent Director  Actor Painter and a social worker .

            # Music :-Music along the line of dramatic performance played an integral role since chukra davees, songs in plays were indispensable parts of a drama . During the sixties the sculpture , music master Arun Chakravati and dance –master Parama  Nanda Ray taught music and dance whoever  went to themwith a feal of learning . They trained up the boys on Tabala , Violin and Harmonioum free of cost and thus created a cultural atmosphere at Dhakuakhana. In 1982 Dhakuakhana sangeet Mahabidyalaya was established and till date the institute is producing  a number of artists in different streams.      Mr. Jyoti Gogoi of Bantow gaon and Miss Biswa Gogoi of Chorakia gaon completed their course in Satria Dance and at present have been training up boys and girls of the region on satria dance . Mr. Indreswar Pegu and Mr. Pradip gam are two promenent artists in the field of songs and music.

             # Painting, Sculptures etc:- In the field of painting , stage craft, Khagen Gogoi of Konwar Goan and Parama Nanda Bora of Bali Goan were prominent artists .At present Mr. Hira Saikia of Goal Goan , Mriga Nava Gogoi of Konwar Goan , Ingal Boma of Bali Goan, Hemanta Changmai of Jamuguri Goan and etc. are growing artists.

            The institution of Art like Lalit Kala Mahavidyalaya (1993) Chitrakala Coaching Centre (2003) are tendering adequate training to young boys and girls .   In the field of sculpture- Moni Kanta Gogoi in sixties and senenties (Ghatapara Goan) was prominent. His works on wood and hamboo are still source of inspiration to the new generation . Mr. Nagan Tamuli of Ghanhi Goan has been denoting himself in this field.

 

 

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