World Puppet Day was celebrated through an array of events comprising a seminar featuring problems and prospects of puppet theatre in the country on Sunday at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Organised by the academy, the day-long programme also featured a colourful procession, discussion session where a seasoned puppeteer was honoured and puppet show.
The seminar was held at the seminar room of the academy in the afternoon. Theatre activist Saidur Rahman Lipon presented the keynote paper titled Banglar Putulnach: Ekti Nimnoborger Sangskriti Sangram, which was also attended by theatre personality SM Mohsin, puppet researcher Rashid Harun, noted recitation artiste Bhaswar Bandopadhyay, and others. Liaquat Ali Lucky, director general of the academy, presided over the seminar.
Lipon, in his paper, revealed that the history of puppet in this region is about 2,400 years old and currently there are about 50 active puppet troupes across the country. He also pointed out that the puppet theatre is now on the verge of destruction because of several reasons including religious extremism and gradual disappearance of rural fairs where the puppeteers generally used to perform.
However, Lipon also observed that the puppeteers are also, to some extent, responsible for the present conditions of the age-old art. ‘The puppeteers only deal with mythological stories for stage performances and ignore contemporary issues, and that is why the modern people are becoming increasingly uninterested in this form of art,’ said Lipon, who found out lack of education is the reason behind the puppeteers’ being narrow in terms of subject matters.
The seminar was followed by a colourful procession within the academy in which puppet artistes from different districts of the country took part.
In the evening, a discussion session and puppet show was held at the Experimental Theatre Hall of the academy. Liaquat Ali Lucky, SM Mohsin, and others attended the discussion session where Khelu Miyan, a senior artiste of Brahmanbaria-based puppet troupe Bani Bina Putul Nach, was honoured for his contribution to popularising puppet theatre in his district.
The discussion session was followed by a puppet show by Satkhira-based troupe New Nizam Opera. The troupe staged Bede Kanya which depicts the story of a snake charmer’s daughter who falls in love with a prince.
The show was attended by a large audience. A delighted Rezaul Hossain, a resident of Segun Bagicha, told, ‘It was fantastic to watch traditional puppet show in the capital.’
-With New Age input
