The Evolution of Modern Indian Theatre. The Indian People’s Theatre Association and the Aura of the Colonial Wound

A Post-Colonial and Decolonial Discourse

Bachelor Thesis , 2020 , 36 Pages , Grade: 8.0 = 1,7

Theater Studies, Dance

This thesis aims to answer the following questions: To what extent were the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) successful in diminishing the effect of the British colonial shadow in their post-colonial theatre explorations from 1943 to 1948 and how did this lead to the development of modern Indian theatre as an amalgamation of traditional and Western performance forms? In what ways did British colonialism influence the theatre of the IPTA? How did Western forms of theatre merge with pre-existing theatrical traditions in India to create new forms of theatre?

With the achievement of political independence in 1947 and the end of British rule, India stepped on to a phase of massive reconstruction of the nation”. Despite IPTA’s mission to decolonize the stage and revive traditional forms of Indian theatre, the effect of the colonial shadow/ coloniality cannot be completely erased. This thesis intertwines post- colonial and decolonial perspectives to decipher the amalgamation of Indian and Western theatre traditions that resulted in the creation of new, more contemporary forms of theatre, evident in the work of The Indian People’s Theatre Association.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1. Theatre in India Before and During the British Colonial Period
1.2. Post-Colonial Theory and Decolonial Perspective
1.3. Methodology
1.4. Research Question and Thesis Statement
1.5. Objectives and Significance of This Thesis

SECTION 2: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS
2.1. Post-Colonial Theories
2.2. Decolonial Perspective(s)

SECTION 3: SETTING THE SCENE — THE IPTA
3.1. Analysis of the IPTA’s Mission and Goals Through a Post-Colonial lens
3.2. Methods Used by the IPTA to Decolonize the Stage
3.3. The IPTA’s Appropriation of Western Performance Forms
3.4. The Ramifications of the IPTA’s Theatre From a Decolonial Perspective
3.5. Post-Colonial and Decolonial Discourse of Nabanna (1944)

SECTION 4: MODERN INDIAN THEATRE - THE IPTA’S LECACY
4.1. Defining Modern Indian Theatre
4.2. What is Modern Indian Theatre Now in Relation to the Contributions of the IPTA ?

SECTION 5: CONCLUSIONS
5.1. A Culminating Discussion on Decolonization of the Stage
5.2. Reiteration of the IPTA’s Contributions
5.3. The Deterioration of IPTA
5.4. Concluding Remarks and Discussion of the Research Question

SECTION 6: BIBLIOGRAPHY

• College: University of Groningen (Arts)
• Course: Arts, Culture and Media
• Grade: 8.0 = 1,7
• Author: Tulsi Gaddam (Author)
• Year: 2020
• Pages: 36
• Catalog Number: V931567
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346244017
• ISBN (Book): 9783346244024
• Language: English
• Tags: evolution, modern, indian, theatre, people’s, association, aura, colonial, wound, post-colonial, decolonial, discourse