Memory and the written testimony: the actresses of the public theatre in Calcutta in the 19th & 20th century
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15448/1984-4301.2018.s.30663Keywords:
Actresses, Bengali Theatre, Social pariahs, Performance and creative output, Memory and written testimony.Abstract
Modern theatrical performances in Bengali language in Calcutta, the capital of British colonial rule, thrived from the mid-nineteenth century though they did not include women performers till 1874. The story of the early actresses is difficult to trace due to a lack of evidence in contemporary sources. So though a researcher is vaguely aware of their significance and contribution to Indian theatre, they have remained shadowy figures – nameless except for those few who have left a written testimony of their lives and activities. It is my intention through the study of this primary material and the scattered references to these legendary actresses in vernacular journals and memoirs, to recreate the stories of some of these divas and draw a connection between testimony and lasting memoryDownloads
References
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