A Brief History of Bengali Drama: Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Century

The transition from the traditional mores to the new methods of social set ups

became the main points of concentrations of the folk artists. They recognized the

central issues of the time, like inequalities of classes, the division between the

propertied classes and the under-privileged and even between the colonial rulers

and the ruled. Thus, we find the voice of the multi-layered fabric of the society

being projected by the thoughts and perceptions of the city’s lower orders of the

time as ‘culture in silence’.

It must be asserted that the terms folk culture and popular culture are used inter

changeably to describe the culture of Bengal. The two conjured to become a mass

culture since the folk culture of Bengal was based on the socio-economic conditions

of the region that became very much associated with the adaptability of the new

generation of Bengali riches. The rural culture became gradually assimilated

with a new urban milieu. With the urban and rural culture, there developed a new

culture of Bengal that thrived upon the collective mind which was dependent upon

the occupational life styles, attitudes and feelings.

References

Bandopadhyay ,Chittoranjan. Dui Sataker Bangla Mudran O Prakashana (in Bengali).

Calcutta.1978.

Banerjee, Sumanta. The Parlour and the Streets: Elite and Popular Culture in Nineteenth

century Calcutta. Calcutta.1998.

Bhattacharya, Mihir. Lokosruti (in Bengali), Lokosmriti o Adibashi samskriti Kendra.1999.

Lahiri, Durgadas. Bangalir Gaan (in Bengali).Calcutta.1312( in Bengali era)

Mukhopadhyay,Harekrishno. Gaudbanga Samskriti (in Bengali).Calcutta.1972.

Mukhopadhyay,Harimohan. DashuRayer Panchali (in Bengali).Calcutta.

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