The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Call to document and propagate dalit art forms

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 28, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Call to document and propagate dalit art forms

Staff Reporter

Dalit Women's Theatre members told to fight social evils

HYDERABAD: The need to document and propagate traditional dalit art and culture forms, especially music, dance and theatre, was underscored by speakers at the inaugural function of Dalit Women's Theatre (DWT) on Wednesday.

Former Telugu Academy Director B. Vijayabharati, who inaugurated the theatre, advised its members to concentrate on abolishing certain social evils like black magic that continue to cause havoc in villages.

She felt that `hurdles' were placed against propagation of dalit art from ancient times due to `Sanskritisation' of art forms. Music and dance forms of the downtrodden arose out of their drudgery and these went on to become forms of entertainment for the others, she observed.

No proper record

Founder and Secretary of DWT, Chandrasri, rued that there was no proper record of Dalit art though its forms were in the forefront during `agitations and revolutionary movements.'

Her organisation would have a distinct identity and aim to look into dalit art history, document various forms of music, dance, theatre, etc., besides dealing with women's empowerment.

E. Sudharani, Professor of History, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University and M. Lakshmaiah, journalist, traced the origins of dalit art to Buddhism.

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