Drama that motivates

Mobile theatre of Assam may be considered as an upgraded version of a refined dramatic experience and  is technically upgraded and commercially advanced.

Being a  regular visitor of mobile theatres I have realized that, it is a great entertainment media especially for rural people. Coming from a rural set up,  I feel the importance of this means of communication and realize that the presence of regional language creates an immediate impact on the poeple. Mobile theatres have occupied the socio-cultural life of Assam today. A theatre is a place where one can receive both education and entertainment at the same time. Moreover, this is a platform where people, without formal education can get any social message, political knowledge and awareness on the administration process. Mobile theatre is a tool of social transformation. Even today, this means of communication has a widespread influence upon the way people think and act.

Assam is a land where different types of ethnicities, tribes and castes are merged to form the great Assamese society. My personal belief is that, mobile theatre is can be a potential tool for promoting value based ideas and establish the sense of unity and integrity among the common people.

The Vaisnavite renaissance advocated by Sankardeva and Madhavdeva brought a rapid change in the socio-cultural life of Assamese people. Sankardev’s innovative ‘bhaona’ has been the most pleasant and satisfying community task of the Assamese society for ages. The performance of a bhaona in itself is an inspiration to the community as a whole. This has brought a new theatrical movement called Yatra, especially in the districts of lower region of Assam.

The mobile troops consists of nearly one hundred fifty people belonging to different parts of the state. It is really interesting to notice that all the people of mobile troops during their long voyage never think of individual interest. Rather, they think as a community.

In villages  mobile theatres are usually set up during the month of December when all people becomes free of their agricultural activities or during occasions like  Raas festival, Durga puja, village fairs, etc The mobile theatre not only has visual entertainment but also directs the youth towards imbibing dramatic skills creating room for employment.

Quite interestingly, the play does not end after the fall of the curtains or after the departure of actors from the stage but rather it opens their minds stimulating various ideas and thoughts in this process

Himakshi Borah