Bahurupi: One Art, Varied Faces

one of the faces

You are at Poush Mela in Shantiniketan, wandering amongst the crowd, the winter sun on your back. You happen to glance right and find Lord Krishna – blue skinned, yellow robed and peacock feather in hair – walking alongside. Or maybe Shiva, fully attired in tiger skin, snake around neck and trident in hand. You smile and walk on, your feet scarcely pausing on the red earth. The "Bahurupi" too carries on and is soon lost in the crowd. It's not an uncommon sight in Shantiniketan at that time.

Bhola Maiti, a 40 years old Tarakeshwar based Bahurupi wakes up every day before sunrise and after taking his makeup and disguise he sets out by 6 o clock. Bhola is working as a Bahurupi for 6 years now. First he roams around the Tarakeshwar temple posing in front of the people, and then goes to nearby towns like Konnagar and Sreerampur. "This is my family tradition and I must continue this. My grandfather took up the profession more than a century ago in British period, and my father too followed him," said Maiti.

Bahurupis have been an integral part of Bengal's rich and vibrant folk culture for more than 200 years now. In literature too, there are numerous examples – Sreenath Bahurupi of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay being among the first that come to mind. "Today's Bahurupi is the result of evolution of Alkat Nach (Alkat dance- a folk dance of primitive Bengal) No wonder, Bengal's culture is moved by this form of art," says Mr. Sarbananda Chaudhuri, a research scholar at Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark and Reader of Bengali department of Netaji Nagar College. Mythological characters from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and so on were brought to life by folk artistes in this manner, especially during fairs and festivals.

Bhola Maity

Kaach Nritya (Kaach Dance) is another primeval Bengali folk art; Kaach Nritya literally means 'Dance in disguise'. Small acts, ornamented with dance and song was the sole of this art form, and to make the mythological characters livelier, Kaach artists used various makeups and disguises. Like Bhola says "My ancestors used to perform in groups. They used to dance as well, as dance and acting was an integral part of this art. Now we perform individually."

The term Bahurupi is derived from Sanskrit, "bahu" meaning many and "rupi' meaning form. Through make-up and disguise, folk artistes assumed the forms of several hundred characters, ranging from demons to gods, doctors to holy men, and sometimes even animals. There was a time when Bahurupis used to go from door to door to reach out to people. And in lieu of their act, would be given gifts of food and clothes by the households. This wasn't charity or aid, but gifts in the strict sense of the term, given with great honour by the mistress of the house.

At times, the Bahurupis would also perform, by means of singing, dancing and acting. The acts were meant to entertain, educate and inform the audiences. The artistes took up stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, folktales of gods and goddesses, or even concocted tales of animals and birds. Now melas (fairs) are the place they earn their money from. "Durga Puja is the most important season for the people in our profession", commented Bhola.

Now with the arrival of various other forms of entertainment these forms of folk arts are losing the limelight. Modern culture and technological advancement have brought them tough competition.

Bhola- in his Disguise

Poverty, illiteracy are also the reason for vanishing these art forms. But, hope is always present even in the darkest abyss. Shibu Mandal, Bhola's guru (teacher) with his 25 disciples is not only proving the purity of the statement but also saving this art form from dying. "I learned this art from my ancestors but to learn any art you need a proper guru; Shibu Da has acted that part in my life", said Bhola. Ignoring every obstacle on their path people like Bhola and Shibu are fighting to death to preserve this vibrant art form. "I am very poor and what I earn is not enough for my family. I could have worked as a Grade-D worker, to earn more. But in my present profession I earn more honour than any other would have allowed", said Bhola with genuine pride in his voice.