VIDEO LECTURE-21

UNIT-5
INDIAN TRADITIONS,
CULTURE AND SOCIETY
(KNC 602)

MR. VIKAS ROSHAN

A.P., AS&H Deptt.
AKGEC, GZB
 VIDEO LECTURE-21
UNIT-5
❖ MUSIC
❖ THEATRE
❖ DRAMA
❖ PAINTING
 MUSIC
Owing to India's vastness and diversity, Indian Music encompass numerous genres, multiple varieties and forms
which include classical music, folk (Bollywood), rock, and pop. It has a history spanning several millennia and
developed over several geo-locations spanning the sub-continent. Music in India began as an integral part of
socio-religious life.
Paleolithic: The 30,000-year-old paleolithic and neolithic cave paintings at the UNESCO world heritage site at
Bhimbetka rock shelters in Madhya Pradesh shows a type of dance. Mesolithic and chalcolithic cave art of
Bhimbhetka illustrates very simple musical instruments such as rock drums, and other simple instruments.
Neolithic: Chalcolithic era (4000 BCE onward) narrow bar shaped polished stone celts like music instruments,
one of the earlier musical instrument in India, were excavated at Sankarjang in the Angul district of Odisha.
There is historical evidence in the form of sculptural evidence, i.e. musical instruments, singing and dancing
postures of damsels in the Ranigumpha Caves in Khandagiri and Udayagiri at Bhubaneswar.
Indus River valley Civilization: Dancing Girl sculpture (2500 BCE) was found from the Indus Valley Civilization
site. There are paintings on pottery of a man with a dhol hanging from his neck and a woman holding a drum
under her left arm.
Vedic and ancient era: Vedas (c. 1500 – c. 800 BCE Vedic period) document rituals with
performing arts and play. For example, Shatapatha Brahmana (~800–700 BCE) has verses
in chapter 13.2 written in the form of a play between two actors. Tala or taal is an ancient
music concept traceable to Vedic era texts of Hinduism, such as the Samaveda and methods
for singing the Vedic hymns. Smriti (500 BCE to 100 BCE ) post-vedic Hindu texts include
Valmiki's Ramayana (500 BCE to 100 BCE) which mentions dance and music (dance by
Apsaras such as Urvashi, Rambha, Menaka etc.)
 MUSIC
Starting from the earliest known work Tholkappiyam (500 BCE), there are several references to music and
Panns in the ancient pre-Sangam and Sangam literature starting from the earliest known work Tholkappiyam
(500 BCE). Sanskrit saint-poet Jayadeva, who was the great composer and illustrious master of classical music,
shaped Odra-Magadhi style music and had great influence on Odissi Sangita. Śārṅgadeva composed
Sangita-Ratnakara, one of the most important Sanskrit musicological texts from India, which is regarded as the
definitive text in both Hindustani music and Carnatic music traditions of Indian classical music.
Assamese poet Madhava Kandali, writer of Saptakanda Ramayana, lists several instruments in his version of
"Ramayana", such as mardala, khumuchi, bhemachi, dagar, gratal, ramtal, tabal, jhajhar, jinjiri, bheri mahari,
tokari, dosari, kendara, dotara, vina, rudra-vipanchi, etc. (meaning that these instruments existed since his time
in 14th century or earlier). The Indian system of notation is perhaps the world's oldest and most elaborate. In
early 14th century under the Khiljis, there were concerts and competitions between Hindustani and Carnatic
musicians. From the 16th century onwards, treatises written on music were Sangitamava Chandrika, Gita
Prakasha, Sangita Kalalata and Natya Manorama.
In the early 1960s Jazz pioneers such as John Coltrane and George Harrison collaborated
with Indian instrumentalists and started to use Indian instruments such as sitar in their
songs. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, rock and roll fusions with Indian music were well
known throughout Europe and North America. In the late 1980s, Indian-British artists
fused Indian and Western traditions to make the Asian Underground. In the new
millennium, American hip-hop has featured Indian filmi and bhangra. Mainstream hip-hop
artists have sampled songs from Bollywood movies and have collaborated with Indian
artists, such as Timbaland's "Indian Flute"
 MUSIC
Classical music: The two main traditions of Indian classical music are Carnatic music, which is practised
predominantly in the peninsular (southern) regions, and Hindustani music, which is found in the northern,
eastern and central regions. The basic concepts of this music includes Shruti (microtones), Swaras (notes),
Alankar (ornamentations), Raga (melodies improvised from basic grammars), and Tala (rhythmic patterns used in
percussion). The tradition of Hindustani music dates back to Vedic times where the hymns in the Sama Veda, an
ancient religious text, were sung as Samagana and not chanted.
Bhangra is a form of dance-oriented folk music of Punjab. The present musical style is derived from
non-traditional musical accompaniment to the riffs of Punjab called by the same name. The female dance of
Punjab region is known as Giddha.
Bihu dances and songs accompanied by traditional drums and wind instruments are an essential part of this
festival. Bihu songs are energetic and with beats to welcome the festive spring.
Dandiya or Raas is a form of Gujarati cultural dance that is performed with sticks. The present musical style is
derived from the traditional musical accompaniment to the folk dance.
Haryana folk music has two main forms: classical folk music of Haryana and desi folk music of
Haryana (country music of Haryana). They take the form of ballads and pangs of parting of
lovers, valor and bravery, harvest and happiness.
Himachal's folk music varies according to the event or the festival. One of the most popular
style of music is Nati Music, where nati being the traditional dance that is done on the song.
Nati Music is usually celebratory, and done in fairs or other occasions such as marriages.
 THEATRE
Indian theatre dates back around 5000 years. The earliest form of Indian theatre was Sanskrit
theatre that emerged sometime around the 2nd century BC. It then flourished between the 1st and
11th centuries. Soon after, due to the Islamic conquests, theatre was banned and forbidden. Later,
village theatre was encouraged across the subcontinent in an attempt to reassert indigenous values
and ideas, developing in a large number of regional languages from the 15th to the 19th centuries.
Modern Indian theatre developed during the period of British rule. Indian theatre has three specific
periods: the classical period, the traditional period, and the modern period. In early forms, theatre
performances were often narrative and included recitation, singing, and dancing. The earliest
contribution to the Indian theatre came from Bharata Muni, who wrote the 36 books of
the Natyashastra. The Natyashastra describes a theory of theatrical performance based on style and
motion. The classical period is dominated by the Natyashastra and Sanskrit dramas. Since plays were
based on stories the audience already knew like histories, folk legends, and epics, physical elements
and movement were heavily incorporated into the dialogue and performance. Kalidasa is known as the
pre-eminent Sanskrit playwright, and is known as the Indian Shakespeare.
Some of his best work includes Malavikagnimitra, Vikramorvashiya,
and Abhijnanashakuntala, that depict stories of royalty and myth in old-world
India. Bhasa is the oldest Sanskrit dramatist to give us complete plays, and the
famous ancient Indian epic poem, the ‘Mahabharata’. In addition, Shudraka was a
fifth or sixth century playwright known for a Sanskrit comedy,
called Mricchakatika . An adaptation of this play was produced in New York in
1924 and made into a movie entitled Utsav in 1984.
 THEATRE
The traditional period of Indian theatre introduced regional languages and improvisation. The plays
were presented verbally rather than using written scripts. In this period, traditions and stories were
passed down orally, and the theatre reflected this idea. Narrative recitation and singing were also
included in the drama of the traditional period. The modern period, on the other hand is marked by
the influence of Western theatre and the proscenium stage. A proscenium stage is designed with an
arch separating the stage from the audience, and the spectators watch the play’s action as if through a
picture frame. With the British in India, Western theatre styles including realism and life of the
common man were added to the Indian folklore theatre. The pioneer of modern playwrite ,
Rabindranath Tagore wrote plays noted for their exploration that questioned nationalism, identity,
spiritualism and material greed. His famous Bengali plays include Chitra (Chitrangada, 1892), The
King of the Dark Chamber (Raja, 1910), The Post Office (Dakghar, 1913), and Red
Oleander (Raktakarabi, 1924).

The rich chronicle of Indian theatre unveils the verity that theatre in India
and was always an important part of the rich Indian culture and tradition and
is still the same. In recent times, Indian theatre has acquired a tinge of
contemporary attribute in order to befit the modish requirement of the Indian
society.
 DRAMA
• History of Indian Drama has originated and developed from storehouse of Sanskrit in India. Indian
drama has given its incredible impact and limit to perfection since ancient times. Drama is basically
a form of performing arts, where stories are enacted by the utilisation of dialogue, music, signal and
dance. Traditional Indian drama, which is highly influenced by the Hindu religion, was developed
by local artists and performers and is not a replication of western influx. Bharata is traditionally
considered to be the father in the history of Indian drama. The history of Indian Drama is deeply
rooted in Classical Sanskrit Theatre, which is the earliest existing form of drama and theatre.
• Ancient Indian Drama: History of Indian drama dates back to the ancient Vedic period. It then
moves on to the classical theatre traditions, also influencing modern theatre, particularly the Hindi,
Marathi and Bengali theatres down the line. Looking back towards the bygone historical path, the
beginning of the ancient dramas owes to the Rig Veda for its monumental source material, together
with Pururava, Urvashi, Yama and Yami, Indra-Indrani, Sarma-Pani and Ushas Suktas.
Even the epics of Ramayana, Mahabharata and Arthashastra are
instilled with specific techniques of dramaturgy. Sages like Valmiki and
Vyas and Panini also had shed decisive light and Patanjali had heartily
contributed in his Mahabhashya that there existed two dramas, namely,
Kamsa Vadha and Vali Vadha. As such, the origin of dramas from the early
Vedic Age is considered to be the most authentic and authoritative amongst
all the later creations. it was Videshiya.
 DRAMA
• Bharata Muni is regarded as the founder of the Indian dramaturgy and he described Indian drama as The Fifth
Veda. Thus, Bharata is often acknowledged as the Father of Indian Theatrical Arts. Bharata's Natyashastra
appears to be the first attempt to devise and contrive the technique or rather art of drama in a systematic
manner. The Natyashastra advises the reader not only about what is to be portrayed in a drama, but also how
the portrayal is to be executed. Bharata Muni recognised 4 main modes: Speech and Poetry, Dance and Music,
Actions and Emotions for the success of a drama production. What Aristotle is to Greek, Bharat is to the Indian
folk when it comes to the medium, manner, matter of Drama.
• Later, by the mid 300 AD, history of Indian drama enunciates that play acting and penning down in the
Sanskrit language had developed and flourished to a considerable extent, which actually served as epic poems.
Each play was organised around 1 of the 9 Rasas. Till the 15th century, Sanskrit dramas were mostly performed
on stage in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. King Mitrak of
Gujarat's Vallabhi had given sufficient patronage to Indian dramas and arts.
• Medieval Indian Drama: Going by the history of Indian drama and its significant contribution to the art history
of India, one gets to be enlightened that after the 15th century, Indian dramatic activity almost ceased due to
foreign invasions on India. However, the age had remained witness to the beginnings of Loknatya which was
noticed in every state of India from 17th century onwards.
• Several states innovated fresh and new styles of drama; in Bengal there were styles
like Yatrakirtaniya, Paala Gaan; in Madhya Pradesh Mach; in Kashmir Bhandya
Thar and in Gujarat the forms comprised Bhavai, Ramlila; in northern India there
existed the Nautanki (Uttar Pradesh), and Bhand, Ramlila and Raslila; in
Maharashtra Tamasha; in Rajasthan Raas and Jhoomer; in Punjab Bhangra and
Songe; while in Assam it was Ahiyanat and Ankinaat; in Bihar it was Videshiya.
 PAINTING
Indian paintings offer an aesthetic continuum, which extends from early civilization to the present
day. Initially depicting religious beliefs and values, Indian paintings have now evolved to become a
synthesis of diverse traditions and cultures. Here is a list of paintings that have been the epitome of
Indian culture and history since decades
1. Murals: The history of Indian Murals dates back to the early medieval and ancient times. All over
India, over 20 locations boast of mural paintings, which depict themes of Jain, Hindu, and Buddhist
religions. These paintings are found mainly in the form of natural rock-cuts and carvings, in caves of
Bagh, Ajanta, Ellora (Kailashnath Temple), Sittanavasal, and Armamalai.
2. Paintings in Eastern India: The miniatures paintings of Eastern India developed in the 10th
Century. These depict scenes from Lord Buddha’s life and His divinity, painted on palm leaves and
wooden covers. The earliest Buddhist existing manuscript is the Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita, which
is currently under the possession of The Asiatic Society, in Kolkata. The influence of miniature
paintings of Eastern India is evident in the Buddhist temples of Myanmar and Tibet.

3. Miniature Paintings in Western India: Western miniature paintings are

beautiful, colourful handmade paintings. The main attraction of these
paintings is the delicate, intricate brushwork, which enhances the detailing
and provides a unique identity. Some of the miniatures are from the Hindu
Vaishnav sect, while others are from the Jain sect. The Vaishnav sect
paintings depict various occasions from Lord Krishna’s life.
 PAINTING
4. Jaunpur, Malwa, and Deccan Schools of Painting : During the rule of Nasir Shah, between 1500A.D.
and 1510 A.D., the Nimatnama manuscript, painted in Mandu, set a new trend in illustration of
manuscripts. This represents a fusion of the patronized and indigenous Persian style, although the
former dominated the Mandu manuscripts. Lodi Khuladar, another style of painting, developed in the
Sultanate’s reign, stretching from Delhi to Jaunpur. The miniature paintings, which initially thrived in
the court of Bahmani and later in the Golkanda, Bijapur, and Ahmadnagar courts, are known as the
Deccan School of Painting.
5. Mughal Paintings: Mughal painting is a precise form of Indian painting, usually limited to book
illustrations and miniatures, which developed, emerged, and evolved during the era of the Mughals.
Mughal paintings have a unique blend of Persian, Islamic, and Hindu styles. The paintings depict the
Mughal Emperors’ life events- conquests and marriages. Akbar’s reign saw the origin of the Mughal
School of Miniature Paintings, the first production of which was the Hamzanama series. Later,
Jahangir encouraged court artists to paint durbar scenes and portraits. After that, Shah Jahan
continued the tradition of miniature paintings.
6. Madhubani Paintings: Madhubani painting style was practised in Mithila
(Bihar). These paintings depict images of Gods and Goddesses, Hindu
mythology, royal court scenes, and royal weddings. One interesting fact
about these paintings is that all the gaps are filled in and no space is left
unoccupied. Usually, the gaps are filled with drawings of geometric designs,
floral images, images of birds, and animals.