Voice of Resistance:An Ethnographic Study on ‘Dhulia‘ as one of the Folk Art Forms of Assam

Sailendra Prasad Sarma

Volume : VII, Issue : VII, July - 2018

Voice of Resistance:An Ethnographic Study on ‘Dhulia‘ as one of the Folk Art Forms of Assam

Sailendra Prasad Sarma

Abstract :

The soul of folk art lies in its simple rusticity and rawness in movement, rhythm and form.”

Lt. Hemanga Biswas, Folk Art Scholar and Social activist

The use of folk art in communicating social message is there across different media platforms. Folk art, in its different forms, sometimes, works as alternatives to the discourses of mainstream–media and society. As an art of the grassroots, it has its own place among the voices that shoot–up from the margin and periphery. Dhulia is one of such traditional art forms in Assam that has a special significance as it uses satires in different forms to resist the dominant social norms. This art form, not only challenges the tyrannical values with the help of satirical verses critiquing the dominant social structure, but also, it puts up an energetic display of different acrobatic skills which are performed by both young and old performers in a theatrical fashion. The reason why, such an art form has a greater connect with the audience belonging to all the sections of the society of all ages. Besides, the uses of local dialects in their performances help in keeping such an art form alive as an alternative to the language and art of the elite and the mainstream. Performed mostly by a section of our society who are poor and oppressed both economically and socially, this folk art is always a reflection of the ongoing struggles of this section of the society. In this backdrop, the paper seeks to explore Dhulia as a medium of expression and resistance in the present society of Assam.