Indian People's Theatre Association

Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) was an association of theatre-artists and others based in Kolkata, India the goal of which was to bring cultural awakening among the people of India. [ Bengali Theatre and Performing Arts. Article in [http://www.bangla-online.info/BanglaLanguage/BengaliTheatrePerformanceArts.htm Bangla-online.info] ]

Beginning

Some of the initial members of the groups were Prithviraj Kapoor, Bijon Bhattacharya, Ritwik Ghatak, Utpal Dutt, Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, Salil Chowdhury,Niranjan Singh Maan, S. Tera Singh Chan, Jagdish Faryadi, Khalili Faryadi etc. The group was formed in 1942, in the background of the Second World War, with Bengal famine of 1943 and starvation deaths in India on the one hand and repression by the colonial masters in the wake of the Quit India Movement and the aggression by the fascist powers on the Soviet Union on the other. All India People's Theatre Conference was held in Mumbai in 1943 where the group presented its idea and objective of representing the crisis of the time through the medium of theatre and to help people understand their rights and duties. This conference led to the formation of committees of IPTA across India. The movement hit not only theatres, but also cinema and music in Indian languages.

"Nabanna"

The most important of the dramas were "Nabanna" (Harvest). "Nabanna" is a folk-cultural festival of Bengal to celebrate the harvest. This Bengali drama, written by Bijon Bhattacharya and directed by Sombhu Mitra, portrayed the evils of the 1943 Bengal famine and the alleged indifference of the British rulers, as also of the richer strata of Indian society towards the plight of the millions dying from the famine.

Other dramas and films

"Nava Jiboner Gaan" (Song of New of Life) by Jyotirindra Moitra and the film "Dharti Ke Lal" (Children of the Earth) by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas followed "Nabanna" in addressing the needs of the people. These performances were characteristic for their vivid, stark portrayal of the suffering of the masses. Similar productions were carried out all over India, like "Desha Sathi" in Marathi which was about the attack on the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany; "Prarambham" in Telugu; and "Zubeida" directed by Balraj Sahni and based on the story of a Muslim girl from Malabar. Manikuntala Sen, the fireband woman of left politics acted in this play along with Gopal Halder, who later became an educationist.

Breakage and legacy

The group were dispersed in 1947. However, the main members continued to carry the legacy of IPTA by forming several groups with similar ideology. Ahindra Chowdhuri, Sombhu Mitra and Tripti Mitra were the leading members of the group "Bahurupee". "Raktakarabi", "Tahar Nam Ti Ranjana", "Char Adhyay" (written by Rabindranath Tagore) were some of the earlier productions of Bahurupee. Utpal Dutt led another faction of artists and went to create classics like "Tiner Talowar" and "Kallol". IPTA Mumbai [Indian People's Theatre Association. [http://www.mumbaitheatreguide.com/dramas/groups/ipta.asp Article in mumbaitheatreguide.com] ] was another offshoot that has existed over the last six decades and continue to produce dramas till date. IPTA offshoots exist in other parts of India s well. [Suhrid Sankar Chattopadhyay. [http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2213/stories/20050701001708800.htm A stage for social commitment] . Frontline. Volume 22, Issue 13, June18 - July01, 2005]

Group theatres like "Nandikar", "Spandan" of Kolkata still produce their dramas often in the line of the IPTA movement, and recently there has been effort to start a similar movement inspired by the IPTA. [ Indian Peoples Theatre Association revival by [http://www.spandanipta.com/about.html Spandan] ]

IPTA WEST BENGAL AT PRESENT.

At present IPTA West Bengal is a running organisation led by IPTA West Bengal State Committee. The Secretary is Sisir Sen, President Sri Hiren Bhattacharjee, Asst. Secretary Sri Gora Ghosh and Sri Ashim Bandyopadhay. There are many cultural personalities like Shakti Bandyopadhyay, Bablu Dasgupta, Pijus Sarkar, Kankan Bhattacharjee, Sankar Mukherjee, Hiranmoy Ghosal, Tapan Hazra, Basudeb Dasgupta, Suvendu Maity, Abhoy Dasgupta, Ratna Bhattacharjee etc. There are 19 District Committees under this organisation. No. of Artist members 7000 approx. IPTA W B has been reorganised in its 3rd conference held on 1967 at Kolkata Bagbazar reading room Libraby.Hundreds of dramas have been produced still today since 1967. Such as Bis e june by Biru Mukhopadhyay, Bastav Sastra and Buno Hans by Hiren Bhatacharjee, Haraner Nat Jamai by Sisir Sen, Spartakas and Fulwali by Basudeb Basu, Fatik chander Swapnaguli, Hanadaar, Judhistir er Narak Darsan, Haripadar Panja Larai (Street Drama) by Ashim Bandyopadhyay. Abelay Amritakatha, Jaban Bandi (Street Drama}, Chhoto Bakulpurer jatri, Aaj O Itihaas, Tarapadar Maa, Ganpat Kahar, by Sudip Sarkar. Light House by jayanta Chakraborty. Ramdhanu, Aami Krishna, Virus, Ananta Yatra by Tapan Hazra etc.

ee also

* Star Theatre,Calcutta
* Dharti Ke Lal

Notes

External links

* [http://www.southasiancinema.com/sacjournal.htm THE IPTA–EFFECT IN THE HINDI CINEMA OF THE FIFTIES AND SIXTIES]