Blog 8: Threat to India's Culture

Kristin Nicholson

October 21, 2012

Threatened Culture in India

In India, many ancient art forms are dying out and culture threatened due to a lack of interest and funding. This is an effect of globalization and urbanization across India. Purulia Chhau which is a form of masked dance performed by farmers in West Bengal to celebrate the harvest season is one type of traditional art form that is at risk for becoming extinct. Purulia Chhau is a masked dance with acrobatic and martial element which is performed to the beat of tribal drums. In the last five years, the number of Purulia Chhau dancers has dropped from 300 to 100 in West Bengal, due to a lack of funding and performance opportunities, as well as changing lifestyles in the region. There are other types of dance besides Purulia Chhau, which comes from the Purulia district of West Bengal.  Other forms of the dance include Seraikella Chhau, from Jharkhand, and Mayurbhanj Chhau, from Orissa. India’s physical culture such as its monuments, paintings and artifacts, can be preserved. India’s cultural heritage, such as performing arts or oral traditions is almost impossible to preserve with the lack of interest and funding. Not only are the dances at risk for extinction, but it has also changed to adapt to the younger generation influenced by popular media. Often there are concerns of sustainability and environmental protection when urbanization. This particular instance is a concern or lack of concern for the effects urbanization has on cultural heritage.

http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/ancient-farmers-dances-threatened-with-extinction/