Historicizing drama: Was Bengal the matrix of drama?

Seminar paper from the year 2017 in the subject History - Asia, grade: A, , language: English, abstract: The paper underscores the teleological perspective of the historical process of Indian drama from its inception to its logical culmination. It unravels the development and ramifications of Bengali drama by juxtaposing it with the popular culture of the region. The paper puts an emphasis on the regional paradigm of drama by interlacing 'orient' and 'occident' influences. It prioritizes and discerns two-fold model of Bengali drama that is hitherto not emphasised by the scholars. The first segment was the nascent stage of Bengali drama. It explains the development of Bengali drama at the intersection of Greek and Sanskrit influences. The second section was the stage of maturation of Bengali drama. It explicates the amalgam of English and Russian influences for the formation of a new style of drama in Bengal. The paper unfolds the project of internatiolization and scientific modification of a regional art.