Female Characters in Modern Assamese Drama (1857-1977)

Her present work entitled "Female Characters in Modern Assamese Drama" makes an attempt to investigate the role played by women in modern Assamese drama. The treatment does not limit itself in just describing and evaluating the dramatic works from the aesthetic or literary point of view, but relates them to the society and the women in society of Assam

For the convenience of the systematic study, the topic of the work has been divided into eight characters.

Dr. Goswami gives ample evidences of careful and painstaking study, careful analysis and detailed treatment of the subject matter of the work.

I hope that the book will be read and appreciated by the researchers and students of literature in particular and the readers in general.

Dr. (Mrs.) Pranati Sharma Goswami h an illustrious academic and literary background from her childhood. She was born in Ulubari Satra, Dist. Nalbari. Dr. Sharma Goswami did her M.A. in Assamese and stood first in Gauhati University. After a brief stint in Tura govt. College, Tura, Meghalaya, she joined in Pragjyotish College, Guwahati in 1985 as a lecturer and still working there as Selection Grade lecturer. The area of her specialization is Modern Assamese Drama. She has published a number of thought-provoking and research-oriented articles in various standard Journals and Magazines. She has attended many international and national seminar in different places of India and abroad. She visited Italy in 1997 and Malaysia and Singapore in 1999.

This book contains substantial portion of her Ph.D. dissertation on the Female Characters in Modern Assamese Drama, submitted under the supervision of Dr. Sailen Bharali, former Head of the department and Jawaharlal Nehru Professor of Assamese Department, Gauhati University.

Dr. Sharma Goswami is deeply associated with various literary and cultural organisations of the state. She has many books to her credit e.g. Uraniya Meghar Dare, a collection of poems, Sahityar Bhinna Prasanga, a collection of critical literary articles and Kuri Satikar Kurijan Bisista Asamiya, a collection of short biographies of twenty special Assamese person (Volume I to II) etc. She has also edited many magazines of different social organisations.

Assamese drama is as old as the sixteenth century. The full-fledged Assamese drama emerged with the growth of ankiyanat written by Sankaradeva in the early part of the sixteenth century. Although the technique of classical Indian dramaturgy exercised some influence, the basic idea for the writing of ankiyanat was derived from local folk-dramatic institutions like oja-pali and puppet dance. But the tradition of ankiyanat was not carried over to modern Assamese drama. The inspiration for the growth and development of modern Assamese drama was drawn from the west. The new kind of education initiated by the British after the occupation of Assam in 1826 brought about remarkable changes in the mind of the educated community. Young people educated with the western system of education came under the spell of western art and literature. The influx of new ideas as a result of western literary influence led to radical changes in the form and content of drama. The influence was not limited to plot-construction and other techniques, it extended to the actions and behaviours of the characters as well.

There has been a considerable discussion on the various aspects of Assamese drama. But, as far as I know, a thorough discussion exclusively on characters and more particularly on female characters was not made till Dr. Pranati Sharma Goswami took up the task. Women have occupied a distinguished position in the Assamese society since the vedic age. In the context of the changing social and political atmosphere and the increasing role of women in the society. The study has assumed greater significance. Dr. Goswami's book is not only an attempt to analyse the female characters depicted in Assamese drama but also a study of the Assamese society which is a part of the broad Indian Society.

The book aims at an analysis and assessment of the women characters of the modern Assamese drama. It seeks to evaluate the position of women based on their portrayal. The drama is regarded as an impersonal representation of life. The dramatic art is indeed a complete literary form, where the socio-cultural life of an individual or people is depicted through various imageries and dramatis personae. The persons, like the plot of which they are the agents, belong to the total imagery of the play, the interpretation of which as a whole determines the view taken of the persons. The personage of the drama is generally indicated by the term character which is a fundamental and lasting element in drama. The character of a drama like modern novels slowly, but steadily reveals itself through actions and interactions in the drama. The plot and incidents are necessary aids for the proper delineation of the characters. The importance of a live play and otherwise depends upon the characters. In the former, character controls the plot while in the latter plot controls the characters.

**Contents and Sample Pages**