বাংলাদেশ ইতিহাস সমিতি

Journal

Bangladesh Historical Studies VOL-XXV

GAUDIYA NRITYA: THE DANCE FORM OF ANCIENT BENGAL Agnes Rachel Perris1 1. Assistant Professor, Department of Dance, University of Dhaka Abstract: Gaudiya Nritya is the classical dance form of Bengal. The thousand-years cultural heritage and history of Bengal is widely known throughout, be it in the field of literature, art, sculpture, music, or dance. Till the 1980s, we were under the impression that there were no classical dance forms of Bengal. However, we now know that not only do we have a very rich cultural heritage in Bengal, but we also have our very own unique dance form in Gaudiya. In the mid 1980s, Mahua Mukherjee had started reviving this art form. The near-extinct dance form was revived from manuscripts, literature, paintings, as well as from various folk dances. But Mukherjee? s work was merely the starting point for Gaudiya Nritya. Extensive research is ongoing and new discoveries are being made every day. This article merely aims to portray a brief outlook on Mukherjee? s work and Gaudiya Nritya. Keywords : Classical dance,Gaurdiya Nritya, dance history, Bengali culture,Abhinaya. DOI: http://doi.org/10.59815/bhs22_1001 Notes and References 1 „The Revival is Ushered? , Marg, Vol. XXXXI No. 2, p.54, cited in Mahua Mukherjee, Prachin Banglar Sastriya Nritya-Dhara (Gaudiya Nritya: Classical Dance Forms in Ancient Bengal), Kolkata: The Asiatic Society, 2004, reprint, 2017, p. 1. 2 Ibid., p. 14. 3 Mahua Mukherjee, Gaudiya Nrityer Uthsha Shandhane, (In Search of the Origins of Gaudiya Nritya), Kolkata, Sanskrita Sahitya Parishad, 1415, (BS), p. 1. 4 Niharranjan Ray, Bangalir Itihash, Kolkata, Dey? s Publishing, 1356 (B.S), p. 123. 5 Ibid, p. 122. 6 Mahua Mukherjee, Prachin Banglar Sastriya Nritya-Dhara, 2004, p.1. 7 Gopal Haldar, Bangla Shahitya Ruprekha ( Pracheen o Madhyajug ) [An Outline of Bengali Literature (Ancient and middle Ages)], Kolkata Muktadhara Publishing, 1986, p. 4. 8 Sureshchandra Banerjee, Bharata Natyashastrya, 1st Part. Nabapatra Prakashan, Khanda 1, 1980, p. 135. 9 Mahua Mukherjee, Gaudiya Nrityer Uthsha Shandhane, 1415, p. 2. Sukamal Barua and Mahua Mukherjee, Gaudabanger Shahitya – Sanskritite Bouddha Juger Probhab (The influence of Buddhist Era on Literature and Culture of Gaudyabanga), Dhaka, Natundhara Printing Press, 2017, p. 139.