Indian theatre is at least as old as the Indus valley civilization which, in the light of its extended reach disclosed by archaeological explorations in recent years, is emerging as a Ganga valley civilization as well. The coming together of many peoples, the interaction of many cultural traditions, and the evolution of regional specificities in cultural expression, have given India a rich and varied legacy comparable, not to that of any one country of Europe, but to the heritage of that continent in its entirety. Presentation of a total picture will be an encyclopaedic task of the future. Here an effort has been made to focus attention particularly on the unexplored areas of Indian theatrical traditions. The author has succeeded in shedding new light on many crucial aspects about which there have till now been uncertainties or serious misconceptions. The ten essays in the book, scanning a mass of literary, epigraphical and archaeological material, constitute a scholarly exploration. They tell of very early forms of theatrical arts, the way in which they were performed, the role of the temple in their development, the early theatre halls, the ancient amphitheatre unearthed by the archaeologist’s spade, the unique tradition of female theatre, the relationship between the performing artistes and the state and the various art traditions that influenced the evolution of the theatre. Of special interest is the material on Indian folk theatre which has an ancient tradition.
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