Bratachari Movement:Origin,historical perspectives and inclusive traditional dance form of Bengal

Bratachari training at elementary school Bratachari was introduced as a combined Indian folk form of songs and dances, but now a days it has got more relevance as a tool of physical education and rhythmic physical exercise. Apart form spiritual objectives Pre-independent national consciousness Bratachari movement may gradually developing into a pivotal practice in the educational institutions especially in school level. GuruSaday Dutt felt our obligation to develop our youth brigade for the sake of nation construction as prescribed by Swami Vivekananda. Political compulsion has changed now but the appropriations have not.   We are in the age of post modernism where typical Indian joint families are fragmented into nuclear ones. Children of those families are virtually social but they are merely nourish affinity or social concurrence, rather than they are becoming self-centric. They are more affiliated with the virtual games rather than real games which was usually playe...

Students of Kishore Bharati ,DumDum during their Bratachari Training,.  Picture Courtesy- Rajarshi Mukhopadhay  Bratachari Movement was originated from our root and cultural ethnicity.  Bratachari may have some different aspects or objectives but the ultimate aim of this movement is to construct a healthy and prosperous youth society for the service of domicile. During the colonial period Bratachari was being taught in some National and vernacular institutes, they had their own Bratachari Group who used to perform Bratachari acts.But gradually in West Bengal during congress regime Bratachari considered and evolved as a better form of Physical Education and it was introduced into School Curriculum. Bratachari got their initial success when it was included into school curriculum,proportionately it was being taught maintaining balance with physical exercise. Students took it as a space for fun and joyful learning after a hectic schedule with the text books. Not only i...

Bratachari training camp in Kishore Bharati Vidyalaya,DumDum(picture taken by Rajarshi Mukhopadhay) The elucidation of 'Bratachari' is observer of some certain duties and oath to serve towards mankind. GuraSaday Dutt believed that Bratachari ideologies should be observed by a Bratachari Disciple in his everyday life.Not only in his life but also in all Physiological and mental attitudes,in his body,soul,nature,character and behaviour. By following these discipline he may succeed in his life. So, to achieve a certain goal a Bratachari would have to to honest and devote himself for the principle and ideology. These ideology is for love, affinity, inclusiveness,discipline, peace and widespread. Gurusaday Dutt first emphasised on Friendship and Unity.He formed a slogan in Bengali. "স-খ্য ডোরে সকল ব্রতচারী জীবন গাঁথব,স-ঙ্ঘ গড়ে সবাই মিলে কৃত্য নৃত্য সাধব"  Batachari Movement (from vrata, vow) a movement for spiritual and social improvement.Each and every Bratachar...

Various types of paper pulp masks GuruSaday Museum in Thakurpukur,Kolkata is actually a paradise of indian folk art,crafts and culture.Where ever GuruSaday Dutt was posted as ICS, he collected the epitomes of the certain area,it could be folk craft or stone sculpture. In Gurusaday Museum these items are displayed,such as 'Dasavatar Tas' (a set of cards named after ten avater of hindu faith) from Bankura, 'Sujani Kantha'(a decorated steatched blanket)  from Jessore. Various types of 'PotChitra' were collected by him.'Jorano pot',#1.Kalighat Pot#2,Chowka pot#3 are stored in the museum. 'Pot Chitra' was a folk media of communication , it may be called one kind of folk cinema where 'Pot' was displayed in absence of celluloid. Pot is actually a rolled piece of long cloth where the illustration used to painted by a particular community identified as the "Patuya". They painted on the cloth and conveyed the messages of the ce...

[Performed by the students of Ramakrishna Mission Boys Home PTTI, Rahara,West Bengal] GuruSaday Dutt's target was to enhance patriotism among the youth, not only among men but among the women also. He sincerely composed Bratachari Dance steps allying with 'Alaji', 'Satyaji' and 'Priyaji' for both men and women. Apart from 'Raibeshe' Bratachari Movement had influenced by other folk dance forms of Bengal and India. ‘Kathinach’ is quite similar with the Gujrati dance form ‘Dandiya’.Guru Saday Dutt combined 'Kathi nach' with his own written song “kathinach korite sobe re”.In Primary and Secondary level Bratachari courses kathi nach are taught. Guru Saday Dutt's activity was the conjunctive factor between  Traditional Bengali Dance forms and modern Bengal.He extricated veil upon 'Dhamail','Jari' etc. In the colonial period he took initiative to reconcile swadeshi and Traditional dance formats.GuruSaday used this s...

Gurusaday Dutt incorporated various traditional Bengali dance forms into Bratachari Nrityali such as ’Kathinach’,’Jarinach’,’raibeshe’. War dance form of Birbhum 'Raibeshe' got new life through his work.Gurusaday Dutt played a pioneer role to introduce traditional Bengali dances in front of the world. Now we should have to discuss about ‘Raibeshe’. Raybeshe is a war dance, mainly performed in the   Birbhaum and surrounded districts. Raibeshe has a rich history,warriors performed this dance balancing on bamboo sticks before their war venture,so  this dance form are named as such. Gurusaday Dutt revived its old format of dance and his disciple Nabanidhar Bandyopadhay(Alaji) reconstruct Raibeshe dance rhytham with Dhol. Nabanidhar Bandyopadhay along with Gurusaday Dutt also bring in front a indian type of gymnastics which were performed at the end of the 'Raibeshe Dance', it's termed as 'kasarat'. Performers show their physical flexibility to th...