Nachnis and Rasiks: An Ethnographic Study of an Artistic Community of Purulia District, West Bengal, India

DOI: 10.33876/2311-0546/2022-1/117-133

Authors

Keywords:

начни (танцоры), расик, художественные сообщества, представления, Пурулия, Индия

Abstract

This paper is based on the study of nachnis, a dancing community in Purulia district of West Bengal, India. The community is still performing albeit in a different form than that has so far been projected in the popular perception and is very different from its past composition and practices. Preserving to some extent the traditional features of jajmani system, danseuses are mostly involved in the local entertainment sphere. In spite of the profound changes in the attitude to dance and music in India in general, nachnis' social status is still very low. A nachni is always involved in a dynamic relationship with her rasik – a man who fulfills functions of her teacher, manager, patron, lover, and often her children's father. There is a tendency towards forming stable family-like connections between a nachni and a rasik today. Although there is certain activity to unite all nachnis and promote their rights, this initiative is still unsuccessful due to strong professional rivalry and a lack of community feeling. The content of nachnis' dance repertoire demonstrates a blend of various styles, traditions, arranged in local ways and fitted for the popular taste of the audience.

For Citation: Ryzhakova S., Bandyopadhyay S. 2022. Nachnis and Rasiks: An Ethnographic Study of an Artistic Community of Purulia District, West Bengal, India. Herald of Anthropology (Vestnik Antropologii) 1: 117–133.

Author Biographies

  • Ryzhakova, S.I. , Институт этнологии и антропологии РАН
    • Dr., Ethnographer, Anthropologist, leading research fellow
    • member of Indian Anthropological Society,
    • member of European Association of Social Anthropologists
  • Bandyopadhyay, S., Vidyasagar University
    • Dr., Assistant Professor at the Department of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University (India).
    • His research interests include Social and Cultural Anthropology. He obtained his M.Sc. with specialization in Social–Cultural Anthropology from University of Calcutta.
    • Editor-in-Chief, “Man in India” (Scopus Indexed), managing editor, “The Indian Journal of Anthropology”, associate managing editor, “Journal of the Indian Anthropological Society”

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Published

27.02.2022

Issue

№ 1 - 2022

Section

Field ethnography