The folk theatre of the Rongdani Rabha of the Rabhas in North Garo Hills of Meghalaya and Goalpara district, Assam, holds significant potential as a tool for development communication
The folk theatre of the Rabhas in Goalpara district, Assam holds a significant potential for development communication in the rural areas. The Rongdani Rabhas reside in the southern bank of the Goalpara district. It is a sub-tribe of the Rabha that has been practicing a rich folk theatre since the 1940s as seen by Lt. Prasanna Pam. Rongdani Rabha Folk Theatre also called Jatra/Pala is a unique blend of Music, dance, acting, storytelling, and singing. It serves as a medium of communication in generating developmental work/messages related to social, cultural, and environmental issues, health, education, agriculture, and rights. The Rabhas are rooted in their cultural heritage and their traditional lives offer them to connect to their ancestral social, economic, survival, and political life. These folk theatres offer a powerful and accessible medium to address social issues, promote awareness, and empower communities. The shift in the dynamism of theatrical performances is on the decline due to the modern means of communication. This paper explores on the characteristics, significance, and potential of the Rongdani Rabha folk theatre in the context of development communication.
