Unabingsha Satabdir Bangla Zatra-Sahittye Stri-Lingya (ঊনবিংশ শতাব্দীর বাংলা যাত্রা-সাহিত্যে স্ত্রী লিঙ্গ)

Abstract

Boys portraying female characters in jatra has been a longstanding practice with far-reaching implications. Just like male individuals convincingly portrayed female characters, the patriarchal society also dictated the representation of female characters in jatras. Women characters were granted a degree of freedom while maintaining underlying structures of patriarchal power and control. In jatra, women were presented through a wide range of characters like mythological goddesses, historical figures, ordinary women and many more. These characters were crucial for conveying the narratives and emotions of the stories presented in the palas. Women were frequently portrayed as powerful goddesses like Radha, Dyuti, and queens. These portrayals added a spiritual and mythological dimension to the characters. On the other hand, female individuals were considered as provocative or sexually suggestive characters in Vidyasundar pala. Female characters were also frequently confined to domestic roles, such as homemakers and caregivers. Their identities and value were tied to their ability to fulfil traditional gender roles. Female characters were often economically as well as mentally dependent on male family members or spouses, making them vulnerable to exploitation and control. It is important to note that while jatra often portrayed the suppression of female characters by patriarchal mentality, it could also be a powerful tool for critiquing and challenging these norms. This trend, although initiated during nineteenth century, was actually much more prominent in the twentieth. Works of many palakars like Nilkantha Mukhapadhyay, Manamohan Basu, Dhanakrishna Sen, Brajamohan Ray explored the complex ways in which women navigate and resist patriarchal systems, offering insight and inspiration for real-world change. But there was no individual identity for female characters. They were always identified in relation with father, husband or son. Mothers in jatras were often portrayed as paragons of maternal virtue. They embodied qualities of love, care, and selflessness, emphasizing the sacredness of the mother-child relationship. These depictions reinforced societal ideals of motherhood. Despite this multi-faceted representation of female characters, there was no scope of ascension for them with the sole exception of Manamohan Basu. Female characters of his pala got the change to be educated.