Indian culture is a repository
of innumerable oral traditions, which has its roots in folklore and family
traditions. This rich cultural heritage has been an integral part in all the
education and spiritual processes of our country. Art forms, which are an
important source of entertainment, communicate with the world with the art of
storytelling. The Guru Shishya Parampara focused on transferring the knowledge
via oral tradition, which transmitted the history, techniques, literature and
all the basic aspects regarding the art forms with or without the support of
the writing system. This system not only helped the students to imbibe
knowledge but also strengthened the ability and the capacity of the human brain
and body in a sublime way.
Indian heritage has continued
the practice of ancient tradition to recite the Vedas and Puranas.
In earlier days, epics were often recited to seek divine blessings, at
religious festivities and also when one faced the critical situations of life.
This oral rendition not only strengthened the tradition but also gave rise to
storytelling which slowly became the means of verbal documentation of the
culture and heritage. Gradually the tradition branched out into literary,
pictorial and performing traditions in which the art of communication existed
in different ways. It is this oral tradition along with the literary, pictorial
and performing tradition, which has shaped the cultural settings that resulted
in the exchange and interaction of the relationship that has stood strong as a
means of documentation. With this strong base, performing tradition has evolved
into multiple forms.
Oral tradition in performing
arts has a close link with the Guru Shishya Parampara, the strong
lineage of knowledge flowing from generation to generation. The Guru who
is the ocean of knowledge transfers the art form to Shishya creating a Parampara.
The traditional format illustrates how the Shishya acquires the
knowledge by being at the abode of the Guru.
The strategy adopted in
performing art is the elaboration and embellishment of the Shastras and
the Puranas, which gets reshaped and refined during every performance
from time to time. However, the core content is learnt by heart and transferred
as it is to the next generations. It is the individual perspectives and the
interpretations of the Guru based on their practical and theoretical knowledge,
which differs from each individual which is visible in their chorographical
works. As their understanding and learning flows down to their students, it
gives rise to lineages. Thus, the Guru Shishya Parampara plays an
important role in the performing arts to take forward the respective Bani (Style).
With the advent and advancement
of technology the learning through oral tradition is slowly declining due to
multiple factors which curtails the capacity of the human brain to absorb,
reminisce and reproduce structures of great intricacy and end up being
dependent on technology. This calls for an immediate action to reinforce the
techniques of oral tradition in order to not just challenge and strengthen the
human brain but also to have the flow of memorized knowledge on the tip of the
tongue.
It can be said that both the Guru and Shishya
followed the Gurukul system or in some cases spent a lot of time together to
enrich the treasure house of knowledge where the journey demanded more focus,
dedication, determination and patience from the students. Also, the lack of
technological intervention created more space for creativity and to absorb the
content. In the current trend of young Gurus who have enormous exposure and
accessibility to technology, are they able to strike a balance amidst these
pressures and yet continue to pass on the tradition to the future
generation?
#submitted article to Indian News, Auckland, New Zealand
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