Date: 29/01/2022 Shift: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Q. No: 34

In the stress-ridden world, traditional pastimes that could prove therapeutic are dying for want of patronage. One such is the art of puppetry. The word “puppet” is derived from the Latin word pupa, meaning “doll” or “girl”. Puppets came into being in India in the third century A.D. Here it was honed into a theatrical art. It helped to propagate the works of saints and religious leaders, and also depict stories from epics. Later, it spread to South East Asia. The Cambodian puppeteers inspired the Thais. Java and Bali followed though it didn’t catch on in Sumatra. The Malays followed the Siamese and Japanese styles in the nineteenth century.
Gradually, puppets became more sophisticated in appearance, as skilled craftsmen began to make the models. Puppeteers became trained as performers. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, puppet theatres became extremely popular in artistic circles. Writers like George Sands and Goethe organised their own well-prepared puppet shows to entertain their friends. Puppet shows have been mentioned in the literature by Shakespeare, Ben Johnson, and many others.
Basically, there are three kinds of puppets. Shadow puppets are made of translucent leather and coloured vegetable dyes. Buffalo, goat, or sheep skin is treated to become translucent. Limbs are loosely-jointed so that they can be made to move separately. A stick is attached vertically in the middle. Movement of the stick causes general movements. But for special movements, single strings attached to the limbs are used. These leather puppets are projected on a screen, which is illuminated by a light source placed behind the puppets. The puppeteer manipulates the puppets to form moving shadows on the screen. He also speaks the parts, sings, or is accompanied by music.
String puppets involve puppets that are manipulated by six strings. The performance is on a stage but the puppeteers are never seen. They wear anklets which produce the illusion that the puppets themselves are dancing. The main storyteller recites the storyline, while the puppets perform, and the dialogue and music are provided by the puppeteers.
Rod or stick puppets are constructed around the main central rod. A short horizontal bar serves as the shoulders, from which the upper limbs dangle. The arms, made of cloth and stuffed with straw or paper, are jointed or manipulated with other thinner rods. These puppets can be the size of a human being. The puppeteer hides behind the puppet and manipulates it. The coordination of the limbs comes only through practice.
Puppetry is a good communication medium. Messages can be propagated in a realistic way. Puppet making and performing is good occupational therapy for convalescents and physically disabled people. Muscular coordination and manual dexterity improve with effort. However, the best use of this art is that it can provide delightful hours of fun to young and old alike.