Aryan Books

THE TRADITION OF MASKS IN INDIAN CULTURE: An Anthropological Study of Majuli, Assam

By :- Arifur Zaman

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Pages: xx+148

Format: HB

ISBN-13: 978-81-7305-520-1

Place: New Delhi

Edition: 1st

Publisher: ARYAN BOOKS INTERNATIONAL

Size: 17cm x 25cm

Product Year: 2015

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Masks are artificial faces worn for disguise, generally to assume and to frighten. They are often worn to conceal feelings and also as coverings to hide or protect the faces. They may be carved, moulded, or even woven objects, which are worn over the face or on the head. The chief motivation for making mask was probably to satisfy the magico-religious needs of the primitive people. From time immemorial Assam has a thought provoking heritage of making and using masks. The masks, especially the bamboo split made masks, are integral to the Vaishnavism of Assam. The great saint Srimanta Sankaradeva (1449-1568) propagated Neo-Vaishnavism in North East India, which was a part of the larger pan-Indian resurgence of unflinching devotion (bhakti). The Natun (new) Chamaguri Satra is a renowned Vaishnavite monastery of Majuli, which has a long and rich tradition of mask making. It is pertinent to note that Majuli is the nerve-centre of Assam?s Vaishnavism, where the eye-catching tradition of mask making is nourished in the four satras (Vaishnavite monasteries). The present volume has meticulously churned the heritage of the Natun Chamaguri Satra, and has shown the economic, social, cultural and religious significance of the masks as also a praiseworthy record of the available masks of the area.

Unveiling the Mask Preface List of Figures List of Plates 1. Introduction 1.1 Prelude 1.2 The Assamese 1.3 Majuli 1.4 Aspects of Satra 1.5 The Village Scenario 2. Masks in the Context of Culture 3. Prologue to Mask 3.1 Underlying Meaning of Mask 3.2 Uses of Mask 4. Heritage of Mask at Majuli 4.1 Mask Making Tradition 4.2 Making of Mask 4.3 Type of Masks 4.4 Mask and Gender 4.5 Some Aspects Integral to Masks 5. Available Masks of Natun Chamaguri Satra 6. Conclusion Bibliography Index

Dr. Arifur Zaman, graduated in science with major in Anthropology specializing in Social and Cultural Anthropology, securing first position in first class, received his Ph.D. degree on ?An Anthropological Study on Mask of Natun Chamaguri Satra of Majuli, District Jorhat, Assam?, from Gauhati University, Assam. He is currently engaged as Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology, Dibrugarh University, Assam. He is a recipient of the Gauhati University Gold Medal and R. Das Memorial Award for securing First Class First position in Anthropology in the year 2003. He has been conducting extensive field studies among the various ethno-cultural groups, both tribal and non-tribal in North East India. He is credited with authorship of about thirty research papers in the journals of national and international repute.

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