Modernity and the Marathi Theatre of the late Nineteenth Century

The talk explores the relationship between modernity and Theatre in the 19th Century Bombay Presidency. It argues that the physical settings, subject matter and the emotive aspects of Marathi theatre were deeply influenced by modern technology and modern ways of life. Based on a study of about fourty plays that were staged between 1870s and 1900s in the Marathi speaking regions, it is argued that Marathi theatre, voiced the apprehensions and aspirations of the colonial middle classes in the Bombay Presidency.

Shraddha Kumbhojkar is a Professor of History and heads the Department of History at Savitribai Phule Pune University. She obtained a Master’s degree in History and another Master’s in Sanskrit and then went on to defend her doctoral thesis entitled Nationalistic Interpretations of Ancient Indian Texts: Maharashtra during 1885-1929.