The origin, history of Hindustani Dastangoi?
Dastangoi! Dastan means long stories which are exotic, dramatic, and akin to the
new age soap operas.
Amir Hamza was the uncle of prophet Mohammad, 623 AD, his courage valour
and charisma made him very famous and soon his ways of life changed into great
Hamza stories. With the Mughal conquest and cultural exchange, the stories
travelled over the world. India, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, Morocco, Central
Asia, to China…this art of storytelling was the most popular way to unwind.
The Arabic and Persian languages were favoured to narrate the stories. But as
they travelled faraway - the stories as well as the storytellers acquired and
imbibed the local flavous as they came in contact with languages, cultures and
people.
In India, during the period of Akbar, he commissioned for the largest art project
called Hamzanama, the stories were translated into paintings. It took long
eighteen years to paint and finish the whole project.
Came the 17th century and with large number of travelers coming to India, the
story telling had really become big and very famous. By the 18th century, the art
had become very professional and its popularity grew more in northern India.
By 20th century, the world was in turmoil, writhed and fraught with the two
world wars, big upheaval in Indian politics, economic turbulences, people started
losing interest in such arts. The influence of the glamorous and glitzy West was
dominating.
Radio, TV, gizmos made short stories more popular and Dastangoi neglected.
Dastango tried innovations to catch and hold the attention of their audience. After
all, It is the most spontaneous way of creating literature.
Can you also throw some highlights on the evolvement of Dastangoi in the
context of the entire world?
Dastangoi flourished! For, past is always relevant. It’s the living culture which is
relevant and popular. Though Dsatangoi is not the living culture,
but isn’t the past is relevant? It was part of past and continue to be living in the
present..
How the journey of Dasangoi has helped it to become more articulate and
refined?
Initially Dastan had two tropes – adventure! And romance! The thrill of a magical
future! Indian culture is rich with magic, deception, so, the Indian storytellers
added some elements. Yes, it was refined with the time with generous doses of
magic (talism) and Trickery (aiyyary). It became grandeur.
77 SOCULTURES JAN-FEB2019