Indore: Everyone has seen puppets performing on strings, but very few have seen human beings acting as puppets. To keep the traditional art of puppet theatre alive, Dr. Ujjal Mukhopadhyay and Birbhum Sanskriti Bahini have been organizing a unique Human Puppet Show for the past two decades.

According to Dr. Mukhopadhyay, this innovative presentation allows audiences to experience not only puppet theatre but also the artistry of performers who themselves become living puppets. The troupe was preparing to stage its first-ever Human Puppet Show in Indore, at Ravindra Natya Grah. He expressed confidence that children and families would enjoy the performance.

The Human Puppet Show began in 2007. A team of about 15 performers transforms into human puppets and presents a variety of stories through theatrical performances. The production combines elements of traditional puppet theatre with live acting, music, and visual storytelling.

Training Children Through a Cultural Ashram

Dr. Mukhopadhyay also explained that the Human Puppet Show has been adapted into Hindi so that audiences from different regions can understand and enjoy it. Through this medium, the organization conducts awareness and educational programs on various social and cultural themes.

To preserve and strengthen indigenous tribal culture in Birbhum, the organization has established a cultural and theatre ashram on 13 bighas of land. There, tribal children receive education alongside training in:

• Theatre
• Dance
• Music
• Visual arts

The children learn to present stories creatively through performance. Dr. Mukhopadhyay noted that puppet theatre is highly engaging and helps children develop confidence, creativity, and communication skills.

The Human Puppet Show has been presented across West Bengal and in several other states, including:

• Jharkhand
• Delhi
• Assam
• Other parts of India

The article highlights the organization’s efforts to preserve traditional folk culture while making it accessible and relevant to modern audiences.