The Role of Performing Arts in Advancing Social Justice in India: A Sociological Perspective
Author: Ms. Aparupa Patnaik, Deputy Director, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology
Keywords: Performing Arts, Social Justice, Marginalized Communities, India
In India, the performing arts have always served as a potent means for addressing social injustices and promoting social justice. Grounded in cultural traditions while ever growing, Indian art forms such as street theatre, folk dance, and classical music serve as transformative mediums that highlight critical concerns including caste prejudice, gender inequity, religious intolerance, and environmental injustice. This study analyzes how the performing arts facilitate public conversation, allowing underrepresented voices to challenge and redefine prevailing narratives of justice, equality, and human rights. Artists, through compelling performances, deconstruct rigid viewpoints and encourage audiences to engage critically with contemporary social problems. For example, Jana Natya Manch, a ground-breaking street theatre ensemble in India, has utilized performances to address caste discrimination, labour rights, and gender injustice. Established in the 1970s, the group’s influential productions, frequently performed in public places, confront social norms and provoke discourse by highlighting the challenges faced by underprivileged people. Jana Natya Manch has effectively engaged audiences through compelling narrative and accessible performances, fostering social thought and advocating for fairness and equality in Indian culture.
In order to demonstrate how these expressions unite disparate populations, promote social consciousness, and motivate activism, case studies of modern Indian performances and artists will be examined. This study proposes that the performing arts are essential in fostering an inclusive society that champions democratic principles and social justice, by situating the sociology of arts within India's intricate socio-political framework.