Indian Puppetry and Puppet Stories
Contents: I. Indian Puppetry: 1. What is puppet? 2. Short history of puppets. 3. Types of puppets. 4. Traditional Indian puppets. 5. Indian tribal puppets. 6. Contemporary Indian puppets. 7. Manipulation of puppets. 8. Who is a puppeteer? 9. Production of puppet play. II. Puppet stories: 1. Stories without words: i. The doctor and the patient. ii. The quarrelsome monkeys. 2. Myths and legends: i. Birth of puppets. ii. Gods go round the world. iii. Birth of Ganesha. iv. Krishna and the fearsome Kaliya. 3. Animal stories: i. The birthday. ii. Three billy goats. iii. The wicked tiger. iv. The Crocodile and the fox. 4. Nature stories: i. Who will be the king? ii. The nature teacher. iii. The monkey gardeners. 5. Folk tales: i. Raju, my baby brother. ii. The thin old widow. iii. The fox\'s marriage. 6. Fairy tales: i. Kanchanmala. ii. The princess and the frog. 7. Moral tales: i. Death of a cat. ii. The Talisman. 8. Behavioural tales: i. Lazy Munni. ii. Careless Munni. 9. Ghost stories: i. The Ghost who sang songs. ii. The colourful ghosts. iii. The Ghost of high seas. iv. The long-legged ghost. 10. Science fiction: i. Mithu on the rocket. ii. The alien.
"Whoever, in India, has not seen Rajasthani puppeteers wearing colourful costumes who make their Kath Putlis dance and execute actions right in front of the band of fascinated children (and adults)? Indeed, puppetry is one of the most ancient skilled art forms in this land and virtually exists in all states. The puppets are animated objects that perform like characters in theatre and often much more. Especially for children, it is willing suspension of disbelief and thereafter huge enjoyment of the antics and frolics of the puppets performing and enacting stories right before their eyes.
In fact, all puppets enact stories, even if in rudimentary forms at times. Myths and legends come alive in the stories narrated here. Animals perform likeable characters. Flowers and plants converse. Folk tales re-create their milieu. Fairies float in and out. Superstitions are taken by the horns in moral tales. Toothbrushes and combs traipse through strange tricks. Ghosts just come alive and have great fun. And aliens descend to earth to share secrets with kids.
And it is primarily the kids (and adults who hold their belief in kids!) who are most likely to have a rollicking time with animated puppets. This book tells that there are many more puppets than only the Rajasthani Kath Putlis and they can do myriad things that are written about in these pages. So, go ahead and have fun!" (jacket)
