in Photo: Tolaram Meghwal (left) and Mahendra Bhanawat (right) at book launch

‘Shikshaprad Katputli Natikayein’, a book by Dr. Mahendra Bhanawat, a scholar in folk art, was inaugurated by Tolaram Meghwal. It may be noted that Tolaram Meghwal is a renowned folk artist and the winner in World Puppet Festival held in Bucharest.

The book contains collection of three plays which are staged through the mediums of Dhaga putli, Dastana putli and Chad putli. The book is published by Subhadra Publication and Distributors, New Delhi. Dr Bhanawat has dedicated this book to Devilal Samar, a renowned experimentalist in Puppet shows.

In a small function organized on this occasion, Dr. Mahendra Bhanawat informed the audience that it is through Dhaga Putli of Rajasthan that other forms of Puppet arts came into existence. He said that we have been amazed by the number of experiments that have happened world over on the basis of this art form.

He also pointed that puppets have been a very popular educational instrument with the student community. So much so that there are countries in the world where, in schools, puppet shows are staged instead of prayers before the classes are started.