Textbook on Two Styles of Yakshagana Now Available in Market

Textbook on Two Styles of Yakshagana Now Available in Market

September 29: Yaksha Shikshana Yojane Convenor and former member of Karnataka Yakshagana mathu Bayalata Academy Dr Sundara Kenaje said that primary-level textbook on two styles of Yakshagana, ‘Thenkuthittu’ and ‘Badaguthittu’, and is now available in the market and over 5,000 copies of the textbooks have been printed.

Karnataka Yakshagana mathu Bayalata Academy initiated the proposal to conduct junior, senior and Vidwath level examations, on the model of music and Bharatanatyam exams conducted by Karnataka Secondary Education and Examination Board (KSEEB), in Yakshagana.
The government approved the proposal and a committee was constituted to draft the syllabus for the textbook. The examinations will have both theory and practical components. With the textbook available, artistes can start taking these exams and get a certificate from the government. It will take two years for the first batch of students to get the junior grade certificate. The draft for the textbook for Madhyamika level was completed and ready for printing, he said. Kenaje said, “As there were no textbooks available for Yakshagana, information had to be collected from various sources. Information was collected from about 60 to 70 Yakshagana artistes, experts and ‘Gurus’ while preparing the textbook.
Yakshagana Shikshana Patyapusthaka Rachana Samithi member Sujayindra Hande said the textbook has details on history of Yakshagana and its growth, other art forms related to Yakshagana, ‘Rangasthala’, ‘Bannagarike’, ‘Veshagarike’, ‘Arthagarike and dance with photographs. Karnataka Yakshagana mathu Bayalata Academy former chairman Kumble Sundar Rao said there was one textbook for both ‘Thenkuthittu’ and ‘Badaguthittu’ style of Yakshagana. Students learning Yakshagana should make use of the textbook on the Yakshagana, he added.