Author Name: Abraham B Rabha Date: 11-01-2025
The folk theatre of the Rabhas in Goalpara district, Assam holds a significant potential fordevelopment communication in the rural areas. The Rongdani Rabhas reside in the southern bankof the Goalpara district. It is a sub-tribe of the Rabha that has been practicing a rich folk theatresince the 1940s as seen by Lt. Prasanna Pam. Rongdani Rabha Folk Theatre also calledJatra/Pala is a unique blend of Music, dance, acting, storytelling, and singing. It serves as amedium of communication in generating developmental work/messages related to social,cultural, and environmental issues, health, education, agriculture, and rights. The Rabhas arerooted in their cultural heritage and their traditional lives offer them to connect to their ancestralsocial, economic, survival, and political life. These folk theatres offer a powerful and accessiblemedium to address social issues, promote awareness, and empower communities. The shift in thedynamism of theatrical performances is on the decline due to the modern means ofcommunication. This paper explores on the characteristics, significance, and potential of theRongdani Rabha folk theatre in the context of development communication.
Keywords: Rabha, Rongdani Rabha, Golk Theatre, development communication, cultural andtraditional elements .
