Mādār Pīrer Gān

Literary/ Cultural Context Note

Syed Jamil Ahmed (University of Dhaka)

Ed. by Niaz Zaman, Independent University Bangladesh
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 10.3.2: Pakistani and Bangladeshi Writing and Culture.
Vol. editors: Claire Gallien (Université Paul Valéry Montpellier 3), Pavan Kumar Malreddy (J W Goethe University of Frankfurt), Delphine Munos (Université de Liège), Muneeza Shamsie (Independent Scholar - Asia), Niaz Zaman (Independent University Bangladesh)

Domains

Movement, Theory, Style (theatre)

Dates

Date of occurrence c.1300-

Places

Bangladesh (Location)

Mādār Pīrer Gān is a form of indigenous theatre of Bangladesh. Based on oral compositions and performed by an all-male cast, it resists the stereotypical representation of the Muslims by the West and the Islamic jihadis. A gān (narrative) form of theatre, it commemorates the miraculous deeds of Shah-i-Mādār (1315-1436), a historic figure, and one of the most popular Sufi saints of South Asia. In isolated rural pockets of northern and central Bangladesh, Mādār Pīr is venerated by Hindus and the Muslims alike as the guardian of fire or the protector against cholera. One of the narratives presented in Mādār Pīrer Gān, titled “Bibhisaņa Pālā”, begins with Azrael, the a…

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672 words

Citation: Ahmed, Syed Jamil. "Mādār Pīrer Gān". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 05 October 2020 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=19607, accessed 19 April 2024.]

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Mādār Pīrer Gān

Domains

Dates

Places

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