Raju Nurajibhai: Life of a puppeteer
A native of Rajasthan and now settled in Gujarat, Raju Nurajibhai has been holding puppet shows for the last 30 years. He has been keeping the art alive by incorporating some lively changes in the show format to keep the interest of his audience.
RAJU NURAJIBHAI, a native of Rajasthan and now settled in Gujarat, has been holding puppet shows for the last 30 years. He has been keeping the art alive by incorporating some lively changes in the show format to keep the interest of his audience from both urban and rural mileau. I caught up with him during one such show at a birthday party of my friend’s one year old child.
How long have you been involved with puppetry/puppet shows and who taught you this art?
Raju Nurajibhai: Yes, I make my own puppets. Normally wood which is lighter in weight is used for making puppets as heavy wood cause your hands to ache while playing them. The dress is also stitched by hand on the puppet. A dress on a puppet is kept for at least a period of three months or it is changed if it gets dirty early.
Do you thinkg puppetry show is a dying art?
Raju Nurajibhai: I don’t think so. Today in cities both adults and children enjoy watching a puppet show. In cities however, people don’t go exclusively to watch puppet show, it is mainly an added attraction in birthday parties or hotels or restaurants. I have found that people do watch and appreciate the art. In villages as there are fewer mode of entertainment people gather when a puppet show is held. In villages people come running saying ‘katputhli ka khel aaya he’.
Do you get any support from the government?
Raju Nurajibhai: The state as well as some local government bodies, engages me for spreading social awareness through my puppet shows mainly in rural areas. Such shows mainly highlight issues on population control, saving the girl child, imparting education to children etc.
Would you prefer your children to also join your profession?
Raju Nurajibhai: Yes, I have a son and would definitely train him in my profession and I would be happy if he carries on with this profession of a puppeteer.
Raju Nurajibhai: I have been showing puppet shows for the last about 30 years. I have learnt this art from my father. My forefathers were also into this art. It was a natural transition for me into this art.
Do you make your own puppets and what types of materials are used in puppet making?
Raju Nurajibhai: Yes, I make my own puppets. Normally wood which is lighter in weight is used for making puppets as heavy wood cause your hands to ache while playing them. The dress is also stitched by hand on the puppet. A dress on a puppet is kept for at least a period of three months or it is changed if it gets dirty early.
Do you thinkg puppetry show is a dying art?
Raju Nurajibhai: I don’t think so. Today in cities both adults and children enjoy watching a puppet show. In cities however, people don’t go exclusively to watch puppet show, it is mainly an added attraction in birthday parties or hotels or restaurants. I have found that people do watch and appreciate the art. In villages as there are fewer mode of entertainment people gather when a puppet show is held. In villages people come running saying ‘katputhli ka khel aaya he’.
Do you get any support from the government?
Raju Nurajibhai: The state as well as some local government bodies, engages me for spreading social awareness through my puppet shows mainly in rural areas. Such shows mainly highlight issues on population control, saving the girl child, imparting education to children etc.
Would you prefer your children to also join your profession?
Raju Nurajibhai: Yes, I have a son and would definitely train him in my profession and I would be happy if he carries on with this profession of a puppeteer.
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