Paper short abstract:

The paper explores the role of circus in Colonial Bengal in breaking the Colonial stereotyping of 'effeminacy' by providing a platform for development of indigenous physical culture and its fascinating effect as a physical and visual art form on the Bengali spectators.

Paper long abstract:

The colonial stereotype of the 'effeminate' Bengali babu challenged by the physical culture protagonists allows a deeper appreciation of the political processes influenced to a large extent by nationalism. Middle class Bengalis made several efforts to cultivate and instil a sense of pride in their physical prowess. Circus in Bengal started with the European circus which attracted young enthusiastic Bengali physical culturists who grabbed this opportunity of witnessing the western techniques of physical feats and started practicing this new style of exercise in their own akharas or gymnasium. The genesis of Bengali circus can be traced back to the Hindu Mela days but the Bengali Circus tasted the true flavor of success with the Great Bengal Circus of Professor Priyanath Bose. Circus in colonial Bengal became very much intertwined with the physical culture. It was a regular form of entertainment as well as it became one of the important forms of acrobatic and gymnastic attributes for the natives. Even some Bengali women showed their extra-ordinary acrobatic skills in this arena. The acrobatic shows and circus used to draw large crowds and newspaper coverage and advertisements featuring the zealous feats of Bengali acrobats were a means of allurement to the emotional conductibility of Bengali spectators with the physical prowess.