Hemantha Raja K

The Foundation Project implemented by IFA will engage fifth grade students of the Government Model Higher Primary School in Taranagar, Sandur taluk, Ballari District. Titled Bayalata Patya Samyojita Prayoga – Bayalata Curriculum Integrated Experiment, this 15-month initiative aims to encourage creativity, collaboration and communication, transforming learning into a joyful and meaningful experience. Hemantha Raja K is the Project Coordinator for this foundation project. 

Hemantha K Raj, an accomplished artist and dedicated teacher, has extensive experience performing in Bayalata (Doddata) productions. He has effectively harnessed this traditional folk art to craft and staged numerous performances rooted in academic themes. By creatively aligning curriculum content with Bayalata narratives, he has brought classroom lessons to life, captivating students through dynamic storytelling, music, and expressive performance. Given his experience, he is best placed to be the Project Coordinator of this Foundation Project of IFA. 

The school serves students from rural and socially diverse backgrounds. Many of the children come from joint families and belong predominantly to Dalit communities. What makes this setting especially unique is that several of the students’ parents are themselves Bayalata performers, deeply connected to the region’s folk traditions. Their involvement and enthusiasm for the art form create a culturally rich environment that supports and enhances the learning experience.

Bayalata, also known as Doddata, is one of the most vibrant and enduring folk theatre traditions of North Karnataka. Performed in open-air settings, it combines storytelling, music, dance, and dramatic dialogue to convey mythological, historical, and social themes. The art form is deeply rooted in rural culture and often features elaborate costumes, expressive gestures, and rhythmic movements that captivate audiences. Traditionally performed by traveling troupes, Bayalata has served as both entertainment and education for generations, passing down values, folklore, and collective memory. 

“Bayalata, a powerful folk art of Karnataka, has the potential to transform education into a culturally immersive experience,” says Hemantha. He believes that integrating Bayalata into classroom learning helps students absorb lessons more deeply while fostering creativity and collaboration. The use of costumes and role-play instills discipline and empathy, and reviving this endangered art form also nurtures pride in cultural heritage.

In the initial phase of the project, selected lessons are transformed into theatrical scripts using the traditional folk art form of Bayalata. Students are actively involved in this creative process, guided to develop their own Bayalata performances based on the chosen academic content. To support this, local Bayalata performers will be invited to the school to conduct workshops for students. Through these workshops, artists will teach traditional dialogues, demonstrate dance movements, and lead folk songs, helping students understand the structure and spirit of Bayalata. This hands-on process allows students to engage deeply with the art form while creatively connecting it to their lessons.

As students become familiar with the various elements of Bayalata, they begin practicing its components - voice modulations, movement, and music preparing them for performance. Once the structure is in place, students present their Bayalata productions, integrating academic content with artistic expression. Each lesson from the textbook is treated as a potential storyline, allowing students to explore and express it through performance. This approach ensures active participation and makes learning more engaging and inclusive. By bringing Bayalata into the classroom, students connect with a rich cultural legacy that celebrates performance as a form of learning and community expression.

The outcome of this project will be performance. The Project Coordinator’s deliverables to IFA with the final report will be copies of the photographs, and the video documentation of the entire project.

This project suitably addresses the framework of IFA’s Arts Education programme in the manner in which it attempts to connect students and schools to the cultural knowledge of the local communities they live in. 

IFA will ensure that the implementation of this project happens promptly and funds expended are accounted for. IFA will also review the progress of the project at midterm and document it through an Implementation Memorandum. After the project is finished and all deliverables are submitted, IFA will put together a Final Evaluation to share with Trustees.

This project is made possible in partnership with InterGlobe Foundation.