Grotowski and the Indian tradition

Abstract

Abstract The question of Grotowski’s Indian affiliations in his theatrical experiments is long discussed. In the article presented, an attempt is made to tackle this problem. What absorbs Grotowski into the Indian tradition is a question that remains still fascinating in many ways. My conclusion is that it was first of all Grotowski’s fascination with the Indian spirituality as personified by Ramana Maharishi of Arunachala that made him especially sensitive to what the Indian culture could offer and not so much his acquaintance with the Indian theatre tradition, which was rather fragmentary and occidental. While travelling in India, he was more interested in the religiously motivated performances of the Bauls of Bengal than in regular theatre, either classical or modern.