Introduction

Abstract

Circus in the subcontinent is embedded with the arrival of the modern and the recasting of body and its caste and gender structures; new trans-cultural and transnational spaces that emerged with this itinerant entertainment; technologies of the tent; and the acquisition, taming, and training of animals whose past is deeply implicated in the history of hunting, wildlife management, and forest policies of the colonial and post-colonial states in India. Subcontinental regions such as Kerala and Maharashtra have rich histories of circus acrobatics and animal training that span over a century. However, autobiographies, personal histories, and memoirs are very rare. While looking at the history of Indian circus, the major challenge is the lack of archival sources, both public and private. Memories and memorabilia of the circus community have been rich sources for the author. The book explores some key moments and aspects in the different spaces of the circus in this part of the world, spanning over a hundred years.