The circus

The Circus was a universe in itself, where the ring master was a valiant burly man juggling a fiery, smoldering ring and taming the lion; the acrobats were the free-spirited aerial dancers curled up in whimsical whorls, the colorful clown was the heart and soul, capable of tickling the funny bone and pulling the heartstrings at the same time. This Circus – romanticized and captured by Bollywood -- now lies on its deathbed, waiting for someone to pull the plug.

Once India boasted of 300 such glorious universes, today the number stands at a humble 30. With the advent of globalisation, technology and the internet, people slowly lost the appetite for this form of entertainment. Circus artists want their children to study and have bright futures, rather than perform in the dangerous and exploitative environment.

The Circus’ popularity fell further after India’s Supreme Court banned the use of wild animals and child performers, who once formed an important part of the act. Since many circus skills have to be taught at a young age, the ban against child performers affected the quality of future acrobats and entertainers.

A spectacle that once drew large crowds now attracts only a handful. The intriguing foreigners from places such as Russia and Italy, who once bore secrets and skills from another world in the early 1900’s, now go through the motions of their act languidly, performing to an almost empty stadium. These circus tents, set up on the outskirts of concrete, congested cities, are the last vestige of this dying art in India.

(Text by Divyasha Jain)

Pooja Jain is an independent photographer based in Mumbai, India. She is the winner of Toto Funds, the arts award for photography, for her work titled ‘Renunciation’. Her work can be viewed at tasveerjournal.com and on her Instagram account @poojajain__