No takers for dhakis of Junglemahal

15 September 2011

biswabrata goswami
JHARGRAM, 15 SEPT: Thirty-five-odd tribal families who live in the remotest fringe of Maoist-hit Junglemahal in West Midnapore are having a tough time now: not because of the rebels; but because Puja organisers haven't called them yet for their traditional drum-beating performance at Puja pandals.
For these part-time farmers, landless labourers and dhakis (drum-beaters) in  their native village at Tinga in Jhargram, Durga Puja is the time when they make most money at one go: about Rs 1,000-2,000 per dhaki and another Rs 500 each for accompanists; the bakshish can go up to Rs 100 per day.
“This year is particularly bad,” says Subhash Midda, a famous drum-beater in the locality. “For us, beating dhak is still a part-time profession. Till last year, we were in demand due to High Court direction on restricting the sound limit. We were getting hardly five to six orders for performance. This year, I have received a single order from a Puja organiser,” he said.
“Each dhak (drum) costs about Rs 2,000. There is a yearly maintenance for it. But without it (dhak), nobody will teach you; so each one of us has his own instrument,” says Raju Ghorai, a part-time farmer. The learning process starts early on ~ at about 10 years of age ~ from a guru. The skill is, more often than not, handed down from father to son. Sporting stork feathers and other colourful knick-knacks, the men are obviously in love with their instruments. Subhash refuses to pose for a picture unless his hair is done and his dhak has a colourful “dress” on.
Dhak, mridangam and madal are the traditional forms of drums. Their beats generate a soothing rhythmic resonance. Dhakis are dexterous in their own inimitable way while dancing to the beats of the drums.  “It’s heartening to note that the art is now beginning to get noticed. It is a melodious fusion of music and dance. This form of art needs to be patronised more,” said a Puja organiser in Jhargram.
These tribal families earn some extra money during the festive season only. During the rest of the year they work as either farmers or labourers. This year many Puja organisers in Jhargram and bordering Chakulia in Jharkhand have reduced their Puja budgets for various reasons and they are planning to use pre-recorded drum beats, reproduced through electronic instruments instead of calling the traditional dhakis.