Save the music - help revive a Santal tradition

"The Huka Banam, once a fiddle of choice amongst the Santals of Purulia, is gradually becoming extinct."

The Santals are the largest tribal community in Eastern India, accounting for more than 50% of the tribes in West Bengal. They live mainly in the state of Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha and Assam. Culturally distinct, the Santals are best known for their distinctive song and dance traditions. The Banam of the Santals is a primitive folk fiddle which accompanies many Santal dances. The Banam is very important to the Santals and comes in various shapes and forms - Dhodro, Huka, Kendri and more recently, Phentor.

Comprising of a coconut shell resonator , a bamboo neck and usually two strings, the Huka Banam was once the fiddle of choice among the Santals in Purulia. It  used to accompany their ritual music and dances.

While on a visit to Purulia last year, we discovered that the art of playing the Huka Banam is gradually becoming extinct. An elderly musician we met, Borka Majhi lamented that the youth of his village were simply not interested in learning this art, preferring to listen to music from their mobile phones. As a result, during festivals, it is mostly percussion instruments such as the tamak and tumdak, that are played. Very few play the banam.

Our First Workshop:

Early in 2016, we persuaded the Anthropological Survey of India to collaborate with us to organize a workshop, reintroducing the Huka Banam to its stakeholders. A 7 day workshop was held in Bhurkundabari in Purulia. 15 students ranging from ages 18 to 70 took part. They were taught by three gurus - part of a dwindling set of Santals still in touch with this instrument. The first three days were dedicated to learning how to make this primitive instrument and the last three, in learning how to play it. The final day was reserved for performances.

The response to this workshop was tremendous. We found that some of the older students (fifty years up) had given up the Huka Banam more than 30 years ago and were eager to get back in touch with their roots. Others had vaguely heard about it but had not found any teachers. Still others were eager to learn something about their tradition, encouraged by the response from their peers. So, all through the 7 days, there was an excited buzz about Bhurkundabari. People young and old and even children kept stopping by - holding, trying to play the banam- disappointed that they had not registered earlier. Once the musical training started, it was heartwarming and fulfilling to hear the sound of 18 banams playing together. Some youngsters had even composed songs they wished to perform with their Banams.

They promised they would all work hard at their banams and we, in turn, promised to be back.

The Problem

It is an undeniable truth that with the spread of education and modern technology, there has been a gradual deterioration of traditional culture among tribals such as the Santals. But there are other reasons too. Most of the Santals in these dry and arid areas struggle to eke out a living, earning no more than Rs 150 a day, should they be fortunate enough to find work - on somebody's field or driving somebody's tractor. Music does not pay and so has to be practiced in their free time. Thus there is neither impetus nor time to teach or learn. So, while a few have been content playing for themselves, others were happy to let things slide - that is, until we came into the picture.

 The interest we showed and the stipends that were given to them gave them the initial push (we have been in touch with them and we hear that, true to their word, they have been practicing. And the gurus have promised to continue teaching.) But Bhurkundabari is just one tiny village in North Purulia. The success of this one experiment is not enough to create a SURGE of interest that will revitalize a dying art form.

Why we need your help:

To sustain interest in the Huka Banam, it is essential to conduct a series of workshops across Purulia for three or more consecutive years. Thus our greater plan is to spread the enthusiasm & keep the music playing. The workshops, as part of a structured plan, will spread awareness among the Santal youth of Purulia in a phased manner. Each workshop will focus on familiarizing students with the Huka Banam and hopefully, act as a game changer.

To begin achieving our goal, we are working towards conducting a 7 day introductory workshop in one of North Purulia's villages this year. We require INR 3,00,000 in funds, to carry out the workshop successfully.

Our aim is to repeat these workshops each year over the next few years, so that this education becomes an ongoing process - encouraging more and more Santals to get back in touch with their age old tradition. With the transfer of traditional knowledge, this would also automatically create more resource persons for future generations. And soon, during their festivals, it would not be only the tamak and the tumdak (both percussion instruments) that would be heard, but also the music of the Banams.

Eventually, the Daricha Foundation would like to create The Banam Band of Purulia.

Here's a quick update