Sarangi for Peace
how a small musical instrument can help change the world
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Wednesday, March 5, 2014
A Report on Sarangi Hamro Musical Event February 28, 2014 Kathmandu
A
Report on
Sarangi Hamro Musical Event
February 28, 2014
Kathmandu
Prepared by:
Yogendra Gandhari
Technical Advisor
Gandharba Society Nepal
Thamel, Kathmandu
“Sarangi Hamro” musical event
February 28, 2014
Kathmandu.
Introduction:
Gandharba Samaj Nepal (GSN) has established with
objectives to keep the Gandharba traditions alive and improve the economic and
educational status of Gandharba community, particularly focusing on
marginalised groups and women by organizing different forms of program. The GSN has organized “Sarangi Hamro” with an
objective to preserve the way of life of Gandharvas’ and their typical cultural
heritage by means of documenting their traditional culture, particularly of
their folk songs and music.
The “Sarangi Hamro” program was organized as a
musical event at Trade Tower, Thapathali, Kathmandu on February 28, 2014. In
the program, Mr. Shankar Bhandari, an honourable Constitution Assembly (CA)
member, and central member and head of department of Youth of Nepali Congress
was invited as a chief guest. The veteran of Gandharba culture and tradition,
and anthropologist Mr. Tulsi Diwas was invited as a special guest, whereas
leader Kiran Babu Sherestha, ex. Member-secretary of National Dalit Commission
Hari Bahadur Gandhari, representatives of Nepal Dalit Association Mr.
Ramkrishna Lakandri and Laxmi Pariyar, coordinator of Gandharba Sangharsa
Samiti Mr. Purna Bahadur Gandhari, and the Hero of the democratic demonstration
Mr. Rubin Gandharba were offered to take a seat of guests. Mr. Suresh Gandhari,
the president of GSN, was a chairperson of the program.
Activities:
The biggest sarangi of the world, which is crafted
by Padam Bahadur Gandharba and is about 7.7 ft., and the smallest sarangi were
displayed on a stage. After a short introduction of the program “Sarangi Hamro”
by an announcer Santosh Gandharba, a melodious music of Sarangi by Bhim
Gandharba was heard in the program. With the melodious strings, the program as
well as the establishment of GSN was inaugurated by joining hands of the
chairperson, chief guest, special guest and other guests. In the program, batches
were distributed to the guests by GSN vice-secretary Jyoti Gandhari and
Vice-president Pampha Gandhari. Ms. Pampha Gandhari delivered the welcome
speech which included a requirement of meaningful representation and inclusion
of Gandharba in socio-political and economic opportunities for its development.
Mr. Kedar Gandhari, a central committee member, delivered a speech including
mission, vision, goals, objectives and activities of GSN that is inevitable for
creating a conducive environment of equality to Gandharba caste.
After some meaningful speeches, a musical event was
started. At first, the very old and Hindu religious song- Shree Swasthani song-
was sung by Mr. Chekh Bahadur Gandharba from Lamjung. The song was about the
importance of the Hindu goddess Shree Swasthani and her greatness in getting
happiness, and the worship is supposed as a way to the heaven. The song
explains 31 different chapters of the Hindu religious book ‘Shree Swasthani’
which is often read during January/February (Magh month). The Triplet Band had
increased heartbeats of an audience when the band started to play a fusion form
of folk songs. The fusion of Sarangi, flute, and drum (tabala) were played on
the evergreen Nepali folk songs that showed the potential of Sarangi to be mingled
with other modern musical instruments. With the end of the playful musical
performance, Mr. Hari Bahadur Gandhari, a former Member-Secretary of National
Dalit Commission, was invited to deliver a speech. Mr. Gandhari provided
religious and historical accounts of Gandharba and reintroduced the
contribution of Gandharba for the unification of Nepal and the salvation from
autocratic monarchy. Mr. Gandhari, furthermore, insisted the government to
reconsider the Gandharba representation in CA from remaining 26 posts.
“There are specific songs for 12 different months,
according to Nepali Calender” Padam Gandharba said “I have documented all those
songs and wish to handover to the next generation.” Padam started to sing a
song of Falgun month since the month is running. Mr. Gandharba informed that he
is in a process to manufacture an electronic Sarangi after crafting the world’s
biggest and the smallest Sarangi. In the program, the GSN had handed a total
amount of NRs. 10,000/- to a Cancer patient Mr. Raju Gandharba, the amount was
received by his brother on behalf of him.
Mr. Shankar Bhandari, an honourable CA member and a
chief guest of the program, was invited to deliver his speech in advance due to
his busy time schedule. Mr. Bhandari showed his deepest appreciation to the
Gandharba culture and Sarangi. He was thankful to the organizer and the talent
demonstrated by Gandharba and their Sarangi. He committed to raise the issues
of Gandharba in CA. Furthermore, Mr. Bhandari committed to raise the issue of
Cancer patient in the Constitution Assembly. Moreover, he appreciated the
effort made by Padam Gandharba to produce an electronic Sarangi and showed his
commitment to assist. He showed his continual preparedness to support Gandharba
for their betterment.
Sakshyam Band performed on a folk music in a fusion
style. Sarangi, flute and drum (Tabala) were played together spontaneously and
produced a very melodious music. The music was accompanied by a round blows of
applaud. The Shakshyam Band was succussed to attract the entire concentration
of an audience. Mr. Gopilal Gandharba, an old musician from Gorkha, performed
‘Malshri’. Malshri is about the Hindu god ‘Gorakhnath’. According to Nepali
culture and Gandharba culture Malshri is sung before starting any program. This
song is supposed as a good luck for the success of a program. Barta Gandharba, a young and exceptionally
talent artist, was invited to perform on a stage. She sang a song with her
heart touching voice and a beautiful Sarangi. The song was about the
relationship between mother and daughter and their sufferings. An old artist
Mr. Krishna Bahadur Gandharba was invited to perform afterward. His fingers
started to run on the strings of Sarangi with a humorous folk Nepali song at a
first glance. The song contained a humorous talk between a young girl and a
boy. Afterward, Mr. Gandharba sang an old song based on fact. The song was
about multi- marriage system. Women sufferings because of multi-marriage system
in the patriarchal Nepalese society were beautifully reflected in the song.
As a last musical performance, Rudra Band was
invited on a stage. While the band was preparing its settings, Pujan Gandharba
was invited to deliver a speech. Pujan put on light on an overall objective of
the program. Furthermore, he asserted that the GSN a common place for the past,
present and future generation where they can find their space. The band
performed on classical, folk and modern music. The band was composed of Sarangi
and flute players, and drummer. The band, in a later part of the event, was
combined with Japanese artists and later on with an American musician, played
together and gave a potential of fusion of Sarangi with western music. The
performance was well accepted by audience. Mr. Suresh Gandhari, the chairperson
of the program, was invited to close the program. Mr. Gandhari showed his
deepest appreciation to the committee members, volunteers, generous sponsors,
exceptionally talented artists, audience, and others. “Thank you all! Without
you all the program would not be successful”, Suresh Gandhari said. The program
was supported (generous Sponsors) by the Mountain Music Project, Nepal Academy,
Nabil Bank, Holly lodge, Panda Treks and Expedition, Ms. Sandra Fiedeldy and
Mr. David Brown, Mr. Ray Peacock, Mr. David Reeves, and Mr. Nicholas Berry. In
the program, Yogendra Gandhari who won Australia Award Scholarship in 2012 to
pursue Master of Arts in Community Development at Murdoch University of Western
Australia, Kedar Gandhari- the first music therapist in Nepal, Amrit Gandhari,
and Kendra Gandharba were honoured.
Result:
This event has brought different stakeholders like CA
members, culturist and anthropologists, politicians and government officials, I/NGOs
and media together. This event has provided a common place for the stakeholders
where the intangible culture of Gandharvas has got special privileged through
access to broader audience. More importantly, this event has provided an
opportunity to document a typical music of Gandharva community which may help
to sustain the Gandharva culture for the present and future generations. Apart
from the musical event, this event has provided a space for dialogical
discussion on the importance of Gandharva culture through speeches which may
help to reintroduce the Gandharva culture into broader audience.
This event has brought Gadharba culture into the
limelight which may aware the future generations about the importance and
historical facts of Gandharvas. Moreover, this event has helped to reintroduce
the beauty of Sarangi, provided a place for cultural expression, and preserved
intangible heritage of Gandharva community. Furthermore, this event has
provided assistance to a Cancer patient. Constitution Assembly Member Shankar
Bhandari has committed to provide assistance for the development of electronic
Sarangi and to the Cancer patient as well. Therefore, the event has become
successful in a sense that the event became a hotspot to raise the issues of
Gandharba.
Learning:
The program was planned for 3 hours but it took
almost 5 hours despite downsizing the program. Therefore, GSN should work on
time management and program management. The program was supposed to start at
sharp 2 pm but the program was started 1 hour late because of late attendance of
the chief guest and other guests. Thus, GSN should well collaborate with guests
to make them available in a predefined time. Some audience seem dissatisfied
with the program and hence, GSN should try its best to downsize the weaknesses.
More importantly, this type of culture event has a crucial importance for the
liveliness of Gandharba culture. Therefore, GSN should keep doing this type of
event in the future as well.
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