Divine intervention

SD Sharma

“Folk music and dances of any region represent the traditions, life and culture of the people. These, however, from time to time get influenced by the changing milieu, thereby losing its original values and flavour. But the rich Rajasthani folk culture has survived the eventual challenges,” claims Ustad Jamal Khan from Jaisalmer.

Born in a sleepy village, Kanoi, near Jaisalmer, Jamal Khan, belonging to a musical family, like all others, grew up listening to soulful music.

After participation in local programmes, he gave a public performance in Asian Festival in 2006 and 2007 and later performed in all top music venues in the world, including Kennedy Centre, Washington. He recalls his memorable feat as he was honoured by the then President of India KR Narayanan after his performance at Jailsalmer.

Khan, who was in Chandigarh for a performance, shared that with not enough opportunities for education and employment, especially in rural areas, the children opt for music and dance in Rajasthan as a calling, thereby keeping and nourishing the art while in many regions their folk art has turned into a mere ethnic curiosity.

“Our folk culture is based on classical ragas like Maand, Des, Khamaj, Bhairavi and performers are sincerely trained by their family members,” he says. While expressing gratitude to the ICCR for providing artistes a platform, he laments that when private promoters are involved the artistes never get their due.

The singer whose speech is marred by stammering, bows in reverence to Goddess Saraswati whose divine blessings, he feels, has bestowed him with a melodious voice that remains unaffected while singing.