IN FOUR years, the Pune office of the All India Radio (AIR) has collected 276 tribal songs from the districts of Pune, Ahmendnagar and Solapur. The process was initiated after an RTI query by Kundalik Kedari, the president of the Pune-based Lalit Rangbhumi, revealed that the centre has no tribal songs in its collections. Kedari has been closely associated with the movement to preserve the oral traditions of the tribal populace in the state for several years. These traditions, Kedari said, were fast disappearing, thanks to the lack of scientific preservation.
“Most of the traditions among the tribals are oral, which is especially true for those residing in remote areas. To collect such traditions, researchers have to travel there, which, unfortunately, not many do,” he added.Concerned about the fast disappearance of the art form, in 2013, Kedari had applied under the Right To Information (RTI) Act, seeking the number of tribal songs collected by the Pune AIR centre. “Their reply shocked me. The centre did not have a single tribal song in its collection. It had collected folk songs but no efforts were made to collect and preserve the tribal musical traditions,” he said.Tribal art, especially music and songs, are closely associated with their religious beliefs and revolve around various stages of lives. They are sung during ceremonies and usually handed over orally. “Efforts to write them down or conduct a scientific research on them have been few… As days go by, many of such oral traditions are lost, with little efforts being made towards their preservation for posterity,” he added.
Kedari had continued his follow up about the matter and, four years down the line, the AIR Pune centre now has 276 tribal songs in its collection. Collection and preservation of tribal musical and oral tradition, Kedari said, was mandated for all AIR centres. “The songs are collected from the tribal hamlets in the districts where the AIR Pune centre broadcasts,” he added.
Source & Credit: http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/in-four-years-air-pune-centre-collects-276-tribal-songs-4925818/
Forwarded By: Alokesh Gupta ,alokeshgupta@gmail.com
Forwarded By: Alokesh Gupta ,alokeshgupta@gmail.com