Out of distress, Rajasthani musicians in Chennai train Gen Next – Times of India

CHENNAI: Prakash Singh comes from a community of Lok Kalakars in Jaisalmer. For generations, they’ve sung Rajasthani folk numbers at weddings, on the birth of a child, and to tourists who flock to the state. But, more recently, the musician logged on to WhatsApp to render a live, soulful, personalised song for his community’s benefactors in Chennai.
For the group, it was a payback of sorts: A city NGO had helped it come out of penury, and now it is training youngsters on what they know best: Singing Rajasthani folk songs.
“You have stood by us during our time of grief… There are few such kind people in this world who understand the agony of the poor and stand by them,” the turbaned singer croons in Hindi, playing the harmonium, while another musician plays the dholak.
The song captures the bond that was forged between Chennai-based Aram Porul, an organisation that works for the needy, and the group of Jaisalmer-based musicians. The group, which struggled for survival during the pandemic, is now back on its feet after some help from Aram Proul. And they are now working to establish a music school where they can teach Hindi numbers so their children can get a wider platform to showcase their skills.
“There are about 50 families of Lok Kalakars in Modha village, where I come from,” says Prakash. “Work dried up during the lockdown. During the national lockdown last year, many people helped us but this year, it has been tough. At one point, we didn’t have hundred rupees₹”
That’s when someone referred him to Aram Proul founder S Prasanna,. “They wanted a month’s ration to support 50 families. We arranged for a store there to supply ration kits – atta, oil, turmeric, chilli powder etc – and bore the expenses,” says Prasanna.
The immediate crisis has passed but Prakash now wants to establish a school for the young children of their community. “They grow up listening to Rajasthani folk music but I want to teach them Hindi, and Bollywood songs as there is a wider audience for such music. They are naturally talented and I want to train them and enrol them for reality shows as they have helped launch the careers of many singers,” says Prakash, who has once again reached out to Aram Porul for help. “We need a couple of harmoniums and dholaks, and a small room where the children can practice. I just want to ensure that the next generation does not have to struggle like us.”
Prasanna says they are raising funds for the school. “We hope to be able to help them establish the school soon as it does not require a large amount of money,” he says.
In the meantime, Prakash continues to drum the dholak and play the sole harmonium they have outside the mud huts as the children raise their voices in song.