Journalism of Courage
Badhus balladry never gets past the uninhabited hills of Alirajpur in Madhya Pradesh. In obscurity the visually challenged Bhilala tribal has been singing and playing each day for the last 50 years. His songs,accompanied by a stringed instrument made of bamboo,coconut shell,lizard skin and horses hair. However today he will open the concert in the city with the best from his repertoire and will be followed by Chamber Singers,Musa Gulam Jath and Randhir Khare. The Living Heritage Movement spearheaded by the poet-author Khare and photographer Susan Bullough Khare will host,honour and support Badhu and Jath as a step towards creating awareness on the geniuses in remote parts of the country.
Working on communities and tribes for decades while documenting and propagating their traditions,Khare decided to bring it to light through the movement recently for larger attention. I met hundreds of wonderful people all through my journey who are celebrating life in the purest manner and amidst environment. I have known Badhu for around eight years now. Musa too,is a brilliant Jodiya Pawa player of Kutch,and lives a hand-to-mouth existence on the edge of the Great Rann of Kutch. There I met him around 10 years back and he will be performing with us. I will be chanting my translations of tribal poetry from various communities across the country along with the choir and both the performers, adds Khare.
(The concert will be held at Chandrashekhar Auditorium,IUCAA,Pune University Campus,7 pm onwards today)
