JORHAT, Feb 21— Pitchforked into international reckoning for its unique cultural repository, and presently vying for securing World Heritage Site status under UNESCO, a two-member team of researchers from the British Library’s National Sound Archive (NSA) have just about completed collecting, recording and documenting the variegated music and dance styles prevalent in Majuli river island within Jorhat district. Part of a 17-month project, sound recordist and music researcher Rolf Killius along with associate Ms Jutta Winkler recorded the complex music and dance styles in 12 digital audio-tapes of 120 minutes duration, 27 digital video tapes of 60 minutes, and used eight photographic reels comprising 36 pictures each. A collaborative effort between the International Music Collection of the British Library’s NSA and Killius, the project has been assisted by the Archives and Research Centre for Ethnomusicology (ARCE) in New Delhi, a press note made available to The Assam Tribune by the researcher said.
‘The recordings will be deposited at the ARCE and the NSA, where they will be made accessible for study. While special recordings will be made for publication purposes, the dual objectives of in-depth documentation of musical traditions and wide dissemination of knowledge thus gained are aimed at facilitating a deeper understanding of Indian culture for generations to come,” the note mentions. The idea of documenting the various cultures in Majuli was actually born in 1996 when Killius met the late AVARD-NE general secretary Sanjoy Ghosh on the river island within the Brahmaputra, the researcher revealed. Despite several recording sessions since December 2001 till the current month, Rolf and Jutta have simply marvelled at the sheer variety and complexity of music and dance styles that are peculiar to the island. “We feel we have only opened a window towards this musical garden”, they opined. “Further research should be undertaken in order to document and preserve the music and dance styles in a comprehensive way. The numerical strength of artistes found in virtually every village has also surprised us,” they admitted.
However, though a majority of Majuli’s musical art forms are comparatively well preserved and conveniently integrated into the life of the islanders, the researchers observed with caution that ‘folklorisation’ as a means to use traditional music and dance to attract tourists and to entertain Government officials by certain local organisers of stage events has gradually led to losing of beauty, integrity and meaning of the pieces. “As there is emphasis on uniform dance costumes, young attractive artistes, non-Assamese instruments like tabla and harmonium, besides noisy amplification the traditionally long dance performances are reduced to three to five minute shows, thereby impeding any bid to appreciate the skills and talents of the artistes.” It was also suggested that, “instead of ‘folklore events’, the organisers should focus on ‘art events’, which means presenting fewer but longer musical and dance pieces to allow the audience to experience the mythological or ritual context. Mature male and female artistes should also be included,” they felt.
While a report on their research findings has been submitted at the UNESCO’s Asia-Pacific Culture cell, Rolf has also proposed production of an audio CD and cassette featuring Majuli musicians, to the world body. As the British Library embanks on recording and documenting non-classical musical activities of professional and amateur musicians/singers from rural and traditional communities in India, other States to be covered are Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Arunachal Pradesh.Meanwhile, chasing a common dream, as the expectant river islanders sink petty differences and stand united for a ‘coveted cause’ like never before, researcher Rolf, while affirming that, “there are very few areas in the globe where so many different music, dance and theatre styles exist in proxy,” avers that, “apart from Satra artifacts and the living Vaishnavite culture, the variegated folk and tribal musical art forms amply justify that Majuli receive the UNESCO’s World Heritage Site status”.