FOLK SONGS:listening

to women's voices in garhwal

Anjali capila

FOLK SONGSFOLK SONGSA lyrical, short, simple, less artistic rhythmic song of a community. It often reflects the socio-cultural heritage, the environment and the life of the community living in a particular territory (Srivastava, 1974).One of the oldest means of the expression of any community. Important because they reflect different aspects of tradition, customs, rituals, aspirations, values, attitudes, and so on. Deeply rooted in life of the people and therefore allow one to narrate the many faceted aspects and dimensions, interlinkages which songs tell us about the particular community.Chief characteristics of these songs- simple melodies that are fine blending of words with the tunes, which is highlighted by the spontaneity that springs from the emotions of common people arising out of their natural surroundings.Give respite from everyday monotony of life, reduce tedium of hard work & provide an outlet for suppressed emotions & desires which cannot be expressed in prose, in ordinary language.

GARHWAL- BRIEF TOPOGRAPHIC GARHWAL- BRIEF TOPOGRAPHIC PROFILEPROFILE

Known for centuries as Devbhumi, the abode of the Gods, the territory of Uttrakhand in the Central Himalayas reffered to as garhwal., was unified by

Ajaypal of the Panwar dynasty by constructing garrison fortresses on strategic hill-tops in order to consolidate his authority. Later Britishers for

administrative convenience divided Garhwal into Tehri & Pauri.

Topography is mostly rugged & the entire region is mountainous with

vast tracts of bare rocks & forests.

Contextualizing the songsContextualizing the songsThe Natural & Socio-cultural FrameworkThe Natural & Socio-cultural Framework

Folk songs are being presented within six contextual sections (frameworks):

Section I- Natural environment: The Ecological PerspectiveSection II- Songs of celebration: Life-cycle EventsSection III- Social RelationsSection IV- Work roles/Activities performedSection V- Aesthetic DepictionSection VI- Dissent, Protest and Social Change: New Songs on Contemporary Issues

Section I- Section I- Natural Environment : Natural Environment : The Ecological PerspectiveThe Ecological Perspective

Section I- Section I- Natural Environment : Natural Environment : The Ecological PerspectiveThe Ecological Perspective

Song in the praise of land

My Garhwal has beautiful forests

Groves of Bnana PlantationAnd tall Deodar trees

‘Santelu’ Pradhan makes money

In exchange for his daughtersAnd gives ‘daan’

To attain salvation!

Song of seasons

Basant ritu is here !The hiilsides are covered with flowersThe koel sings from mountain topsIts sound reverberates in the valley!

The Manbabura flies from tree to tree singingHis voice reminds me of my husbandAway to a strange land!

In Garhwal people sit on the banks of river Ganga

And enjoy this season!

Section I- Section I- Natural Environment : Natural Environment : The Ecological PerspectiveThe Ecological Perspective

Song about trees/forestsDear sisters, do not cut treesIf you cut trees, the soil, mud, earthWill disappearNo fields, nor houses will remain on

hillside

Trees give us fodder for animalsKeep our environment clean; the air

pureNurture and care for the treesLike your own childrenLook after them, raise them with

care.

Song about water scarcityIn the month of JethThe sun beats stronglyMy lips are dryDear sky, create rain & quench my thirstIt is eveningAnd the water vessel lies emptyAll the daughters & daughters-in-law of the villageAre waiting for water to comeThe path to springIs steep and arduous.

Section II- Section II- Songs of Celebration: Songs of Celebration: Life-Cycle Events Life-Cycle Events

Song of marriage- kanyadaanSong of marriage- kanyadaan

Dear father give kanyadaanLand and jewels, everyone

givesBut your dear fatherGive kanyadaan,And attain salvation.

Birth of a childBirth of a childDear son! You are the fruit of my sacrifice!To attain you, I underwent severe austeritiesAnd observed all rites and ritualsFor you, I bathed in the Holy KundOf all the shrines in GarhwalI worshiped all the stones, in the name of GodDear son, may you become that rayOf light that illuminates the mountain peaks at dawn!My dear son, may you become the ‘light’ of my kul (family).

Section III- Section III- Social RelationsSocial Relations

Parental homeParental home

Dear high mountain peaksLower yourselves

Let me see my mother’s home.

Dear, tall Deodar treesLower your branches

So that I can see my mother’s home.

Section III- Section III- Social RelationsSocial Relations

In-laws home: Husband-wife songYou my dear Swami (lord) are in the city of DelhiYou travel the whole day by car!While I walk on stonesTo the forest, to cut grass,My hands & feet have become torn with deep marksI have become weakDoing such continuous hard workPlease get transferred to KotdwarI will meet you at Haridwar.

Mother-in law/Daughter-in-law

Dear “sasuji”Do not fight with me day and nightI will run away to my husband.My husband will come in a railI will burn you alive with tel (oil).

Section III- Section III- Social RelationsSocial RelationsDialogue across the hills-Baju

Band Geet

A- There is a pile of booksMy brothers are close to my mother

I am my mother’s enemyThat is why she has sent me away

B- just like butter cannot be formed from residual butter milk

In the same way leave alone meeting even

seeing my brother’s wife is impossible for me.

Section IV- Section IV- Work Roles and Work Roles and Activities PerformedActivities Performed

Daily activities and work rolesDaily activities and work roles

The hot sun is beating on meAs I go to collect grass from the jungle.

But alas! I find no grassI walk for miles and miles,

In search for grassNot a handful do I find!

My complexion was golden like haldiNow I have become dark like a tawa

Roaming in these jungles,Oh! What a hard life I have!

Section V- Section V- Aesthetic DepictionAesthetic DepictionBeauty of a womanBeauty of a woman

You are as beautifulAs stars shining brightly in the sky

The beauty-spot on your faceAnd the dimple on your cheeks

All add to your beautyWhen your smile

It is like a thousand flowers blooming!Your dark eyesAnd unruly fair

Your soft hands and feetAnd beautiful teeth

Indeed make you look like a ‘queen of beauty’.

Section VI- Section VI- Dissent, Protest and Dissent, Protest and Social ChangeSocial Change

Social issue: Changing status of a girl-childThe Vedas and the PuranasDeny the selling of a girl by her fatherA daughter is born from the same womb As a son to a motherBut only the son is entitled To the parent’s propertyTaking material wealthIn exchange for a daughter is a crimeDo not sell your daughterAs though she was a cow!Stop doing thisAnd take blessings from your daughters.

Change in cultural fabric: Impact of ModernizationChamba town, situated on the main roadHas beautiful little & big shopsThe students from the college near byGather in the streetsTheir teachers urge them to study landNot to smoke tobaccoAnd not to unkind words to othersChamba town, is a nice little townEven the road to New Tehri goes from here!

Section VI- Section VI- Dissent, Protest and Dissent, Protest and Social ChangeSocial Change

Environmental issues: Dissent & protest, exploitation of women

While cutting grass You wandered off to an unknown fieldOn your strength and courageAnd forest rangers did no good to youThey confiscated the daratisFrom all the women cutting grass on hillsidesThe sound of your bangles resound in forestSound lures people from here & thereCome I will go with you to jungleAnd you can cut grass with no fear of the ‘patrol’

Mobilising women’s power: Creation of Mahila MandalsAll the women got togetherTo form a Mahila MandalWe went to the office of D.P.Maurya & Gupta at TehriAnd lodge our protestIf we are together we can fight any problemDear brothers of village, support us!Do not spoil your life drinking alcoholDo not abuseOur Mahila Mandal will fight theAtrocities of the government.

Original Garhwali song: Original Garhwali song: Contemporary issueContemporary issue