Pratishtha Pandya

Series Curator

Anushree Ramanathan

Illustration

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Folk songs have always been a vehicle for cultural knowledge, a carrier of societal norms. But often they have also been used as in instrument of cultural change and awareness creation. The flexibility of this genre comes from folk music’s orality, its ability to change with every rendition, as well as its rootedness in the culture of the community.  The song here harnesses this regenerative power of folk music, conveying the message of awareness, in this case the gendered reality of rural women&#39; lives. Sung by women artists from Kachchh and Ahmedabad, this song offers social critique as emotional appeal.A special aspect of the song is one of the instruments being played in the background. Called jodiya pawa or alghoza, it is a double-fluted wind instrument traditionally played by artists from north-western regions like Sindh in Pakistan and Kutch, Rajasthan, and Punjab in India.

Type of song: ProgressiveCluster: Songs of freedom and awarenessSong: 8Title of the song: Pittal tala kholaasi, tramen tala kholyaasi  Composer: Deval MehtaSinger: Artists from Kachchh and Ahmedabad Instruments used: drum, harmonium, tambourine, jodiya pawa (alghoza)Recording year: 1998, KMVS studioEnglish translation: Pratishtha Pandya

These songs, 341 recorded by a community-run radio Soorvani, have come to PARI through the Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan (KMVS). A special thanks to Preeti Soni, Aruna Dholakia, secretary, KMVS, Amad Sameja, project coordinator KMVS for their support and to Bhartiben Gor for her invaluable help.

The hidden treasures of her heart

گھونگھٹ میں قید خواب

ఆమె గుండె మాటున దాగిన నిధులు

மனதில் மறைந்துள்ள புதையல்

ਤਲਖ਼ ਹਕੀਕਤ, ਜੋ ਬੇਪਰਦ ਨਾ ਹੋ ਸਕੀ

ନାରୀର ହୃଦୟ ଗହ୍ଵରରେ ଲୁକ୍କାୟିତ ରତ୍ନ

ഹൃദയത്തിൽ ഒളിഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്ന നിധികൾ

ಅವಳ ಹೃದಯದೊಳಗಿನ ರಹಸ್ಯ ಖಜಾನೆಗಳು

घूंघट में क़ैद ख़्वाब

घूंघट मं घुटत साध

‘घुटत बानी, घूंघट में बानी’

তার হৃদয়ের গোপন কথাখানি

বুকুতে মৰহিল মনৰ হাবিয়াহ

એના હૈયાનાં છૂપા ખજાના

Kachchh

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The hidden treasures of her heart

A folksong about the plight of women in Indian countryside, where their labour is visible, but their dreams and aspirations remain buried in their hearts

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