Once I sit with my Santar in the night to perform at Reyans, I just hum and flow with the mysticism of the poetry of Kabir, Gorakhwani and other ascetics until the night turns into morning with the arrival of the first sunlight – says Velabhai
[Kutch or Kachh district has a rich culture of folk music and dance. People here are very fond of folk music and dance. Sindh folk music existed here since ancient periods. It started from the ancient people who were used to invent new sounds for expressing their sentiments and feelings. Gradually, this music further developed as part of their culture. There are number of folk instruments used by Kachhi people like tabla, sharnai, nagara, murli, janjhra, manjira, khanjari, gharro or ghaghar (clay pot), flute, duff, dholak, damaru, daklu, nagfani, borrindo. These music instruments are linked with a number of aspects of Kachhi people and their culture. The music is very much influenced by Sufi and folk songs. Today, we are introducing Velabhai, a singer and Santar player]
Sindh Courier
Artist Velabhai Gana, hailing from village Ghdhada, Khadir region, plays folk instruments including Santar. He also sings Mystic poetry of Khadir region and bhajans of Kabir and Meerabai.
“I can’t keep the count of the number of bhajans I can sing. Once I sit with my Santar in the night to perform at Reyans, I just hum and flow with the mysticism of the poetry of Kabir, Gorakhwani and other ascetics until the night turns into morning with the arrival of the first sunlight,” he says. Full of soul, Velabhai, a 58 year old folk music artist is well known for his stirring recitals of mystic poetry of the ascetics who roamed the deserts of the region. He also specializes in the Bhajans of Kabir and Meerabai.
Throughout his 44 year music career, Velabhai has given over 1000 performances till date travelling all over Kachh and India.
Watch the Video: Velabhai performs
{Seen in this video is Vela Gana playing the traditional stringed instrument, Santar, and also performing to the song ‘Hire Kaya Veldi’, a folk song from the Bhajan genre of Gorakhnath’s mystic poetry.}
Very few artists in Kachh get a chance to perform at celebrated venues across India where the folk music and the artist are truly understood and appreciated. Kala Varso, an organization to promote folk music and artists of Kachh, helped Velabhai to get platforms to perform at such venues. “A true moment of reckoning it was for me and my music to be able to get a chance to perform at esteemed cultural and folk-music events. Experiences like this help bring more awareness to Kutch Folk Music traditions. And this in turn sustains the folk music traditions and the artists.” says Velabhai.
Velabhai presented Kutch folk music in Indian cinema too, by lending his voice and tunes to sing Kutch poetry in some of the movies. He also has been awarded with couple of awards including a life-time achievement award by Fokia.
In addition, Velabhai is helping Kala Varso to mentor young folk-music artists from Khadir region to ensure the rich folk-music heritage of the region transcends the present challenging circumstances. “But I would expect something in return for my service” says Velabhai.
Vela Bhagat is passionate about passing his knowledge to the next generation of folk musicians. And he wants other experienced artists also to take up the role of mentoring the young artists. But he requests financial help to these artists-cum-teachers so that their living is not hindered. And more importantly they would feel validated as an artist. Many of the senior artists still work as laborers to sustain their family. This support would motivate the elders to join the movement to save the heritage of Kutch Folk Music.
On the end note, Velabhai requests Kala Varso to develop a well-equipped folk-music center in Khadir-bet region that facilities young artists and children to learn various folk instruments and genres of Kutch under the guidance of a guru.
_________________
