The Electric Sindhi Sarangi is cost-effective, portable, weather-proof and produces 38 different sounds – Rajesh Kumar
Sindh Courier Report
Bilaspur
Rajesh Kumar Parasramani, a visually impaired Sindhi Sarangi Player from Bilaspur, Chhatisgarh state of India, has designed an electric Sindhi Sarangi after study of two years.
He is also the inventor of his own one-piece wooden Sindhi Sarangi and had also developed Easy Code Method in Braille so that the visually impaired persons can also learn the Sindhi Sarangi.
Rajesh Kumar Parasramani, whose ancestors belonged to Sehwan Sindh, had established ‘Sindhu Gharana’ to promote Sindhi Sarangi, and was adjudged as the Fastest Sarangi Player.
Sindhi Sarangi is a rare Musical Instrument being played in India and Pakistan. In India, basically Langas and Manganiyar are playing Sindhi Sarangi in Rajasthan area while some artist from Chhattisgarh and Vrindavan also conveyed that they are playing Sindhi Sarangi.
Sindhi Sarangi is a bowed Musical Instrument having total 22 to 27 Strings. The Strings Distribution of Sindhi Sarangi is in Baaj, Jeel and Jara.
Also read: Rajesh Kumar establishes ‘Sindhu Gharana’ to promote Sindhi Sarangi
Earlier Sindhi Sarangi was played with the help of three dead goat intestine strings. These strings are called ‘aant ki Taar’ but after evolution now-a-days, Sindhi Sarangi is playing with different kinds of strings that include ‘Aant ki taar’ for tuning at kharaj Pancham and Shadaj, and metal string as main string tuned at Madhyam Shadaj.
After introduction of various mechanical instrument, Sindhi Sarangi is still made by traditional methods.
There are so many different designs of Sindhi Sarangi is available. But mostly Ustaad Nathu Khans’ design of Sindhi Sarangi, from Rahimiyar district of Punjab in Pakistan, is widely accepted.
Rajesh Kumar Parasramani, who has done doctorate on Sindhi Sarangi and has also published a book on the subject, says his Electric Sindhi Sarangi is not only very light in weight but also has excellent performance. “Let us compare both traditional and Electric Sindhi Sarangi. The traditional Sindhi Sarangi has 22 to 27 strings but the electric one has only 3; the traditional Sarangi has dead goat skin table cover while the electric one has wooden cover. The metal and aant ki tar is used as string mater but steel string is used in electric instrument,” he said adding that bridge distance in traditional Sarangi depends on artist but 12.5 inches distance is required in electric Sarangi.
Also read: Sindhi Sarangi Player Rajesh Kumar Develops Easy Code Method in Braille
“The traditional Sindhi Sarangi is made of Sidar and Sheesham wood nut electric one can be made of any wood. The traditional has a weight of 2 to 2.5kg while the electric Sarangi has only 800 gram to one kilogram weight, and is portable as well easy to maintain,” he told Sindh Courier.
Further, the installation time is 5 to 10 minutes in case of traditional Sarangi while less than one minute in electric Sarangi. Traditional Sindhi Sarangi produces its typical sound but the electric Sarangi produces more than 38 sounds.
“Traditional Sindhi Sarangi can be affected by weather but the new invention is weather-proof besides cost effective as it costs only Rs.6000/- as compared to Rs.25000 to Rs.35000/- in case of traditional Sindhi Sarangi,” he said.
Rajesh said that there was a major challenge that electric Sindhi Sarangi must look like traditional Sindhi Sarangi and to able to perform with other Indian and western musical instruments.
“I failed two times and finally in third attempt Electric Sindhi Sarangi Sound became acceptable,” Rajesh told and elaborated that the major problem with traditional Sindhi Sarangi was crafting time and high maintenance besides procurement procedure very difficult.
“The Electric Sindhi Sarangi is easy to make and having very less procurement procedure. The artist just has to keep Electric Sindhi Sarangi in a normal cover bag,” he said.
“We also did not find any weather effects in Electric Sindhi Sarangi. Yes it is made up of wood and artist must keep this on dry surface.”
Also read: Sindhi Sarangi’s Journey from Sindh to India
After designing of Electric Sindhi Sarangi, Rajesh forwarded his drawing to Ustaad Lalu Khan, a renowned Sindhi Sarangi Player of Jaisalmer district, who completed wooden work of Electric Sindhi Sarangi.
After examining the sound quality and other quality examination Rajesh shared his Electric Sindhi Sarangi details to Sindh Courier.
Disusing patent of his electric Sindhi Sarangi, Rajesh said he has already applied for patent of his designed Electric Sindhi Sarangi. He has given the name to his electric Sindhi Sarangi as APURVA.
While discussing about the utility of APURVA electric Sindhi Sarangi, Rajesh said this it is very easy to play and can produce more than 38 different melodious sounds. “Any artist can use any sound modifier equipment for playing electric Sindhi Sarangi and can use any Bow.”
Rajesh however advised using the violin or Israj bow.
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