Sunday Guardian

January 23, 2000

Page 5

For some 20 years, Lalram Jaggernath has been keeping biraha singing alive. This lively form of Hindi folk singing usually draws from the Ramayana, the Bhagavad-Gita and other holy scriptures for its content, although singers may sing on any topic including the immediate environment.

Although the biraha art form is not as widely known as its chutney counterpart, it remains an integral part of many traditional Indian events. In the past it was a form of entertainment for cane farmers. Often it surfaces during Indian weddings and at prayers. These are ceremonies where Jaggernath can be found singing the praises of Ram or Krishna. The joy he finds in singing biraha is apparent. His voice is invested with feeling and his eyes, gazing into the distance, are aglow with some indefinable emotion.

For this Charlieville vocalist, biraha is an inheritance given to him by his father, Jaggernath, who was born in India. A family tradition, Lalram’s brothers, Mansaram and Thakuram are also proponents of the art form.

In some ways the biraha has been a sustaining force in their lives. Lalram’s wife, Parbatie, remembered: “He used to sing all the time. Long ago when water was scarce, penny a pan for water, he used to sing.” And Lalram sings of every aspect of the holy scriptures. He sings of Lord Ram’s marriage to Sita; of the war against Ravan and his sons; of Krishna’s battle with the evil king Kansa, and many others.

The same zesty, vigorous tune is used for all the songs. Only the stories change. Singers are often accompanied by traditional Indian instruments such as the dholak and tabla and also the tassa.

For many biraha artistes, the art form has taken another innovative twist. It has been adapted into an extempore-type singing where issues of the day are commented upon. Singers are often expected to musically joust in a call-and-reply scenario. With the passage of time, however, the art form has been whittled down to one singer. Lalram Jaggernath sticks to the traditional, devotional form, preferring to sing of God. In fact, he humbly attributes his gift for singing to the Divine. "I pray to Saraswatie Mata who gives me the voice, then to Shree Ganesh to remove all the obstacles, then to Hanuman Baba and so on."

A spiritual man, he also sings the Ramayan throughout the country. His is a little dismayed through, that some people only request to hear the Ramayan at their funerals. "That is not how it should be! You must listen to the Ramayan when you are alive, not after you are dead!"

In his biraha singing, Lalram has a certain fan in his wife. He is constantly supported in his singing endeavours by Parbatie, who attends every function. Now a pensioner, he has even more free time on his hands. With a pleased look, Parbatie informed, "He is teaching me Hindi every day." Together they have five children and nine grandchildren about whom they speak with pride. It is Lalram's great lament, however, that none of his children has continued in his footsteps.

"Biraha," he said, "is still very popular. People sing it all the time." The problem, as he explained it, is that it is only sung by the older generation. As far as he knows, there are no young biraha artistes. Attempts at educating the young in this field are being made in the nearby temple at Charlieville, but the turnout has not been good. Maybe the parents are at fault for not sending them, he thinks. Another obstacle is that some youngsters just do not want to learn the art. Singing biraha is not always easy, he noted. "Even some of the elder people can't get the proper 'twang'." He is afraid that the art from may be dying.

Biraha has been revived publicly to some extent, however, through the efforts of a few. Two years ago the Mere Desh Committee, whose aim is to recognise the unsung heroes and heroines of our country, placed its focus on biraha singing through a competition designed to showcase the local talent. Jaggernath has a trophy to show for it.

Will biraha survive? Or will it be lost to the coming generations? One thing's for sure; Lalram Jaggernath will be doing his part to continue the tradition.

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