Namaste’, the ‘Folk Ambassador of Rajasthan’ greets us as we connect with him on phone. He then proceeds to enrich us by offering an insight into the Manganiyar community, its syncretic traditions and stories of his waalid sahab and dada ji.
Mame Khan, folk and Sufi singer has collaborated with classical vocalist Kaushiki Chakraborty for CITI-NCPA Aadi Anant Festival in the city. Giving us details about the concert, Khan says, “First of all, namaste to you and my audience. The concert is going to be a blend of folk and classical music. I am really glad to be performing with Kaushiki ji, who is a respected name in Hindustani classical music. I will be presenting songs with Rajasthani roots sung by Manganiyar community like Kesariya Balam, Savan, Tapaiyya, Barsalo. I am also going to include a few Sufi numbers, which my waalid sahab (father) sang.”
Music knows no boundaries and it unites religious faiths. “Manganiyars worship Hindu gods and goddesses and believe in Islam too. We sing songs of Krishna, Ram, Kabir, Surdas, Tulsidas and Mirabai also,” says Khan.
“I think we are the 15th or 16th generation of Manganiyar musicians. When I was young, I asked my waalid sahab about our lineage, when did we begin singing, etc. He replied, ‘I asked the same question to dada ji, who in turn had asked his dada ji!’ Music is in our blood. It is said that an infant from Manganiyar community will also cry in sur,” he says with a chuckle.
The community, which is settled in Jaisalmar, Barmer, Bikaner and Jodhpur, has lost some of its compositions, because there was no written documentation.
“Ours is mostly an oral tradition. We have composed songs on kings, birds, festivals, etc. Suppose a raja is doing good work for his people, then a song is composed in his honour. Then, we have compositions on birds, etc. Some of our songs are lost... what is lost, is lost. But whatever music tradition is alive, will be preserved. I keep hearing that ‘folk art is dying’. But I want to negate this statement. Mame Khan will do his best to ensure that folk art lives on,” says the singer.
Keeping pace with changing times, he brought out music cassettes of the community’s compositions, then they were formatted into CDs, and now they can be listened to on YouTube. Khan has also set up a website.
However, his dream is to start a music academy in his hometown, so that the children can learn about their music tradition from bade-bujurg. “Earlier, very little was known about us; now there is little more awareness; my aim is that more and more people are introduced to this form of singing,” says Khan, who is open to singing at NH7, Coke Studio et all.
“All these platforms give our singing a push. I sing for Bollywood too. By foraying into different mediums, Manganiyar community is getting visibility. At the same time, I haven’t forgotten my roots. That’s also my appeal to youngsters — don’t forget your roots. Do riyaz and keep learning as long as you sing,” he says and concludes.