Ranchi: From teaching traditional songs to children to helping artisans craft indigenous instruments, folk artist Nandlal Nayak is spearheading a grassroots campaign to preserve Jharkhand’s musical heritage across Ranchi, Khunti and Simdega.Nayak, son of Padma Shri awardee Mukund Nayak, runs free daily music classes for 20 underprivileged children — 16 boys and 4 girls, all below 15 years — at Kolebira in Simdega district. The initiative, now in its second year, primarily supports children of traditional folk artists who were forced to take up daily-wage work.The children are taught customary songs that chronicle the human lifecycle, from birth to death. They also learn to make traditional instruments such as mandar and dhol.“Historically, folk singers crafted their own instruments. The initiative seeks to reconnect young learners with their cultural roots while keeping these art forms alive,” Nayak said.In Ranchi’s Lapung block and neighbouring Khunti district, Nayak provides raw materials to nearly 60 traditional instrument makers. In the past five years, the initiative has helped artisans produce and sell more than 10,000 mandars.“Raw materials had become prohibitively expensive, forcing many craftsmen to abandon their trade. Their regular supply has enabled artisans to resume production and sustain their heritage,” said Gunde Mahali, an artisan from Lapung.Nayak is also working to secure a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the mandar.At Bundu in Ranchi district, he organises a weekly congregation that brings together 100 to 150 artists from the Panchpargana region every Sunday. The forum allows performers to rehearse, hone their skills and interact with experts. Patta Nritya, Jhoomer, Bhaduriya, Kurmali, Mundari and Panchparganiya are among the art forms showcased.The platform has also helped performers gain national recognition. Regular participants Butan Devi and Somari Devi received the Sangeet Natak Akademi awards from President Droupadi Murmu on Aug 13 for excellence in Nachni Pratha. Nayak, an Akademi member, had recommended their names.“If our traditional rhythms fade away, we lose a vital part of our history. My aim is not merely to preserve a style of music, but to keep our ancestors’ stories alive for future generations,” Nayak said.
