New Delhi, Jan. 26: Holding her dhak (drum) as she stood on the Bengal tableau at the Republic Day parade today, Shiuli Das looked much older than her 12 years but could be one of the event's youngest participants.
Shiuli was one of 11 women dhakis (drummers) who performed today - a first for R-Day - beating the drum of revival for a dying art in her state.
"Some girls take up playing the guitar, some play the saxophone, so why can't I play the dhak? Because of the importance given to folk artistes like us in Bengal, I see no reason why I can't take this up professionally," Shiuli said.
In 2014, Bengal chief minister, Mamata Banerjee started the Lok Prasar Prakalpa, a scheme under which folk artistes between 18 and 60 years of age receive Rs 1,000 per month as "retainer fees". Senior artistes, those above 60, receive a similar sum as pension. Apart from this, they get Rs 1,000 for each government event they play in. Over 80,000 artistes have been enrolled so far in the scheme and have been issued IDs.
Shiuli, a student of Class VIII at a government school in North 24-Parganas' Habra, is still not a beneficiary of this scheme but has seen first-hand how it has helped boost her family's income since her parents, both dhakis, started performing at state government events.
"Initially I had reservations about how she will earn, how will she be able to carry the heavy dhak on her shoulders. But I realised that if an art is taught at a young age, nothing is impossible. Also, I have gained confidence from the state's support. This has supplemented our income and given us more exposure. My daughter will eventually reap its benefits. It's our girls who will revive the art of the dhak," said Shiuli's father Shankar Das.
The family now makes Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 every month, mostly from playing at state events, a couple of thousand more than earlier.
Shiuli, who plays alongside her parents whenever she finds time, was not one of the 11 original choices for the R-Day tableau. She had gone for the auditions in Calcutta with her parents and was selected when an official requested her to play along.
"We didn't have anyone to look after her back home, so we brought her along. She was waiting for us to finish auditioning when the official called her and asked her to play. She played so well that they took her in," said Shankar, part of the Bengal team along with his wife. He taught her to play the dhak after marriage.
This morning at Rajpath, Shiuli proudly carried and played her dhak weighing around 10kg - her drum is lighter as a part of it is made of fibre not leather - on the tableaux that showcased Sharadotsav (Durga Puja), surrounded by her parents and the other performers.
"I love it when I am performing. It is exciting, although I was a bit nervous. I practise every day. I study and I play the dhak. That's all I do. I want to be the best dhaki," Shiuli signs off.
