Binapani Mahato. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, Oct. 17: For students of Graduate School College of Women in Sakchi, she is the head of the department of music. But Binapani Mahato is more than just being a faculty member.

One of the most acclaimed artistes in traditional Jhumur music and Chhau dance in the state, Mahato has been invited by the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London to present a paper on indigenous forms of tribal music and dance on November 30.

“It is a privilege to be invited for such a prestigious do and I am happy that the art forms of Jharkhand and Orissa are getting wide recognition,” said Mahato.

Originally from Orissa, Binapani Mahato received her formal music training from her father, an exponent himself, and later from Banasthali Vidyapeeth in Rajasthan.

Today, she is considered a stalwart in research related to Jhumur songs in Kurmali language and Mayurbhanj Chhau forms.

So, how did the offer come by? “Last year two students from SOAS had come to India to do a research on eastern India’s ethnic dance and music forms. I was one of their research guides. Once they returned, they arranged for the programme in London,” she added, humbly.

But a bit of coaxing and the real story unfurled.

“The invitation actually came only when the authorities in London were completely convinced of my achievements and claims. Initially they asked for my bio-data and details about my work. Once convinced, they wrote back inviting me for the seminar,” said Mahato.

In London she would do a paper reading session of her research work on the revival of Chhau and Jhumur music in India and would wrap up the programme with a short musical performance.

Mahato did her PhD on Jhumur forms of Jharkhand songs with special reference to classical music in 2000.

Mahato has released over six albums in Kurmali on Jhumur, has written several papers for national and international journals and about 10 years ago sang for a radio station in Russia.

A few years ago, she also received a grant from the Union ministry of art and culture to carry out a research on revival and documentation of songs, music and rhythmic patterns of Mayurbhanj Chhau.

“This was one of my most tedious jobs and took almost three years to complete. This is probably the first such documentation of music forms ever done by anybody,” she claimed. The final draft was submitted to the Centre in 2006 and the government of Orissa felicitated her during Mayurbhanj Chhau Mahotsav in April 2007.

Amid all these, the invitation from the UK university is surely the icing on cake.

“About two years ago, the University of Sussex had invited me for a similar conference, but I could not attend. This time I will surely be there,” said the musician who returned recently from an international seminar held at the Asiatic Society in Calcutta.