Frontier histories, blended traditions and well-being
Rahul Ghai
LAP Lambert Academic Publishing
2020
pokkari
Of enticing overtures and ecstatic renditions introduces issues of pathos and destitution that paradoxically engulf the lives of musician communities whose music is the harbinger of peace, serenity and soulful ecstasy. The unique bio physical and ecological context has unfolded into frontier histories and blended traditions have bequeathed these folk musicians with a unique variety of folk Islam as they were transmitted for generations in a predominantly pastoral context. These sufi mystical music traditions constitute the kernel of veneration of sufi saints of popular Islam primarily followed by Muslim nomadic and semi nomadic pastoralists, and revered by Hindus alike. Instead of getting mystified by a cultural aesthetic, it is important to invest in human resources and effortlessly across different repertoires and performative contexts exemplifies innovation that springs from frugal resources and a tenacious core of these traditions of intangible heritage. It is this that needs to be nurtured and cultural skills of these unique producers of folk culture. The versatile ability displayed by these musicians to straddle safeguarded.
