It is not difficult to find the house of veteran Gondhali artist Venkappa Ambaji Sugatekar. One has to land in Neva Nagar Bank Circle and ask for direction for the house of Padma Shri Awardee. The people of the region are very proud of ‘Gondaligar Yanappa’. A young shop-keeper pulls down the shutter and takes you to her home.
The first thing is that there is a notice about the person receiving the Padma Award for his contribution as folk art, how fit he is. At the age of 82, he moves upright, remains free from most lifestyle diseases, his hearing remains, and does not require glasses. A few minutes in conversation with him, you are floating from the basis of his elephant memory and comprehensive knowledge.
The real treatment, however, is watching her performing. His high-octane voice is attractive. They have a wide range and uses different styles for different types of songs – Hymn, Abhanga, Dasra Pad And LavaniHe starts switching easily between the voice of his singing and the normal voice, when he stops to tell mythology.
A typical Gondhali (or in districts like Gondala, Bagalkot and Vijaypura) lasts for about five to seven hours. It starts with the first Hindu ritual of worship About 9.30 am and ends at the end of the day with the fifth Hindu ritual of worshipThe artists praised the gods and praised the gods Amba Bhavani and Saundatti Yalamma.
Venkappa Ambji Sugatekar along with his family members at his home in Bagalkot. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
A bouquet of many flowers
The first story is of the warrior Lord Parashurama and his mother Yalamma. It explains how Rishi Jamadagani ordered Parashurama to kill his mother to distract a pair of fish. Parashurama followed him without any question, but came in search of his mother’s life as a reward to take it. Years later, when a greedy king killed his father, Parashurama visited the Earth to get rid of the Kshatriyas. The myth is that the drum, Chandevu or Tantun used by Gondhali singers was first made by Parashurama with an empty skull of an evil king. It is now made of wood and experienced leather.
Their performances are bilingual because they are skilled in Kannada and Marathi. The stories include Amba Bhavani and Ma Kali, Sati Anasuya, the grace of Satya Narayan and the battle of Lord Shiva along with his father -in -law, Daksha Prajapati. He flows into Marathi folklore and warrior songs. He sings of Pandara Pura Vittala, and his devotee like Namdev- Eknath-Tukaram, Chokha Mela, and others. He then started singing the songs of Purandara Das, in which Lord Withala was praised.
The modern stories of Shivaji Maharaj, Tanaji Malasure and India’s freedom struggle have also been depicted. Some stories are woven around characters like Gandhiji and Netaji Bose, while others are about Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Swami Vivekananda.
Venkappa never went to school. But his childhood training experience in decades has made him a master story taylor. He remembers more than 1,000 songs and 150 stories. He sings folk songs, Dasra Pada, Sheshunla Sharif’s Gathagit, Vochan Sahitya, Tatwa Paris and Devi Parish.
Neighbors and family members welcomed Venkappa Ambji Sugatekar, Gondhali singer, who was after returning from a demonstration after the announcement of the Padma Shri Award for him. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Surrounding world
He gives lessons on communal harmony, about the need to protect and empower women, to send children to school and non-staminating money. Where did he develop this world approach?
“You pick it up on the way. I noticed that during my father’s time, all the Gondhali artists were the same and told the same stories. I decided to include everyday lessons in my performance. I used to ask my children to read the newspapers loudly and listen to the radio, “he said.
Over the years, Venkappa feels that he has not learned to think much about the compliments he receives. “People say that my voice is good. Do they know how I got it? It was full during our tours around the village, begging. As young children, I and as my brothers I was asking for singing and alms. We had to sing loudly in voices to attract housewives working in kitchen or backyard. How will women not notice more of us? “She jokingly.
Early life and difficulty
Born in Ambaji, a poor poor artist in Bagalkot Old City, he was picked up among songs and Puranic stories, the bravery of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the stories of Yalamma’s affection. Ambaji had seven children and struggled to provide for his family, as the performance was banned for only five months in just one year.
At the age of 10, Venkappa climbed the stage as an artist with his father and elder brother Hanumantappa. Hanumantappa’s tragic death was a major setback in his youth. And all the brothers and sisters were forced to go on singing tourism to earn.
The family was landless, but lived in one Raw House became Half-A-Gunta Donated by a land owner in the old Bagalkot. But the region was submerged in the backwater of the Almatt Dam in the 1980s. A few years later, he was given a 600 square -foot plot in New Bagalkot. The joint family now lives in a small house on that plot. Venkappa has five brothers -Bahn and their children are all Gondhali artists. Venkappa’s children are both young and Ambji young artists. Their children are in school and they are not sure whether they do hereditary business.
The practice of organizing Gondhali demonstrations is prevalent in many communities, but singers come from the same caste group, now known as Gondaligaru or Gondhali society. It is a umbrella word for about 90 Bedagu or sub-cast. However, singers are only from seven sub-castes. Gondhalis rarely marry outsiders, although inter-marriage between sub-castes is allowed. They are listed in other backward classes in Karnataka.
“It is said that during the time of Shivaji Maharaj, Maratha, Panchal and even Brahmin were the Gondhali singers of communities. But now, it is limited to a community, “Venkappa said.
Venkappa has bitter childhood memories of childhood. “During overnight performance, people appreciated our singing and even fell on our feet. But the next morning, when we ask for food, they will throw it on us. We were not given water in the cup. We were asked to catch our palms to drink water because we were seen as meat eaters who would define the cups. However, a lot has changed one day now, “he said. “As a youth, I was always disturbed by such discrimination. But my uncle told me that caste was created not by God, but by humans. It did not mean much then, but now I have started appreciating it completely. ,
He believes that although a gondhali artist is trained by his parents or relatives, he learns hearts and stories from heart to tell them in a will, in fact a good artist is one who improves . “They have to choose stories from their surroundings. He will have to convert anecdotes and events in his city into moral stories. Some artists use newspaper articles in their performance, “he said.
Venkappa Ambaji Sugatekar sings at his home in Bagalkot during the India Hannam Festival. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Future of art
But Venkappa art form does not expect the future. “If the Gondhali art disappears tomorrow, it is not because there is no audience, but because there will be no artist. People think that Gondhalis artists are blessed HymnThey do not realize that we are humans with families. There is a high relationship for art, but there is no remuneration, “he said. He performs for five fists of rice or three coconuts. “Now people pay cash. Some of them are very generous and pay more money than what we expect. But some pay so low that it does not match our bus fares, “he said.
They feel that the Union and State Governments should take steps to protect and conserve art. “The honorarium for senior artists is around 2,000 per month and 2,000. It should be modified. They should be entitled to some benefits, such as travel allowances and subsidies, health insurance and low -cost housing. The central government should organize more cultural programs and establish a Gondhali Academy to train young artists, “he said.
At one time, every global person trained to become a singer and artist. “This can happen because we had no education, nor had no land nor we had capital or acumen for business. However, the situation is now different. Most of our children are educated. Some boys and girls are working in schools and Anganwadis, some have also included private companies and banks as clerks. The Hard Times has forced senior artists to discourage their children from embracing global art. The demand for Gondhali demonstration has not decreased. Instead, it has increased. However, there are not enough artists, ”he said.
Recognition
Karnataka folklore University recognized his talent and presented him with a respected doctorate. The university’s citation says that Venkappa has dedicated Gondhali folk music and story to more than 70 years and trained more than 1,000 students for free, ensuring the transmission of the Gondhali tradition.
In his honor’s weight address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Venkappa. He talked about long efforts of his life in reviving and maintaining the folk traditions of Karnataka. Modi described him as a “cultural torch carrier”, which has dedicated his life to preserve India’s rich cultural heritage. He was also invited along with his sons to see the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi.
Published – 21 February, 2025 11:08 am IST
