My dream is to preserve and get documented all the essence of “Tribal Arts & Culture” for thousands of years ahead.
Madhushree Hatial
Traditions seems to thrive in village environ and catch for tradition as an identity flows in the veins of village life. Modernity and deprivation of importance to tradition is a wind that have swept away ancient culture into the back yard.
The soil of our nation has few gems who have gone against the wind to erect and restore the glittering palace of the past. Madhushree Hatial is one of those names in the region of West Bengal that borders Jharkhand.
Both these forest land with indigenous population have very much in common. The culture of this land bearing the onslaught of development is again on move towards restoration.
Thanks to Moromiya Trust under the able guidance of unwavering Ms. Hatiyal who have been relentlessly working for over a decade for the revival of the ancient tribal art of the region.
The region has huge forest reserve of Mahua and Sal trees along with natural resin. Moromiya Trust has engaged women to produce Mahua flower achar and hand sanitizer from its spirit to curb abuse of Mahua and add to the ethical income out Mahua products. Sal leaf plates and bowl have also increased in production with proper training and skill provided by the trust.
The mobile library along with story telling by the trust members have earned a good rapport with tribal children who now are always ready to go to schools. This novel experimentation of Ms. Madhushree Hatial has brought news hopes in the life of tribals. She being an folk performer of national repute is iconic young person for tribal in villages. Her Bengali poetry and Jhumur has been gathering huge applause in various social or government stages.
A recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi in(2018), two of her documentaries -Jhumur, MonosaMangal-have been preserved by the National Museum,as many as 20 wedding song by her (Biha Geet) have been preserved by Union Broadcast Ministry for research purposes. Former Governor of West Bengal (now vice president IndiaJagdeep Dhankhar specially recognised her intiative to roll out a t “Bhramyaman Pathagar” (mobile librery to promote traditional (particularly tribal) art and culture.And now she has set out a ambitious journey to establish a dedicated tribal school, following the Gurukul philosophy and principles and to empower tribal women -financially.and otherwise,using ethnic art and culture, craftsmanship as tools.Madhushree Hatial,Founder, Moromiya O Sampraday Trust, narrates her journey and the way ahed-how she wants to protect, preserve and promote tribal art, culture, literature.
What first inspired you to pursue a career in traditional Jhumur singing and folk music?
I am, a national award winner of “Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2018, “Kavi/ Sahityik Samman Award 2018” & “Indira Kirti Samman 2018”,
I have been devoting most of the spare time in running a Trust namely : MAROMIA AND SAMPRODAY” at Jhargram, West Bengal for preservation and documentation of Tribal Folk and Art and empowerment of Tribal women in West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha tribal villages.
Since my childhood, I came across the continual decay of our heritage Tribal arts & culture in Jhargarm, Medinipure in West Bengal and adjacent Tribal state Jharkhand & Odisha.
I witness to believe that many ancient and traditional cultures and heritages of Tribals like Folks music, Jhumur Dance, 6000-10000 B.C are at the threshold to be extinct. It results in the extreme loss of social dignity of Tribal particularly Tribal women who have been the architect of these art since its birth”.
No doubt our country is moving towards a great GDP and emphasizing on Artificial Intelligence which is probably the vision of the word for coming decade. Due to continuous negligence, our old culture has been vanishing under threat of “YOU TUBE” era. It is very surprising that multinational companies are thriving for patents of new drugs/instruments and even for Trade mark competition for their survival or existence, no effort to preserve the Tribal Heritage which had been flying thousands and thousands years.
This lacuna or you say the gap creating between survival of the oldest culture versus Internet era, my zeal gets magnified to fulfill the commitment of “PRSERVATION OF TRABAL ARTS AND CULTURES”. I believe that until my passion is blended with my careers, no big dream comes true. Hence is the motivation to pursue a career in traditional Jhumur singing and folk music.
How did your upbringing in Jhargram influence your passion for various forms of traditional art and culture?
Probably we have heard a famous quote ““Behind every young child who believes in himself is a parent who believed first.” My journey from my childhood also flew in the same sky. From by childhood, my father, Sri Suniti Kumar Hatial who used to be a renowned teacher at Jhargram, accompany me every time when he visited and interacted tribal people in nearby. He was not only a fond of tribal arts & Music, he always devoted himself to the main bloodline of tribal heritance. Due to lack of modern technology, my father’s effort was limited. But he taught me to dream unlimitedly.
After years onwards, I managed to align my deep passion with my higher education which also gifted me a stable career as well. But my dream is not to get a peaceful, stable, comfortable career on Tribal arts & Culture. My dream is to preserve and get documented all the essence of “Tribal Arts & Culture” for thousands of years ahead.
What challenges did you face while introducing Jhumur songs into Chhau dance choreography?
Honestly speaking, it is not very hard to crack the nut. Jhumur & Chhau is very integrated. Since thousands & thousands years ago, the people of tribal communities celebrates their different occasion with this Jhumur Songs…short folk music…. The rhythm of the songs are being magnificently expressed through performing of Chhau dance.
What techniques and materials do you use in Sohrai painting, and what significance does this art form hold for you?
You would be surprised to know that all the arts & Culture of tribal communities were generated from mother nature. When all the developed countries are thriving for “Green Planet”, it is only the people of tribes who worship all the components of nature.
When we are talking about “Sohrai Painting”, they primarily use two things i.e Brush & Paints. The Brush is made completely from branch of trees and the paints are completely natural ie essence of different colorful flowers, colorful soil etc. All the ingredients used for “Sohrai Painting” is perfectly bio degradable.
How do you incorporate the themes of traditional tribal life and culture into your paintings?
Since the dawn of Civilization, we have witnessed that with the advent human civilization, all the popular communities tried to preserve their glories through sculpture and paintings. From Harappa or Mahenjodaro, all civilians kept their socialized foot print through paintings on wall of Temple or Caves or any other place. We all know about Ajanta Ellora Cave painting. These paintings are so vivid that its glory is still shining and will be.
It is true that tribes could not move so fast with the advent of civilization in India. But their arts & culture are obviously of superior in nature. Only difference is that tribal people were fond of painting of different components of Mother Nature. It might be animals, birds, Plants, Trees, River, Rock etc. No warriors or kingdom ship culture prevailed in Tribal culture. So their was not any sculpture or painting depicting the story of “conquership”. They usually reflects openness of their life as nature.
What motivated you to establish ‘Maramiya O Sampraday,’ and what are some of the major achievements of the trust so far?
We have heard a famous quote from Theodore Roosevelt “The most important single ingredient in the formula of the success is knowing how to get along with people”.
This is the “Mantra” in my life. I always knew that my dream is not only to uphold the every essence of the Ancient Tribal live & vivid. Rather my dream collectively focuses on preservation of ancient cultures with massive education campaign to tribal society merged with tribal women economic independency. This vision gives the birth of my trust “MAROMIYA O SAMPRADAYA“.
Through the series of Workshops on “Jhumur “Dance a Folks art of Tribals, my trust has successfully managed to Preserve the mastery of this art to the main blood line of tribals heritage as well as has created you excellent Folk Artist. The art which was at the threshold of being extinct, now it is in the limelight of cultural heritage of our nation.
Our zeal to draw the “Sohrai Paints” with the Tribal children and women at villages has now been able to familiarize the premier artist to learn the mastery of the 6000-10000 B.C Old art.My trust has already stared communicating foreign universities for organizing workshop on old one of the oldest Art. So the village art is now appealing to be honored at World forum.
With the tireless efforts of all the members of “MAROMIYA”, it has finally been successful to inspire the tribal children to know the ancient knowledge’s of our country and be educated to contribute the progress of society and our nation.
Our dream for empowerment of Women in tribal society has come to be true. Now at least 1000 of Tribal Women across West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha has formed small small self –help group for manufacturing of “Dokra Art “product, Ready Made garments, Plate made of leaves, Potter /handcraft products etc.
How do you see the impact of your mobile library initiative, ‘Bhrmyaman Pathagar,’ on the promotion of tribal art and culture among school children?
I always recall a famous line of Malcolm Forbes. He says” “Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.”
In the massive use of Mobiles & Internets, like other societies, tribal children are adversely impacted with this addiction. Situation is such alarming that the modern music & dances occupied all the minds of Tribal teenagers. They forget to learn from their ancestral and nature. They forget to compose the sweet melody which flows in air. Then I realize that firstly they should know themselves.
Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations.” – Elena Gilkes.
Hence I feel an urge to introduce ‘Bhrmyaman Pathagar” for Tribal Children who are being inducted with their traditional knowledge from “Upanishada”, “Ramayana” & ““Mahabharata”.
I believe one day my effort will definitely result in when this today’s children will present their prestigious culture to rest of the world
How do you balance your roles as an Assistant Professor of Folk Music and a performer?
“Do what you love and success will follow. Passion is the fuel behind a successful career.” – By Meg Whitman
This is the only “Mantra” in my life to balance my role as Assistant Professor of Folk Music and a performer.
Can you share some memorable moments or achievements from your teaching career at N L K Women’s College?
Since 2022, I was associated with UG Board of Studies in Bengali dept of Raja Narendralal Khan Women’s College (Autonomous), GOPE College, Medinipure.
Throughout years, I use to conduct different workshops on Folk Music & Dance. Very recently I conducted 45 Hrs Certified Course on “Tribal Painting”. The workshop was conducted at the NLK, College premise with the students of the same college.
How do you integrate music therapy in your work with tribal children, and what outcomes have you observed?
Medical Science across the world proves that Music has strength to cure many diseases particularly for neurological or depression type. In our country, we all know “Raga Darbari “has been proven to be effective in reducing the stress levels of individuals. Its composition is attributed to Tansen, who composed it to calm Emperor Akbar after a stressful day. BP Reduction: Raga Todi is effective in bringing down high blood pressure levels.
Similarly, I believe that Tribal folk music has immense capacity to be effective on certain mental diseases. It also calms down our mind. The melody of folk music reduces our stress. As all the note of songs gathered from nature, it is obvious that this helps us in reducing our day to day stress. The effect is not only restricted to tribal children only, it is, I believe, may be beneficial for entire mankind.
How has your experience as an anchor in AIR Kolkata and Akashvani Maitree enriched your career in the arts?
In 2016, I have joined “Akashvani Maitree” as Folk singer and Announcer. It is really a marvelous experience for me as sitting “ON AIR” is no doubt a big opportunity in my life. It was the particular platform where we had the opportunity to present the beauty of Folk songs to millions of listener. I was extremely joyful when I found that thousands of listeners had been showing their keen interest in Tribal Folks. Any single performance usually appeals to few audience whereas “Akashvani Maitree” had provided me the platform where regulary I used to interact many of traditional, cultural personalities on exploring the opportunities of Tribal Music.
What are your future plans and vision for the preservation and promotion of indigenous tribal art, culture, and literature in India?
The Vision of my trust is :
“To protect & preserve the ancient Arts & Cultures of Tribes across the country through mass education of tribal children blending with modern technology and ancestral mastery of tribal arts & culture. We dream of economically independent women driven tribal society”.
Our Mission is :
To immediately protect almost lost died tribal arts & culture by “Copy Right or Performance Copy Right Protection”.
To design the “Cultural Mapping” for transmission of old, ancient knowledge’s from Master to Disciples in tribal community.
To identify for appropriate GI (Geographical Indication) based on intrinsic value of local Tribal Arts.
To set up a school from very basic level in form of “GURUKUL” where children/students would learn under mother nature.
To form at least 02 nos. SHG ( Self Help Group) in individual tribal villages where tribal women would generate funds through utilizing their mastery in different tribal arts.
Which is your favourite quote?
“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do” and “Udaracharitanam Tu Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.”