ADITI SARAWAGI
INDIAN MUSIC INSTRUMENTS ON THE VERGE OF
EXTINCTION
I
ndia has a rich culture in music
and boasts of innumerable
indigenous instruments. With the
advent of technology and modern
electric instruments, these old
instruments are fading away with
some instruments already being
found only in museums. Considered
to be the mother of all stringed
instruments two centuries ago,
there are hardly any Rudra Veena
players anymore. Made of wood or
bamboo, the strings produce subtle
and soft music which seems to have
lost its charm in the modern age.
Though it is known for its meditative
sound and use in classical music,
both the Rudra and the Saraswati
Veena have lost its following
also due to it being an expensive
instrument. Today very few artists
like Bahuaddin Dagar, Jyoti Hegde
and Hindraj Diwekar still play the
instrument. Similarly the Nagfani
or the Serpentine Horn was found
vastly around Gujarat and Rajasthan
but is now on the verge of extinction
and is only sparingly used in rituals
in Uttarakhand or in traditional
ceremonies due to its serpent
shaped head which is associated
with the serpent coiled around
Shiva’s neck thus invoking power.
Mayuri, a peacock shaped stringed
instrument was very popular in the
nineteenth century in the Indian
courts. The metal and wood body
played with a bow is rarely used but
it has seen a revival in recent years.
It is said that is was invented by
the sixth Sikh Guru Har Gobin and
it is being used by Sikh musicians
these days to play devotional music.
A tiny instrument made of wrought
iron, the morchang produces a
beautiful melody when played
using the mouth and left hand.
Once very popular in Rajasthan
and widely used in folk music, it
is very difficult to find these days.
This percussion instrument was also
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used in Carnatic music in the 20th
century and even by R.D. Burman
and S.D. Burman in Bollywood
but is now pretty much extinct.
The Yazh is an ancient instrument
and was immensely popular in
its day. A string instrument, it
was considered to be with one of
the sweetest sounds. Also known
as the Vil Yazh named after a
mythological animal, Yali and was
shaped like it. Once very popular
in Tamil Nadu, it is now found
only in museums. The Ejuk/
Tapang is an Assamese instrument
and is made from Tita Lau, an
indedible gourd. Its cultivation
is considered inauspicious and
because of this, the Ejuk is dying
a slow death. Ejuk Tapung is
primarily used by the Mishing
Tribe of Assam and resembles a
flute but has a unique sound.
Hailing from Manipur, the Pena
is made of bamboo and coconut.
All the folk songs of Manipur are
attributed to the Pena. This mono
string instrument is dying out and
only 145 people know how to play it
today. It is said to be the traditional
instrument of the Meitei community
and is only played during their
festival Lai Haroba. Also known as a
bass sitar, the Surbahar, is a string
instrument from North India used
in classical music. It was developed
way back in the eighteenth century
and was revamped in the twentieth
century. Though you will still find
surbahar players in the country,
Imrat Khan being a well-known
name, the instrument is fading away.
Sustaining ancient musical
instruments is not easy and with
newer forms launching everyday,
there is a lack of teachers for them as
well. Few instruments will probably
always be evergreen but there are
some which might not be saved.
Mayuri
Morchang
Nagfani
Rudra Veena
Yazh
Surbahar