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Muffled, but still crying
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E-mails and mobile messaging services may have rendered even snail mail redundant. But street criers, who make announcements beating tamates, can still be heard in the not-so-happening parts of our City.
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SOME TIME back, an Internet service provider engaged Peter Moore, a street crier from London, to promote its schemes. The firm needed a gimmick to sell its concept, and Moore, a colourful character any which way you look at him, lent it to the hilt — with red-and-gold robes and a plumed hat, flying a hot air balloon, riding a camel and an elephant, and travelling around the world making important (to the Brits, that is) proclamations such as the birth of Prince William and the like. Moore was in Bangalore too.
But the City, an IT hub and very happening place, also has many little villages within itself — places that may have become part of the urban spread thanks to the ever-hungry real estate sharks, but retain quintessential qualities of a village. It is in pockets like these that you have people walking on burning coals as a mark of devotion to the village deity and street criers proclaiming temple festivals. These street criers are, of course, quite an antithesis of Moore, wearing simple shirts, trousers or dhotis, and towels around their heads.
One of the few active street criers of Bangalore is 45-year-old Krishna, who lives in Pottery Town, a man much sought after by temples in the area. His father and grandfather were street criers, and his son, Venkatesh, is training to be one. Krishna himself started training when he was 15 from his guru Poojappa, and has gone on to train 60-odd people himself.
Among the many chores Krishna performs, one of the most important involves the famous Draupadi temple. It is his duty to proclaim when this fire walk will be held. He tells when karaga arrives in a particular street and tells the devotees to be ready with their offerings. He regularly announces the Anayamma Temple processions and has travelled as far as Chikballapur, Doddaballapur, and Malur to make announcements in the temples there. Krishna recalls that earlier, churches also employed street criers to announce events such as St. Xavier's and St. Mary's feasts. He points out how the tradition of street criers has itself changed with the times. While they earlier conveyed news of marriages, deaths, and public auctions, they now propagate messages on family planning and so on.
Krishna recollects that in the earlier days, when a message of death had to be conveyed, he had to travel to many villages. He would first announce the name of the deceased and then the time of the funeral.
But such assignments hardly ever come his way these days, and he is mostly employed by political parties (for election campaigns and so on) and by temples. Since making a living out of street crying is becoming impossible, Krishna now supplements his income by playing for a music band. The instrument that Krishna plays, like the profession itself, has seen much transformation. Previously made of leather, tamate is now made of plastic and costs around Rs. 600.
Krishna becomes nostalgic as he remembers how he had once won praise from no less a person than the Maharaja of Mysore, Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar. He would beat the tamate at the Durgamba Temple in Mysore during the car festival, and the Maharaja had presented him two silver sticks to beat the drum with in appreciation of his work.
The authorities at Tiruverkadu Temple in Chennai had also given him a citation in recognition of his talent.
Even as street criers are becoming rare, one can sometimes spot them in places such as Nagavara, Kacharakanahalli, Hennur, Kadugondanahalli, Shivajinagar, Shivanchetty Garden, Muniswamy Road, Magadi Road, and Kamakshipalya. A street crier is still employed when a child is lost. Many a time, they have helped in tracing missing children. This method has, surprisingly enough, proved more effective than advertisements in newspapers and on TV. This is because street criers reach every nook and corner of localities and word-of-mouth communication is still considered most effective, whatever media consultants may say.
In an era dominated by loudspeakers, larger-than-life hoardings, and the most advanced of electronic communication devices, it is heartwarming to learn that the humble street criers still survive amidst us, sometimes being more effective than technology.
As someone rightly said, centuries co-exist in our country.
M.V. CHANDRASHEKAR
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