Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Subaltern art form to the fore

HYDERABAD: The artistes with painted faces, cardboard jewellery and inexpensive gossamer saris hardly give an indication of what’s to come. However, when the drumbeat, harmonium set and anklets jingled , the audience was electrified even as they cheered. ‘Telangana Dakkali Aadi Jambava Puranam’, the subaltern art form that explains the birth of castes was played in the Osmania University’s Arts College by artistes from Warangal district on Friday. The recital of ‘Aadi Jambava Puranam’, the only mythology both told and heard by the Madiga community, was the result of an effort by the Anveshi Research Centre for Women’s Studies along with Bahujan Student Federation of the University to revive the heritage. This Puranam is most prominent in Telangana. It is recited for nine days only for Madiga community ,” said Mary Madiga, a scholar from Anveshi.

Dakkali is depicted as the eldest son of Jambavantha and various sub-castes were born from his body. In the social context, Dakkali is the most oppressed sub-caste among Madigas . “We survive as touring performers,” said Dakkali Shobha, a performer.

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