Date:30/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/30/stories/2008113056490200.htm

Other States - Orissa

In search of greener pastures

Staff Reporter

Dhol-makers from Uttanchal are in Berhampur to sell their products

Photo: Lingaraj Panda

Livelihood concerns: A dhol-maker from Uttaranchal making drums at his makeshift shelter in Berhampur on Saturday. —

BERHAMPUR: Saturation of market for traditional drums in north India has brought a group of nomadic Muslim families from Uttaranchal to the city in search of new avenues for their products.

Around 15 of these families have erected tents on the outskirts of the city. They say some more families like them had gone to other towns in Ganjam district in search of a market for their products.

As per a senior member of the family M. Baig, they were makers of traditional musical instruments and their speciality was drums. For the past few years they had started exploring market in southern states as they found their market saturating in the north.

Mr. Baig accepted that advent of drums made up of polythene and plastic sheets had affected their market. These families specialise in making traditional Indian drums called Dhol, Pakhawaj and Mridang. They use animal skin to make their drums.

Modern dhols

Modern plastic dhols have started infiltrating the north, India which has compelled these families to move away, searching for new buyers.

These families move around with the raw material needed for making their products, which includes the wooden base usually made from mango logs, specially tanned goat skins, traditional glue and strings used to make these drums. They prepare their drums at the place they camp and then members of the family move around the city trying to sell off their products. Their products range from Rs. 100 to Rs. 600 per piece.

According to Mr. Baig some of them are master craftsmen of drums and also repair musical instruments when a customer wants it.

He felt as marriage season had started they would have a good market in the city. But they are now mostly selling the smaller dhols bought by parents for their children. These families said they do not prefer to stay at a place for more than one month and leave for another place before the saturation point of sell of their product is reached.