Music for living or living for music?

Mangda the Musician

Mangda, he said – Mangda naam hai sahib (my name is Mangda). He looked surprised that someone had bothered to ask his name. He was most eager to start playing again, perhaps that’s what he was most comfortable doing. It was hard to guess his age, he looked like he had seen many autumns. He looked old, probably not as old as he was…

I met Mangda on my recent trip to Sariska Tiger Reserve. I first saw him, when we entered the Fort View Camp (now Club Mahindra) at Thanagazi, just outside the Sariska reserve. We had not even stepped down from the car, he started playing and somehow at that very instant I knew I wanted to know him better. We saw him later that evening when he and his wife (perhaps) played for a small group during the evening bonfire, and we soaked in the music amidst the crackling wood fire and winter chill. It was one of finest live music I have heard in recent years. The string instrument he played had a soothing earthy sound, not exactly like the Sarangi or Violin but little rustic and very soulful. I later found out it was called ‘Ravanhatha’. His voice wasn’t sweet or melodious in the conventional sense, but very rhythmic, almost like he was singing from his belly. I could hear him from far. We sat for an hour listening to him sing songs we didn’t understand, tapping our feet to sounds we were not familiar with, and smiling broadly when he would play small snippets of familiar bollywood music from the era bygone – Pakeezah et al.

He told me he belonged to Pushkar and had just come over to Sariska with his family. He lived there and made living singing for tourists. “Bachpan se he baja rahoon hoon (been playing since I was kid)” he said, when I asked him how long has been playing. I was finding it hard to keep the conversation going. Mangda seemed eager to break into his routine again. I told him, I loved his music and that he was a fantastic musician. He was indeed.  I shuffled a fifty rupee note in his hand. He wouldn’t remember me for that I know, but he seemed happy. It wasn’t for money, I know!

What do you think?

*The Rawanhathha of the Thori or Nayak Bhopas is probably the earliest instrument played with a bow, and this humble instrument could well be the precursor of the violin. It has two main strings and a variable number of supporting strings, with a belly of half coconut shell and a body of bamboo. The bow has ghungroos (bells) attached to it. The music is staccato and accompained by the syncopated singing of the Bhopa and the Bhopan. This old instrument finds place in mythology as well – it is said that Ravana played this instrument for Lord Siva. (Source: Wiki)