A CORRESPONDENT
TANGLA: At a time when people across the country are engaged in creative works amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, a quinquagenarian of Udalguri district is investing his time to produce 'Dotora' and 'Dogor', the two popular musical instruments used in various genres of folk music in Bengal and Assam.
Naren Deka, a fourth grade employee of Tangla Girls' High School and an inhabitant of Milanpur locality of Tangla town in Udalguri district, who had imbibed the skills three decades back, is keeping himself engaged during the lockdown period by making these instruments.
Over the years, the folk musical instruments of Assam have been taken over by the western musical instruments and the government too has failed to encourage and promote such craftsmanship. This has posed a threat to the indigenous skills.
Deka, while sitting in the courtyard of his home, was diligently focusing on giving the instruments a final touch. He said that it took him one-and-half months and he had targeted to make 40-50 Dotoras and Dogors each.
Deka told this correspondent, "I had imbibed the art of making these musical instruments when I was young and unemployed. But after getting a job in the school as fourth grade employee, I only played the instruments in cultural shows. But the lockdown period has given me the opportunity to make some of them and invoke interest for these musical instruments among the young generation who only know about the guitar and other western musical instruments."
"I feel there is ample market demand and wider reach for these musical instruments. We need to tap the market and the government must formulate policies to ensure a life of dignity for artistes," he added.
Deka further reiterated that Assam's indigenous folk musical instruments were deeply rooted in the socio-cultural traditions with a rich heritage of skill and talent that needed to be preserved, perpetuated and promoted.