By Anjali Nauriyal
Introduction
Pritam Bhartwan is amongst the most accomplished folk singers and musicians of Uttarakhand, renowned for his expertise in performing Jagars (traditional folk songs). Referred to as the “Jagar Samrat” (Emperor of Jagars) his exceptional skills in singing these songs has earned him international repute. There are many aspects to his singing. His prowess at playing the accompanying instruments for instance. In addition to singing, he is proficient in playing several traditional folk instruments such as the Dhol, Damau, Hudka, and Daur Thali, which are integral to the traditional music of Uttarakhand, the Land of the Gods. In a larger context, he represents all ‘singers of stories’ etched in the annals of human history, including the mediocre or the insignificant, the incomparable or the superlative. He himself is the most alive and most distinguished representative of his singing genre in contemporary times. When you watch him sitting in front of you, singing an epic song and playing his harmonium, it is fascinating to note that he is a carrier of tradition as well as a creator of tradition.
Life Sketch
Pritam was born in Village Sila in the Raipur district of Uttarakhand. He belongs to the age-old family of Auzis, who are the tradition bearers of Jagars, Pawadas and Lok Geet, and designated as balladeers or singing families. He was initiated into music routinely at the age of five by family members who were decades old Auzis by profession.
At a young age he learnt to play the Thali (a traditional instrument) and started performing folk songs with his uncle. So far, he has recorded over 1000 folk songs, contributing significantly to preserving the folk traditions of Uttarakhand.
In recognition of his contributions to music and culture, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, in 2019. Additionally, he has served as a visiting professor at, both, the University of Cincinnati and the University of Illinois, further spreading the rich cultural legacy of Uttarakhand amongst foreign students. Currently, he is tied up with his dream revival project, that is, bringing traditional folk-Jaagar and Dhol Saagar to the youth all over the world. He is running an institute, titled “Hem Lok Kala Kendra” for teaching Jaagar, Pawada, Dhol Saagar and other tradition instruments to the younger generations in the manner of a cultural responsibility.
Contributions
The magnitude of his contribution to preservation of folk culture can be gauged by the enormous body of work he has brought before the world. Credit goes to him for compiling Jagars in a natural way, which means memorising them through the oral tradition and later recording them when recording technology was made available to him. And, over the years the number of Jagars, heroic songs, nature songs, etc., that he has recorded for popular audiences is quite astonishing. Additionally, he has been praised widely for maintaining the aesthetic standards in his oral song-making efforts. He has kept alive the cultural movement in scholarship.
Academic Attainment
Pritam Bhartwan has documented folk singing and instrumental playing patterns of all Uttarakhandi Jaagar, Pawara, Jhora, Chanchhari, Bagdwali, Achhari-Maantri, Gwaril, Chanpeli, Socialisation songs, Maangal, Chaiti, Bhadwali, Maulyar and other regional folk art through his workshops. He has conducted many folk singing and instrument playing workshops for children and youth organised by the NGO, Shri Bhuvaneswari Mahila Ashram (SBMA) and Hem Lok Kala Kendra Institute, in India and overseas. He has trained more than 300 Dalit youths in performing folk songs and folk instruments such as Dhol Damaun and Hudka. As a result, these youths have formed folk orchestras and generated self-employment for the survival of their families. He has attended many meetings of the Uttarakhand State Cultural Department and given academic suggestions which have been periodically implemented by the State.
