A final culmination workshop was organized with the Bauls and Fakirs on 30 Jan, 2021 at Baul ashram at Guskara to share the outcomes of the HIPAMS project with the larger community, to listen the experience of the artists and to identify the future course of action. Around 47 artists including 9 women warmly participated in the workshop and collectively celebrated the overall progress they made with this project.
They discussed the present ecosystem for skill transmission and commented that surrender to the Guru is the only way to know the tradition. All artists should know the meaning and the context of the song, names and lives of the Mahajans (Baul Gurus whose songs they sing). Women artists shared the stories of the struggles they have been through in life and the younger ones appreciated that their journey is easier. Artists appreciated the Art Codes and they agreed to use them. They discussed distortions in the market where a genre known as Rong (meaning colourful) Baul is distorting the essence of Baul music, drifting away from the tradition. The Bauls pointed out that it is their task to create awareness on these distortions. Young members of the families who are going to college and supporting the senior Bauls in using social media were also present and appreciated the session.
This research project, Heritage Sensitive Intellectual Property and Marketing strategies: India (HIPAMS - INDIA), is funded by the British Academy's Sustainable Development Programme, supported under the UK Government's Global Challenges Research Fund 2018-2021.
