Around 25 senior, junior and women Bauls and Fakirs mostly from Nadia and Birbhum and also from Murshidabad and Bardhaman were present in theatre village Tepantar, Bardhaman. The workshop began with Baul songs that very well represented the diversity and style of rendition that exists among different districts. The songs were part of a journey of the Bauls and their songs through different period and places presented by founder director of Contact Base Amitava Bhattacharya. He also mentioned how the songs, melodies and singing styles gradually became part of cultural sphere of Bengal. Later the research team sat with the smaller group of artists to discussed in detail about their market, segments of audience, impact of digital platforms and challenges that they face.
A senior Baul performing during the workshop
Artists' group sharing about their traditional music
Workshop facilitates close interaction with the artists
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.
