Folk arts need to incorporate contemporary thought, says scholar

Writer R.K. Hudgi emphasizes the importance of updating folk art forms to survive in contemporary society.

Referring to how Yakshagana got updated in its form and content to remain relevant, writer R.K. Hudgi has said that folk art forms must develop by incorporating contemporary thought to survive.

He also stressed the importance of the economic stability of folk artists for the survival of folk-art forms.

“The survival of folk tradition is largely dependent on the economic conditions of the performing people and communities. If artists have economic stability, folk art will survive. You cannot force the oppressed communities to continue their tradition of beating drums in village ceremonies. You cannot force the children of a cobbler to continue their family occupation. They have all the rights to choose their career,” he said.

“The folk-art forms need to be updated and remain relevant by incorporating contemporary thought. The sad thing is that folk artists don’t get the same recognition and treatment that other classical and modern artists do,” he said in his keynote address that he delivered at the inaugural session of a seminar on Kalyana Karnataka’s Bayalata tradition at Gulbarga University in Kalaburagi recently.

The event was organised jointly by the Karnataka Bayalata Academy, the Kannada Department of Gulbarga University, the Kannada Department of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar College of Arts and Commerce, PG Centre Kalaburagi.

Gulbarga University Vice-Chancellor Dayanand Agsar, who inaugurated the seminar, recalled his association with the Bayalata form of performing art since his childhood as his father was a Bayalata teacher.

“The Bayalata tradition is rich in Kalyana Karnataka. My father was a Bayalata teacher and I too have performed in many Bayalatas in my childhood. I am planning to arrange a Bayalata performance for members of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) team that will visit the university for quality assessment. Performing folk art is rich among downtrodden communities. However, the art is on the verge of extinction owing to regressive practices such as untouchability,” Prof. Agsar said.