Dashkathiya: A basic form of folk dance in Ganjam district

Dashkathiya is a basic form of folk dance in Ganjam district, Orissa. Though it is found in every corner of the state but Ganjam has got a unique position in terms of delivering particular rhymes, verses and poems. Being a modulated form of Odia literature Dashkathiya attracts various groups of people both educated and uneducated mass.

Dashkathiya is an open stage performance where two performers are needed. There are two ‘Gayak’ who narrate the story.  While one sings the other ‘Palia’ follows the unsung parts of Gayak’s rhymes. The main instrument of this performance is known as ‘Ramtali’ and ‘Dashkathiya’. The story of any mythology is presented in the form of verses.

The way of presentation of the form is very important. Since, only two artists are required to perform the show, they need to be very much attractive to draw the attention of viewers.

Moving to the next step the artists must have a true knowledge of mythological takes and of literature as well. Ornamentation of words with proper accent forms another important feature of Dashkathiya. Dance forms and acting comes with an attractive dialect that has the capability to swap the attention of audience.

The performances of Dashkathiya need to read the exact situation and condition of a story, thereby developing the stanzas according. It is always useful to understand the language, accent and rhymes. The ‘Palias’ need to create the environment of humours and joy many a times.

Various forms of human emotions are designed in the dance form with the use of ‘tripaata’, ‘aathatali’, ‘ekathali’ and ‘jhulathala. Mostly the verses are composed in the format of fourteen separate alphabets in a particular line.

Dashkathiya though can be compared with other forms of regional folk dances yet, it has its own position in the hearts of Ganjam people.

Source: Orissa Diary  

Ganjam farmers upbeat as Green Revolution in East India includes them



Farming in Ganjam District



An occasion to cheer up for the farmers of Ganjam as the district got selected for the scheme of Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI) for the welfare of the farmers in particular and agriculture in general. Under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, Union Government has allocated additional Rs 400 crore in the previous year budget for extending green revolution to the eastern region of the country comprising Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern UP, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and West Bengal. Rs 62.62 crore has been allocated in the budget for Odisha to give support to its agricultural sector in the current plan.

Green revolution envisages adoption of new seed varieties, farm machines, nutrients, pesticides and knowledge-based intervention as developed for different agro climatic zones. The BGREI will create conducive atmosphere for agriculture and the farmers of the region towards sustainable development.

Out of 30 districts, 15 districts are selected in this plan, including Ganjam. After surveys conducted by the Agricultural Department, the six blocks in the district include Khallikote, Jagannath Prasad, Kukudakhandi, Digapahandi, Chatrapur and Sheragada wic will be covered under the scheme. Apart from these blocks, five clusters will be formed according to the guideline. Then a monitoring team will be formed under the presidentship of Deputy Director of Agriculture Department.

For monitoring, NABARD is appointed by the Central Government, which will check the work and also inspect if there is violation of guideline of BGREI. The NGOs, which are experienced in the agriculture sector, will be appointed to carry out the job successful, sources said.

The sole aim of the BGREI is to increase crop productivity by intensive cultivation and food safety through recommended agriculture technologies and package of practices. Government has given the charge to inspect the status of agriculture, condition of the farmers on a regular basis. Also it will take care of the problems loan to farmers, opening of bank account and use of technology in the field of agriculture of the zone.

Government also has directed to the local banks to take care of the problems of their region regarding agriculture in the zone of the BGREI. Ganjam is not sound in the field of agriculture, so it needs a proper care in agricultural technology for cultivation and food safety. The Green Revolution in eastern India would bring the cheer in the face of the farmers of the district, hoped the farmer bodies of the district.

Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZMP) not beneficial for fishermen: NFF

Chairperson of National Fishworkers' Forum Matanhy Saldanha inaugurating a processing and procurement centre of Samudram during his visit to Ganjam district .

BERHAMPUR: The much-publicised World Bank-sponsored Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZMP), aimed at providing alternative livelihood to traditional marine fishermen, would no way benefit the fisherman community, said National Fishworkers' Forum (NFF) president Matanhy Saldanha. During his visit to Orissa, Mr. Saldanha also evaluated the practical efficacy of the ICZMP. In Ganjam district, he inaugurated procurement and processing unit of marine produce of Samudram, a women's organisation of fisherwomen at Bandar.

He alleged that the ICZMP initiatives were nothing but an effort to detach marine fishermen from their traditional livelihood and in the long run to remove them from the coastal area. He said this ICZMP had been prepared without any consultation with the fishermen community.

“A project like ICZMP, which is chalked out by the persons who have little knowledge about ground realities is surely aimed at something else other than the benefit of the proclaimed beneficiaries,” he said. He cited the example of promotion of dry fish production and marketing through ICZMP among the families living near Rushikulya rookery in Ganjam district.

“When fishing is banned in this area for more than six months in a year, the planners did not take into account how these fisherfolk would get ample fish for the project and it hints at lack of relation of the project with ground realities,” he said. The ICZMP programme only stresses on providing support and training for production of dry fish but provides no scope for its proper marketing although similar project by State Fisheries Department has failed in the past due to marketing failure, the NFF leader said.

Firewood

He said the NFF was continuing to demand that the fishermen need to have right to fish and right to operate their traditional fishing boats in sea rather than proposals of alternative livelihood which was quite impractical in nature. As the planners of the project did not have direct link with the fishermen of the coast, they could not realise that one of the major means of sustenance for fishermen family was firewood.

The ICZMP planners could not think of growing vegetation on the coast which could be used as firewood by the fishermen families. It could have been a major boost to coastal environment and sustenance of fishermen, he said. He also cited an example where 15 fishermen families with more than 70 members had been attached to a single pond in the name of alternative livelihood, which according to him was quite impractical.

The ICZMP was nothing but the long-term implementation of ‘anti-fishermen' policies to promote industries and Special Economic Zones in the coastal belts, Mr. Saldanha said.

The NFF president said they had given detailed recommendations and feedback while the CRZ 2011 was being formulated. He alleged that most of their recommendations were ignored. It may be noted that the NFF has termed the new CRZ notification as mere eyewash and a ploy to rob traditional fishermen of land. The NFF decided to take up mass movement in Orissa against the subtle efforts to detach fishermen from their traditional livelihood and land, the NFF president said.

Dharmavatar' staged in the 3rd State-level Drama Festival in Berhampur

Photo: Lingaraj Panda 

 

Play of emotions: A scene from the play ‘Dharmavatar' is being enacted at the ongoing 3rd State-level Drama Festival in Berhampur on Saturday. —

BERHAMPUR: Young enthusiasts of amateur theatre in the city were wonder stuck when stalwarts of theatre movement in the State came together to enact ‘Dharmavatar' on stage on Saturday night as part of the State-level drama festival continuing in the city.

This play was enacted by ‘New Quest Repertory ', a troupe from Bhubaneswar. Main attraction of the play were its two main actors Choudhury Bikash Das and Kishor Khandual. Mr. Das is well known in Orissa for the mega serials directed by him. He has also delved into cine direction. Mr. Khandual is one of the major directors of professional ‘Opera' troupes in Orissa.

But love of stage had compelled both of these veterans to act under a young director Nilini Nihar Nayak, who also acted in the play.

Mr. Das said for every actor stage is the best place to learn. “I am always lured by the direct contact I get with the response of my audience which is not possible in electronic mediums,” he said. Mr. Das and Mr. Khandual also proved that docility was the mark of any great actor or director as they had not hesitated to work to the tunes of their young director. The play ‘Dharmavatar' has also experienced a long span of time since its publication about 25 years ago . It was written by playwright Bijay Mishra. It is a long play of over one hour 40 minutes duration with only five male actors on stage. The other actors on stage were from young generation like Bikash Kumar Pradhan and Niranjan Acharya. Yet even in this century the play and its adept presentation could bind the audience to their seats till the end.

The play took the audience to 1857 and the dichotomy in the minds of the son of a rebel sepoy who was not able to decide whether he should betray his motherland or his father. He was on his way to Delhi from Jhansi to hand over secret documents related to plans of sepoy mutiny to save his arrested father put on death row. On his way he comes across two eccentric retired persons who enact court scenes as entertainment.

He is forced to take part in this enactment. He as well as the audience were compelled to think about the relativity of every virtue and vice in this world through the taut metaphoric dialogues.

Source: The Hindu