Assam: 200 folk artists reach out to voters to exercise their franchise

The district administration of Nalbari in Assam has engaged 200 folk artists to reach out to voters and motivate them to exercise their franchise. Deputy commissioner Bharat Bhushan Dev Choudhury pointed out that the drive has also evoked interest among the youngsters about the traditional art forms.

"We engaged folk groups from Chamata, Belsor, Gondhiya, Koihati and other places. "The scripts and lyrics were prepared accordingly to make the voters aware of their democratic right and the necessity to have a free and fair election," Devchoudhury informed.

The folk artists performed various art forms that include 'Putola Naach' (puppetry), 'Ojapali', 'Dhulia', 'Biya Naam', 'Aai Naam' and 'Maho Ho'. This initiative will also give a financial impetus to the poor and neglected artists, he said.

"I hail from lower Assam, which is very rich in folk culture. Unfortunately, many of the folk arts have lost their significance over the years. "When I became the DC early this year, I thought of doing something to revive the dying art forms and what could be a better option than using them during our election, the festival of democracy!" Dev Choudhury told PTI.

If contemporary issues can be promoted through these folk art forms in an innovative way, then the young generation will be attracted to experiment with these, he said. "After the drive was launched, we found that it is not fully correct to say that the present generation has rejected these art forms. The need is to present it in an attractive way.

"Thankfully, this drive has been successful in doing it," said Dev Choudhury, who is also the District Election Officer. Appreciating the district administration's move, puppetry artiste Ranjeet Misra said it has helped his team to reach out to more people.

"When we were contacted for this drive, we were thrilled as it was a very new concept. Our 12-member team toured the entire district and performed 60 puppetry shows," he said. Eminent theatre personality Sitanath Lahkar, who has written and directed two plays and one telefilm on the dying art form of 'Ojapali', lauded Devchoudhury's initiative and said it will go a long way in reviving the folk art forms.

"The need of the hour is more such active and wholehearted approach from the administration to revive our culture and heritage. These folk artists are our treasure, and over the years they have been neglected," he said. The Nalbari district has a total of 1.2 lakh voter families, comprising 5.6 lakh eligible voters, and 690 polling stations.

The voters of the district are spread across Mangaldoi, Gauhati and Barpeta Lok Sabha constituencies. While Mangaldoi is going for polling in the second phase on April 18, Gauhati and Barpeta will witness voting on April 23 during the third phase.

(With inputs from agencies.)