Bhiklya Ladkya Dhinda hailing from the Vanvasi community is one of the Padma Shri awardees this year. He has kept the tradition of playing the Tarpa for more than seven decades.

Bhiklya Ladkya Dhinda keeps tradition alive

The Modi government has continued its tradition of recognizing unsung heroes – commoners whose extraordinary contributions get the deserved appreciation. Bhiklya Ladkya Dhinda is one such unsung hero who has received the accolade for keeping the 400-year-old heritage alive for close to 8 decades. This is not just a pat on the back for Bhiklya but an achievement for Maharashtra’s rich tribal art and culture.

He hails from Walvanda village in Maharashtra’s Jawhar Taluka that falls in the Palghar District. His family has a tradition of playing Tarpa for around 150 years. He is the third generation of Tarpa player in his family. His grandfather Navsu Dhaklya Dhinda and father Ladkya Dhaklya Dhinda were also Tarpa players. Bhiklya learnt the art from his father and grandfather.

Since he was 10 years, he has been playing the Tarpa. He would play the instrument when he took his cattle and other farm animals to graze. He has received several awards including Tarpa Shiromani, Sankrutik Senani, and Sangeet Natak Academy award.

Expressing his happiness and gratitude, Bhiklya Dhinda told ANI that he was very happy the Padma Shri award had been announced for Tarpa music. He said the award had brought honour to the tribal community, Jawhar tehsil, and Palghar district. Calling Tarpa a gift of tribal culture, he added that receiving the Padma Shri was a great honour in his life and expressed his gratitude to the government. Palghar’s Vanvasi community celebrated the announcement of Bhiklya’s Padma Shri.

Bhiklya Ladkya Dhinda deserves this honour because not only is he one of the finest exponents of Tarpa and the only living legend to play the instrument. He is among the few who have preserved the core elements of Warli Tribes’ rituals. In his media interview, he said that he had preserved his culture and worshipped Bhagwan through his music, adding that he had been playing the Tarpa since the age of 10 as part of a 400-year-old family tradition. He believed that this was why Bhagwan had blessed him with the award.

Furthermore, he added that although they were poor, their culture was their true wealth. He shared that his family had 22 members and that he had no other occupation except making Tarpa instruments and farming on a small scale being their only means of livelihood.

What is Tarpa?

Tarpa is an indigenous wind instrument made of bamboo and gour. This unique instrument is usually around five-feet tall but can be as huge as ten-feet. The instrument is central to Vanvasi rituals and ceremonies.

Speaking of Tarpa’s greatness, Bhiklya Dhinda opined that it is the finest instrument of Maharashtra’s Vanvasi communities. He also added that he got satisfaction and internal happiness by playing the Tarpa. It is truly appreciable Bhiklya chose to preserve the art of Tarpa rather than giving it up for a job with better income prospects. His performances have mesmerized audiences across many parts of Maharashtra, earning him recognition as a leading patron of tribal art. It is our duty to celebrate such unsung heroes.

It is good that we are moving beyond the usual glamourous individuals to recognize those who are making a real difference on the ground and preserving ancient traditions even at the cost of a luxurious life. Kudos to PM Modi’s government for recognizing the common citizens working at the grass-roots level.

(Featured Image Source: News18 Marathi)