Performing Arts of Rajasthan Lokrang

The book commemorates the fiftieth year of the formation of Rajasthan and is dedicated to the known and unknown musicians of the State.

It is a collection of twenty seven articles out of which twenty three already published in Lok-Rang souvenirs, printed at the time of Annual National Cultural Festival also entitled Lok-Rang, which have been organised by Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur since 1994, every year. Four articles are new, especially written for this volume all articles are written by specialists in their areas - Kumal Kothari, the person who introduced folk music of Rajasthan all over has written on Langas- the traditional folk singers of Western Rajasthan; Ranbir Sinh, an eminent theatre person has contributed on folk theatre of the State and Narayan Singh Sandu, who has been associated with the collection of musical instruments for about four decades has given his thoughts. Similarly Vijay Verma has written about music of Eastern Rajasthan and about dance of Southern part of the State, while Laxmi Kumari Chundawat comes out with her stock of Rajwari geet. It also includes sociological study of the performers as they lived in the past.

There is no doubt that performing arts of Rajasthan are well known at the national and international level, yet a written record like this will give further opportunities for improvement and will also provide a reference to the different art forms.

Dr. (Mrs.) Chandramani Singh, is a well known art historian and museologist. M.A. Ph.D. of Banaras Hindu University, Dr. Singh studied Museology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.

She worked in Bharat Kala Bhavan, BHU, Varanasi, M.S.Man Singh II Museum, City Palace, Jaipur, and Jaipur. At present Director (Doc.) of Jawahar Kala Kendra, Dr. Singh has been associated with a no. of Cultural and Educational Foundations and Institutions.

She has authored several works on painting, textile, folklore and folk songs.

It is indeed a matter of great pride and privilege for me to introduce this volume on performing arts of Rajasthan (folk) a first of its kind.

It is a collection of select articles published in Lok Rang souvenir printed at the time of Annual National Cultural Festival also entitled Lok Rang, which have been organised by Jawahar Kale Kendra since 1994, every year.

The festival projects a wide variety of folk performing arts like group dances, instrumental and vocal music, and folk theatre from all over the cottony, from Nagaland in the East to Gujarat in the west and Kashmir in the North to Tamilnadu in the South. The Kendra makes audio-video recording of all the performances and edits and preserves them for future reference. A souvenir was also published on these occasions, with articles written on various aspects of folk performing arts of Rajasthan. These souvenirs became extremely popular and have been in constant demand. Hence, it was decided to publish them in a book form so that they will be available to scholars and general readers as well. Written by scholars of Rajasthan, who are closely associated with these forms either as performers or as patrons, these articles provide intimate knowledge of the subject.

Them is no doubt that performing arts of Rajasthan are well known at the national and international level, yet a written record like this will give further opportunities for improvement and will also provide a reference to the different art forms.

I am sure that the readers will enjoy this work and find it highly informative.