Public Engagement Through Public Art
When humans came to existence, for human everything was new and humans began to struggle for his survival. Humans started to live near water resources (like rivers, canal) to bring easiness in his life because of human survival was first priority. They developed their specific way of living, struggling techniques (hunting), specific traditions and culture which leads them towards a civilization with time. With passage of time human developed their culture around their circle and they began to work on their civilized behavior. They started work on their social & physical needs, they felt to develop culture of living so they work on their houses and developed mud then cemented houses, they felt to develop their drainage system so they developed underground drainage system thousands of years ago. Human began to think how to convey their message to other people so they worked on drawing humans and animals in symbolic ways but it was not best method to convey perfect message so to make the communication best, human choose a language system which brought a mind-blowing change in their living but they still keep on practicing drawing & painting to express their message and certain culture. Those societies developed in civilized way with their specific traditions & culture and became civilization, till we recognize them with their work of art and way of living.
Indus valley civilization is one of oldest civilizations of the world which developed near Indus River (Now Pakistan and India). When a civilization develops, it develops due to many influential input & received output reasons. Tradition and culture have key point to influence other people, development in culture, education, living and resources develops the whole civilization. Culture is important key, it is like a language which develops after hundreds of years influenced by different people, activity, their way of performance for each task and their way of entertainment. There are many other reasons and subject matter which play key role for a culture, culture is like sub of all (addition of all).
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In Ain-i-akbari (book administration of great king Akbar) which describes about the use of Dhol in orchestra of King Akbar the Great (a sub-continent king) Schreffler, Gibb 'Dhol King of the Punjabi Instruments. Sub-continent (Pakistan & India) have rich culture especially Punjabi culture have its significance place in the world for their charming way of lifestyle, dressing & events. The world PUNJAB comes from two words PUNJ (five) and AAB is Urdu word (water) which means a place of five rivers. Due to fully living resources, humans started to live around it thousands of years before and they developed their own specific traditions and culture & named as Punjab. People who live there are said Punjabi. Punjab is divided into two different areas/ parts after Pakistan and India partition in 1947 and now most of Punjab area is in Pakistan rest is in India (some of which is merged with Haryana District). Despite of having clashes and border between these two countries Punjabi culture is still same. Punjabi shalwar kameez, pagri (a piece of cloth which is weared on the head as respectable person), Huqa (it works like tobacco cigarette but physical different), bhangra (group of people dance In specific culture Punjab), Mela (Fair, a event of entertainment or religious event), Dhool & many other cultural activities.
Dhol is used in sub-continent since Indus velley civilization 'Music to the years: Musical instruments from the Indus Valley Civilisation' Hindustan times & Schreffler, Gibb says in his book that the dhol was probably introduced to india via Persian drum type, dhol(duhul) (Thakur 1996: Nabha'Dhol King of the Punjabi Instruments'. Dhol is an instrument like musical drum is made up of hollow round shape (Sheesham or mango tree) and its sides are covered with leather with specific fitting according to the required voice and its beaten through sticks made up of mango, sheesham or bamboo tree. Dhol have its different shapes and sizes according to the required needs. It gives sound when it is beaten by its sides through bamboo sticks & Dhol player adjust its sound according to need.
Primarly Dhol was used for conveying message, in simple it was primarly source of messenger in past. Use of dhool can be seen in latest movie Bahuballi 2(Bollywood) movie produced by S.S.RAJAMOULI in 2017 where a beat a drum to gather people around him after that he convey message of king. In past it was used to get attention of people towards it after that message or performance was being done.
Dhol is directly connected to music, public festivals, religious festivals, wedding ceremonies, tournaments, even its still used for the publicity of political parties at some area especially villages around Division Faisalabad ( Division of Punjab Pakistan).Dhol has vital role in classical music of Pakistan and still, it is used by many singers. Recently Dhol is used at COKE STUDIO and Arif Lohar (Pakistani singer) use Dhol in his songs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJWKjsTKrhI) for Bollywood Punjabi movie Jatt James Bond. Dhol has rich and high roots in Lollywood (Pakistani movies) Punjabi movies, 90 percent classical Pakistani Punjabi movies has music of dhol in songs or background music. Nusrat Fateh Ali khan used Dhol music in his qawalli,s, which shows that Dhol has been vital and significance symbol of art in Pakistani Punjabi culture.
Gullu (Dhol Player since more than 20 years) tells about his feeling that “ It gives passion to me and to the people , attracts the audience to know what’s going to be “ . He has attended many public events and ceremonies, he says that I tried my best to get attentions of people when I play Dhol. Its seen that some professional Dhol player have such skill that they make its rhythm with the songs of Bollywood or lollywood to engage more and more others in Dhol music, in return audience gives tribute to him in shape of Money. At some places Dhol plays conflicted role like sound or music is considered Haram/Banned in islam , so when A Dhol player ,perform his performance in Mela or AURS then some people argu that it,s not islam because Islam do not allow any kind of music, as result Dhol player receives negative comments in reply instead of tribute to him, some of them raise questions on administration.
We are passing through a process of evolution, its not just evolution of life but also about those things which are attached with us in our daily routine life. Now a days DHOL is crafted by different engraving and flower decorated design having bright colors to give a colorful look to audience. In villages of Punjab (Pakistan) DHOL is used for religious purpose for example its used in ramzan at sheri time to awake people for Fast (Roza in urdu, a religious activity) and at the end of month Dhol player or Dhol wala collects his reward by going door by door f every house. There were several activities where there was a vital role of DHOL but now modern technology has changed the whole scenario. In past at every event it was compulsory for DHOL player to come , gather and entertain people with beats of DHOL and his look especially his colorful shalwar kameez, Khussa ( cultural shoe used in Punjab) and pagri to every event whether its wedding ceremony, music ceremony or any other public event.
But the flourishing technology and changing taste of people listening have dominated over traditional DHOL performing art. It is performing art it convey message to people and invite people to feel curious about that what is going on. In this modern era lcd, dvd, mobile apps and easily approach to global media ( through internet) have dominated. Modern technology have designed such platforms from where everyone can get songs, videos, and voices of any types which he/ she needed for or required to listen or view. Now people of Punjab (Pakistan) are much influenced by Bollywood movies and their songs so on public events people search song or music on internet and play it on speakers for their required needs, as result business/shops of such social DHOL players have gone shut down. Now in religious events/ Mela DHOL and DHOL player have its importance, but with passage of time NAAT,S which are played in religious mehfils of Punjab (pakistan) is turning towards digital media and DHOL is losing its importance physically but not technically.
My Argument
Art is a magical conversation between art practioneer and his/her audience (viewer/listener). DHOL performing art is way of conveying message to people/audience since thousands of years ago. DHOL art is performing art where a DHOL player beat his instrument to entertain or convey his message to the audience. Punjabi culture is very rich culture where DHOL art has significant place in Punjabi oldest culture. Question is that why DHOL art is losing its significance in society? What are the reasons that people do not encourage DHOL art? My argument about this question is that we are all going through process of evolution even no one from us can stop process of evolution. Now technology has been so flourished that it has attacked directly or indirectly on culture of every civilization/society. Invention makes life easier, human invent something new for beneficiaries of human. Musically instruments have invented, when songs techniques were changing its style according to needs of the society,No DHOL player works on advancement on his technique according to needs. Due to advancement of music in form of COKE STUDIO really worked for enhancement of cultural music and symbols.
I argue that with passage of time people of our society did not pay special attention towards DHOL art/ Music and those who were really professional DHOL player, they left their occupation and untrained professionals entered into the society, which is one of important reason of decline. Now I am working as craft designer in social welfare and bait ul maal department Faisalabad (Punjab Pakistan), there are more than 4000 NGO,S are registered in Faisalabad district under this department which are working for welfare of society in disciplined way. I recently observed that during site visit in nearby villages of tehsil jaranwala (Punjab Pakistan) , awareness campaign of dengue was announced by help of DHOL. DHOL player used to go in every chowk/ corner of village, played his instrument DHOL and conveyed message about dengue. It gathered many of people then I came to know that although modernism has overcome on cultural values but classical/ cultural phenomenon has its significance and uniqueness still. Those people who do not pay attention because of several reasons, recently I interviewed many people, colleagues and friends, I asked from them that Why people do not pay attention to the enhancement of DHOL art? Most of them gave same answer that “ We do not have time” ,its means technology has made human life so easy and approachable/accessible that every person walks with having world (cell phone/ internet) in their hands, they do not need to go somewhere specially ( they listen everything they want through internet), they do not need DHOL instrument physically.
DHOL art is is a cultural thumb of public activities but now due to advancement of technology and not for bringing change in their playing style & unprofessional DHOL players cause main reason of decline, otherwise in northern Punjab of Pakistan its still heartbeat of several public events either political, religious or entertainment event. Whether it’s are of technology , when we will not work on its advancement with passage of time, that Art will go down, that nation will be haunted by others. Art and tradition makes identity of a living Nation.
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