hello let me begin with a story a story of a community of painters and
of a community of painters and
of a community of painters and storytellers who create Scrolls
storytellers who create Scrolls
storytellers who create Scrolls depicting mythological stories and
depicting mythological stories and
depicting mythological stories and heroic legends walking from village to
heroic legends walking from village to
heroic legends walking from village to village they would sing out their
village they would sing out their
village they would sing out their stories as they unfolded they’re painted
stories as they unfolded they’re painted
stories as they unfolded they’re painted Scrolls painted with vegetable dyes
Scrolls painted with vegetable dyes
Scrolls painted with vegetable dyes pointing out specific images asking
pointing out specific images asking
pointing out specific images asking their audiences to focus on the images
their audiences to focus on the images
their audiences to focus on the images as they listen to the words that they’re
as they listen to the words that they’re
as they listen to the words that they’re saying in return their village audiences
saying in return their village audiences
saying in return their village audiences would offer them a meal perhaps clothes
would offer them a meal perhaps clothes
would offer them a meal perhaps clothes a place to stay that night and they
a place to stay that night and they
a place to stay that night and they would be given vegetables and rice to
would be given vegetables and rice to
would be given vegetables and rice to carry back home but as new technologies
carry back home but as new technologies
carry back home but as new technologies of entertainment took over as their
of entertainment took over as their
of entertainment took over as their audiences got hooked on to new stories
audiences got hooked on to new stories
audiences got hooked on to new stories that unfolded on larger screens at the
that unfolded on larger screens at the
that unfolded on larger screens at the cinemas or on smaller screens on
cinemas or on smaller screens on
cinemas or on smaller screens on television
television
television the painter storytellers found it hard
the painter storytellers found it hard
the painter storytellers found it hard to make ends meet
to make ends meet
to make ends meet nobody wanted their stories anymore but
nobody wanted their stories anymore but
nobody wanted their stories anymore but they realized soon that the very
they realized soon that the very
they realized soon that the very machines that churned out new stories
machines that churned out new stories
machines that churned out new stories and took away their audiences were also
and took away their audiences were also
and took away their audiences were also chattering with stories that were
chattering with stories that were
chattering with stories that were waiting to be told in a different mode
waiting to be told in a different mode
waiting to be told in a different mode News became the source of their new
News became the source of their new
News became the source of their new compositions in 2001 when the 11
compositions in 2001 when the 11
compositions in 2001 when the 11 September attacks happened it caught
September attacks happened it caught
September attacks happened it caught their attention in the hands of the
their attention in the hands of the
their attention in the hands of the petite attackers of Naya ping la a
petite attackers of Naya ping la a
petite attackers of Naya ping la a village in Medina poor in West Bengal
village in Medina poor in West Bengal
village in Medina poor in West Bengal this event became a disaster scroll
this event became a disaster scroll
this event became a disaster scroll about the contemporary world the scroll
about the contemporary world the scroll
about the contemporary world the scroll showed the Twin Towers
showed the Twin Towers
showed the Twin Towers I don’t think this is a laser pointer
I don’t think this is a laser pointer
I don’t think this is a laser pointer but you can see the twin towers coming
but you can see the twin towers coming
but you can see the twin towers coming down people escaping falling to their
down people escaping falling to their
down people escaping falling to their death George Bush meeting senators the
death George Bush meeting senators the
death George Bush meeting senators the war in Afghanistan using the traditional
war in Afghanistan using the traditional
war in Afghanistan using the traditional mode of amethyst eyes universe
mode of amethyst eyes universe
mode of amethyst eyes universe the party trekkers engaged with the
the party trekkers engaged with the
the party trekkers engaged with the contemporary event seeing the loss of
contemporary event seeing the loss of
contemporary event seeing the loss of lives as human tragedy as I interviewed
lives as human tragedy as I interviewed
lives as human tragedy as I interviewed them about what they wanted to depict in
them about what they wanted to depict in
them about what they wanted to depict in the scroll I was told by Khadija trucker
the scroll I was told by Khadija trucker
the scroll I was told by Khadija trucker who’s the husband of Radha Chitra car
who’s the husband of Radha Chitra car
who’s the husband of Radha Chitra car who you see here but even if they had
who you see here but even if they had
who you see here but even if they had not witnessed the stunning event they
not witnessed the stunning event they
not witnessed the stunning event they are masters at depicting human tragedy
are masters at depicting human tragedy
are masters at depicting human tragedy because it is what they have deep
because it is what they have deep
because it is what they have deep knowledge of because tragedy hounds
knowledge of because tragedy hounds
knowledge of because tragedy hounds their lives at every step in my life
their lives at every step in my life
their lives at every step in my life story interviews with them they revealed
story interviews with them they revealed
story interviews with them they revealed that their lives are shaped by small
that their lives are shaped by small
that their lives are shaped by small disasters that happen with predictable
disasters that happen with predictable
disasters that happen with predictable regularity floods that forced them to
regularity floods that forced them to
regularity floods that forced them to rebuild their homes almost every other
rebuild their homes almost every other
rebuild their homes almost every other year illnesses to which they lose family
year illnesses to which they lose family
year illnesses to which they lose family members in short disasters that make
members in short disasters that make
members in short disasters that make them lose their shelter the loved ones
them lose their shelter the loved ones
them lose their shelter the loved ones and they hard-earned money the memory of
and they hard-earned money the memory of
and they hard-earned money the memory of suffering of not earning enough to
suffering of not earning enough to
suffering of not earning enough to overcome disasters and their
overcome disasters and their
overcome disasters and their understanding of the tragedy of human
understanding of the tragedy of human
understanding of the tragedy of human life enables them to enter other worlds
life enables them to enter other worlds
life enables them to enter other worlds of suffering Radha’s song here speaks
of suffering Radha’s song here speaks
of suffering Radha’s song here speaks about the injustice of it all
see ya Joe burger – nah oh boy yeah me
see ya Joe burger – nah oh boy yeah me dick I need beam on Hanah agile go – nah
dick I need beam on Hanah agile go – nah
dick I need beam on Hanah agile go – nah she adorable her toner she goes on –
she adorable her toner she goes on –
she adorable her toner she goes on – I’ll translate that for you she’s saying
I’ll translate that for you she’s saying
I’ll translate that for you she’s saying in American land that plane crash was
in American land that plane crash was
in American land that plane crash was really very stunning the house that had
really very stunning the house that had
really very stunning the house that had hundred stories fell down and then she
hundred stories fell down and then she
hundred stories fell down and then she goes on to say why did you do this Laden
goes on to say why did you do this Laden
goes on to say why did you do this Laden why did so many people lose their lives
why did so many people lose their lives
why did so many people lose their lives what crime had they committed why did
what crime had they committed why did
what crime had they committed why did you kill thousands of people the 9/11 or
you kill thousands of people the 9/11 or
you kill thousands of people the 9/11 or the Laden Pot is the pottage it records
the Laden Pot is the pottage it records
the Laden Pot is the pottage it records engagement with the historical event and
engagement with the historical event and
engagement with the historical event and it happens at two levels at one level
it happens at two levels at one level
it happens at two levels at one level it’s the actual event and on the other
it’s the actual event and on the other
it’s the actual event and on the other it’s at the level of human emotions and
it’s at the level of human emotions and
it’s at the level of human emotions and intimacy’s the event is recounted in a
intimacy’s the event is recounted in a
intimacy’s the event is recounted in a mythical mode the two aircrafts you’ll
mythical mode the two aircrafts you’ll
mythical mode the two aircrafts you’ll notice are painted with faces of demons
notice are painted with faces of demons
notice are painted with faces of demons they’re more emotional engagement
they’re more emotional engagement
they’re more emotional engagement however uses their own memories of
however uses their own memories of
however uses their own memories of suffering to relate to the historical
suffering to relate to the historical
suffering to relate to the historical loss of lives in America these are lives
loss of lives in America these are lives
loss of lives in America these are lives with whom this community could not
with whom this community could not
with whom this community could not possibly have had any connection and yet
possibly have had any connection and yet
possibly have had any connection and yet they have used their imagination to
they have used their imagination to
they have used their imagination to enter a different tragic universe is
enter a different tragic universe is
enter a different tragic universe is their imagination historical could we
their imagination historical could we
their imagination historical could we look at them as interpreters of
look at them as interpreters of
look at them as interpreters of historical events we in India have never
historical events we in India have never
historical events we in India have never been trained to look at what are called
been trained to look at what are called
been trained to look at what are called the folk traditions as being resources
the folk traditions as being resources
the folk traditions as being resources for understanding past events we are
for understanding past events we are
for understanding past events we are still figuring out where do these
still figuring out where do these
still figuring out where do these traditions belong do they belong to
traditions belong do they belong to
traditions belong do they belong to culture to history to art to literature
culture to history to art to literature
culture to history to art to literature but when and why did we begin to
but when and why did we begin to
but when and why did we begin to pigeonhole resources as being relevant
pigeonhole resources as being relevant
pigeonhole resources as being relevant to one domain or another here is a map
to one domain or another here is a map
to one domain or another here is a map printed at the Edinburgh geographical
printed at the Edinburgh geographical
printed at the Edinburgh geographical since titute in the 1900s the
since titute in the 1900s the
since titute in the 1900s the territories in pink are the territories
territories in pink are the territories
territories in pink are the territories permanently administered by the
permanently administered by the
permanently administered by the government of British India you’ll
government of British India you’ll
government of British India you’ll notice that all the boundaries
notice that all the boundaries
notice that all the boundaries in red which denotes British India and
in red which denotes British India and
in red which denotes British India and the territories in yellow indicate the
the territories in yellow indicate the
the territories in yellow indicate the native state the map represents India in
native state the map represents India in
native state the map represents India in 1909 when the fourth Earl of Minto
1909 when the fourth Earl of Minto
1909 when the fourth Earl of Minto served as the 17th Viceroy and
served as the 17th Viceroy and
served as the 17th Viceroy and governor-general of India Lord Minto
governor-general of India Lord Minto
governor-general of India Lord Minto like other British administrators of his
like other British administrators of his
like other British administrators of his time suffered from what historians have
time suffered from what historians have
time suffered from what historians have called the illusion of permanence and he
called the illusion of permanence and he
called the illusion of permanence and he argued the Raj will not disappear in
argued the Raj will not disappear in
argued the Raj will not disappear in India as long as the British race
India as long as the British race
India as long as the British race remains what it is because we shall
remains what it is because we shall
remains what it is because we shall fight for the Raj as hard as we have
fight for the Raj as hard as we have
fight for the Raj as hard as we have ever fought if it comes to fighting and
ever fought if it comes to fighting and
ever fought if it comes to fighting and we shall win as we have always won
we shall win as we have always won
we shall win as we have always won unquote he was not the only one from the
unquote he was not the only one from the
unquote he was not the only one from the early 19th century onwards a certain
early 19th century onwards a certain
early 19th century onwards a certain view of India its people its history had
view of India its people its history had
view of India its people its history had been perpetuated by the British
been perpetuated by the British
been perpetuated by the British administrators for the historian and
administrators for the historian and
administrators for the historian and political theorist James mill the past
political theorist James mill the past
political theorist James mill the past had no relevance for shaping reform in
had no relevance for shaping reform in
had no relevance for shaping reform in India because no historical narrative
India because no historical narrative
India because no historical narrative could possibly be salvaged from India’s
could possibly be salvaged from India’s
could possibly be salvaged from India’s vast mythological and legendary material
vast mythological and legendary material
vast mythological and legendary material mill thought that the past did not shape
mill thought that the past did not shape
mill thought that the past did not shape cultural identity in fact India could be
cultural identity in fact India could be
cultural identity in fact India could be reformed on the basis of rationalist
reformed on the basis of rationalist
reformed on the basis of rationalist principles alone and it should be
principles alone and it should be
principles alone and it should be possible he had argued to replace its
possible he had argued to replace its
possible he had argued to replace its different codes with a single
different codes with a single
different codes with a single comprehensive law Mills history of
comprehensive law Mills history of
comprehensive law Mills history of British India and there’s a quote from
British India and there’s a quote from
British India and there’s a quote from his history of British India was read by
his history of British India was read by
his history of British India was read by every British administrator and
every British administrator and
every British administrator and unsurprisingly in the colonial period
unsurprisingly in the colonial period
unsurprisingly in the colonial period Indians was perceived as people without
Indians was perceived as people without
Indians was perceived as people without history Indians simply did not have a
history Indians simply did not have a
history Indians simply did not have a sense of history in the same way that
sense of history in the same way that
sense of history in the same way that Europeans had but these ideas also
Europeans had but these ideas also
Europeans had but these ideas also shaped how V as Indians began to study
shaped how V as Indians began to study
shaped how V as Indians began to study history along apprenticeship with
history along apprenticeship with
history along apprenticeship with European ways of understanding the past
European ways of understanding the past
European ways of understanding the past made us look at history as
made us look at history as
made us look at history as interpretation of evidence only from
interpretation of evidence only from
interpretation of evidence only from official archives alone as a result
official archives alone as a result
official archives alone as a result Indian history
Indian history
Indian history Enrico in Indian history written records
Enrico in Indian history written records
Enrico in Indian history written records were given precedence over oral sources
the textbooks I grew up with had stories
the textbooks I grew up with had stories of Indian freedom fighters and
of Indian freedom fighters and
of Indian freedom fighters and predictably ended with Nehru stressed
predictably ended with Nehru stressed
predictably ended with Nehru stressed with destiny speech after which we did
with destiny speech after which we did
with destiny speech after which we did civics stories of those who were
civics stories of those who were
civics stories of those who were represented in the official record who
represented in the official record who
represented in the official record who became powerful once we became
became powerful once we became
became powerful once we became independent were the only stories worthy
independent were the only stories worthy
independent were the only stories worthy of historical analysis and such
of historical analysis and such
of historical analysis and such textbooks left out and they still do a
textbooks left out and they still do a
textbooks left out and they still do a range of people who engaged with the
range of people who engaged with the
range of people who engaged with the past and interpreted it through songs
past and interpreted it through songs
past and interpreted it through songs performances and oral narratives here is
performances and oral narratives here is
performances and oral narratives here is a story from a village in India you will
a story from a village in India you will
a story from a village in India you will never find in a history textbook her
never find in a history textbook her
never find in a history textbook her Dholpur is in the northernmost part of
Dholpur is in the northernmost part of
Dholpur is in the northernmost part of Madhya Pradesh and the superior
Madhya Pradesh and the superior
Madhya Pradesh and the superior community that lives there sapidus as
community that lives there sapidus as
community that lives there sapidus as you know are the snake charmer community
you know are the snake charmer community
you know are the snake charmer community they claim at least when I went there
they claim at least when I went there
they claim at least when I went there they claimed to me that they knew
they claimed to me that they knew
they claimed to me that they knew nothing about snakes why did they say
nothing about snakes why did they say
nothing about snakes why did they say this is there a historical reason for
this is there a historical reason for
this is there a historical reason for this the Indian Wildlife Protection Act
this the Indian Wildlife Protection Act
this the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 out has outlawed snake charming
of 1972 out has outlawed snake charming
of 1972 out has outlawed snake charming so this community with its knowledge of
so this community with its knowledge of
so this community with its knowledge of snakes and poisons can no longer play
snakes and poisons can no longer play
snakes and poisons can no longer play the instruments and make their snakes
the instruments and make their snakes
the instruments and make their snakes way to the tune of the beam the pipe so
way to the tune of the beam the pipe so
way to the tune of the beam the pipe so they claim now to be performers a shift
they claim now to be performers a shift
they claim now to be performers a shift that has come about because of this act
that has come about because of this act
that has come about because of this act they earn their money by working on
they earn their money by working on
they earn their money by working on construction sites which is an uncertain
occupation but slowly as I begin to talk
occupation but slowly as I begin to talk to them and they begin to trust me a
to them and they begin to trust me a
to them and they begin to trust me a little they do bring out a snake as you
little they do bring out a snake as you
little they do bring out a snake as you can see and demonstrate their skills as
can see and demonstrate their skills as
can see and demonstrate their skills as we are about to leave a local NGO worker
we are about to leave a local NGO worker
we are about to leave a local NGO worker tells me how they cannot really live
tells me how they cannot really live
tells me how they cannot really live without snakes they are very very
without snakes they are very very
without snakes they are very very connected to this world and I come away
connected to this world and I come away
connected to this world and I come away thinking of the dimension of human
thinking of the dimension of human
thinking of the dimension of human and non-human communication that we must
and non-human communication that we must
and non-human communication that we must miss out when we turned their craft into
miss out when we turned their craft into
miss out when we turned their craft into a crime we have not attempted to
a crime we have not attempted to
a crime we have not attempted to understand their past their way of
understand their past their way of
understand their past their way of learning their training or their history
learning their training or their history
learning their training or their history and V in India have made inadequate use
and V in India have made inadequate use
and V in India have made inadequate use of their deep knowledge of snakes and
of their deep knowledge of snakes and
of their deep knowledge of snakes and poisons and perhaps it is this apathy
poisons and perhaps it is this apathy
poisons and perhaps it is this apathy that is ingrained in the history that
that is ingrained in the history that
that is ingrained in the history that looks only at certain kinds of documents
looks only at certain kinds of documents
looks only at certain kinds of documents and certain kinds of people and doesn’t
and certain kinds of people and doesn’t
and certain kinds of people and doesn’t look at the practitioners of oral
look at the practitioners of oral
look at the practitioners of oral traditions perhaps this is what Tagore
traditions perhaps this is what Tagore
traditions perhaps this is what Tagore had in mind I’m sorry when he said what
had in mind I’m sorry when he said what
had in mind I’m sorry when he said what passes for Indian history does not tell
passes for Indian history does not tell
passes for Indian history does not tell us anything about the people of India so
us anything about the people of India so
us anything about the people of India so in the reconstruction of a past in India
in the reconstruction of a past in India
in the reconstruction of a past in India we do not come across people like
Gangaram ji who you see here he is the
Gangaram ji who you see here he is the only surviving Pahadi Lee Chi artist in
only surviving Pahadi Lee Chi artist in
only surviving Pahadi Lee Chi artist in a village in Uttarakhand I had to cross
a village in Uttarakhand I had to cross
a village in Uttarakhand I had to cross about 2 Hills before I could reach his
about 2 Hills before I could reach his
about 2 Hills before I could reach his house he had learned his craft as a
house he had learned his craft as a
house he had learned his craft as a teenager with five tools and went on to
teenager with five tools and went on to
teenager with five tools and went on to build 150 tools and this is not an
build 150 tools and this is not an
build 150 tools and this is not an achievement that is celebrated in fact
achievement that is celebrated in fact
achievement that is celebrated in fact there has been a silence about the lives
there has been a silence about the lives
there has been a silence about the lives of ordinary people and lives of people
of ordinary people and lives of people
of ordinary people and lives of people like Gangaram G where beautifully
like Gangaram G where beautifully
like Gangaram G where beautifully crafted doors and windows idan many
crafted doors and windows idan many
crafted doors and windows idan many urban institutions and homes we do not
urban institutions and homes we do not
urban institutions and homes we do not once think about you know their past or
once think about you know their past or
once think about you know their past or their history or Ratatat recur whose
their history or Ratatat recur whose
their history or Ratatat recur whose song you heard whose petit etre you saw
song you heard whose petit etre you saw
song you heard whose petit etre you saw and her community whose paintings hang
and her community whose paintings hang
and her community whose paintings hang in museums are collected by collectors
in museums are collected by collectors
in museums are collected by collectors across the world b-boys perhaps to
across the world b-boys perhaps to
across the world b-boys perhaps to appreciate the richness of the color the
appreciate the richness of the color the
appreciate the richness of the color the figures and in the case of Gangaram G we
figures and in the case of Gangaram G we
figures and in the case of Gangaram G we paused to look at the intricacy of the
paused to look at the intricacy of the
paused to look at the intricacy of the carvings if you look at the pinecone his
carvings if you look at the pinecone his
carvings if you look at the pinecone his carved there but we rarely paused to
carved there but we rarely paused to
carved there but we rarely paused to contemplate their lives
contemplate their lives
contemplate their lives and their history if history has to
and their history if history has to
and their history if history has to transform the way we look at ourselves
transform the way we look at ourselves
transform the way we look at ourselves as a people we must move towards an
as a people we must move towards an
as a people we must move towards an understanding of a past that embraces
understanding of a past that embraces
understanding of a past that embraces the lives of everybody not just leaders
the lives of everybody not just leaders
the lives of everybody not just leaders whose examples have inspired us but the
whose examples have inspired us but the
whose examples have inspired us but the extraordinary lives of ordinary people
extraordinary lives of ordinary people
extraordinary lives of ordinary people but also the ordinary lives of ordinary
but also the ordinary lives of ordinary
but also the ordinary lives of ordinary people I’m saying that we need a
people I’m saying that we need a
people I’m saying that we need a paradigm shift in our approach to
paradigm shift in our approach to
paradigm shift in our approach to history to focus on ordinary people and
history to focus on ordinary people and
history to focus on ordinary people and their past and how that shapes our
their past and how that shapes our
their past and how that shapes our present for these voices remind us that
present for these voices remind us that
present for these voices remind us that India’s journey is not about singular
India’s journey is not about singular
India’s journey is not about singular journeys in leadership but collective
journeys in leadership but collective
journeys in leadership but collective ones not a faint echo of what the
ones not a faint echo of what the
ones not a faint echo of what the colonial regime told us history should
colonial regime told us history should
colonial regime told us history should be nor what political read leaders
be nor what political read leaders
be nor what political read leaders identify as history but a strong
identify as history but a strong
identify as history but a strong affirmation of our relationship to the
affirmation of our relationship to the
affirmation of our relationship to the past
past
past and the myriad representor predations
and the myriad representor predations
and the myriad representor predations ordinary people bring to it thank you
ordinary people bring to it thank you
ordinary people bring to it thank you very much
”
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