Cultural (Re)construction of Dhak: Situating Mohila Dhakis of West Bengal, India
Sonam ROY, Department of Geography, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, India
The existence of the dhak (drum) coincides with the origin of Durga Pujo, the most popular festival among the Bengali Hindus, where they worship the Goddess Durga during the month of Aswin. The ‘dhakis’ are an inseparable part of pujo, wherein the beat of dhak adds to the festive aura. It is through the mystic and rhythmic beats of the dhak the arrival of Maa Durga is announced in full swing. Historically in the Indian state of West Bengal, playing the dhak (drum) has always been a male affair, subsequently legitimizing the right to play dhak, exclusive to men. Further implying dhak as a ‘male cultural property’ (Doubleday 2008), this insinuation is a result of “societal forces, parental influences, and media” (Conway 2000). Even though the male dominance over dhak has remained a robust phenomenon, the mohila dhaki continues to create a space for negotiation, thereby invading the historic-cultural space of the male profession. By adopting an ethnographic approach, the researcher immerses herself in the lifeworlds of women dhakis, enabling the researcher to observe and interrogate the everyday geographies of women dhakis and their engagement with dhak closely. The technique of participant observation and unstructured interviews were employed to understand the interaction of women dhakis in a male-dominated space. Henceforth, the paper argues that mohila dhakis, through their association with dhak, are altering the sphere of ‘male cultural property' and, in turn (re)constructing the cultural context of dhak. The ethnographic study also highlights the role of media in the struggle of women dhaki in getting acceptance in society. Broadly, the study attempts to reflect a local feminist movement from South Asia by deliberating on the cultural (re)construction of dhak by mohila dhakis.
Mots clés : Gender|Dhak|Male Cultural Property|Contestation|Media
A104373SR