The Bhopa gypsies are traditionally a nomadic tribe and hail from north-west India, and in particular from Rajasthan. Throughout their very long history, the gypsies of Rajasthan have travelled along the silk road and settled far afield. Many of the Romany gypsies of Europe have descendant blood lines that hark back to India and the gypsy castes. The Bhopa influence upon the Hindu population has been spiritual and musical. The Bhopa couple sing the legends of their culture and the God stories whilst the male of the singing couple, plays the ancient ravanhatha stinged instrument. This wood and string instrument has a unique sound and is sometimes called ‘the sympathetic strings’. The ravanhatha is the distant precursor to the modern-day violin. The couple would sing in front of a scroll called a phad and usually are called upon in times of sickness and misfortune. However, due to lockdowns caused by coronavirus in India, gatherings and large events have been cancelled for a long time. People were staying at home but without the aid and culturally significant performances of these oral storytellers to ease the horrific events, to calm people during mourning periods and economic hardship, and the Bhopa have been forced to find other means of feeding their families. The concern is that the Bhopa’s place, with the grieving and sick, will be usurped entirely by the re-contexualisation of this process of grief and gathering, as the pandemic changes almost everything of how things ‘used to’ be done. The News reports during the second wave of the virus in India illustrated the immense pressure and demand for cremations and burials during this time.
The Bhopa are generally not seen as marketable or colourful in the same way as the Kavelia dancing gypsies with their incredible skill and costumes, moves and balance.
There are allegedly roughly 650 Bhopa left in Rajasthan. This figure would seem to indicate a culture and peoples in decline and possibly in the mere twilight of their existence. It has been the Bhopa villages’ aim to raise awareness and appreciation of the Bhopa way of life. The aim is to bring the Bhopa music and culture to the fore with commercial events at some point. However, until the pandemic is over, the Bhopa are not able to access tech for the digital way the world has changed over the last decade and even more so with the pandemic. The Bhopa are without resources or money to advertise and reimagine access to their art and music within this digital world. Without access and education, the tribe ply their trade at tourist points and big events. Without this occurring, as has been the case lately, the Bhopa’s way of life is under threat. If any musicians or event organisers wish to get in touch with ideas and/or resources to help the Bhopa village aid the transition from nomad to digital entrepreneur for these ancient tribespeople, we would be most interested to hear from you. The gig-economy has been shattered worldwide, yet it is hoped that these folk artists will endure. To help maximise their chance of surviving culturally and musically. Please email bhopavillage@yahoo.com to get in touch and/or donate via our PayPal at the same email address. With thanks.
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