FOLK ARTS RAJASTHAN What does hope look like? A FAR REPORT - 2015 FOLK ARTS RAJASTHAN & LOK KALA SAGAR SANSTHAN New York-based Folk Arts Rajasthan (FAR) and India-based Lok Kala Sagar Sansthan (LKSS) are nonprofit organizations with a shared vision of prosperity and dignity for the Merasi and their Intangible Cultural Heritage. Through initiatives in education and cultural preservation, we strive to achieve social justice for the marginalized Merasi, known by caste as Manganiyar meaning beggar. LKSS in Jaisalmer, India Today, FAR and LKSS are nurturing a generation of ambitious and capable Merasi youth in the face of obstinate hierarchical norms. “One hand on the Pen, One hand on the Drum, Both hands on the Dream.” Jaisalmer Merasi in Mumbai, India THE JAISALMER MERASI Jaisalmer is located in Rajasthan in the Great Thar Desert of northwest India. Merasi families date back 38 generations in a district of 400 villages surrounding the small remote city, distinguished by its continuously inhabited medieval fort. LKSS MERASI SCHOOL FAR and its volunteers support literacy and scholarship initiatives which rally towards core academic competencies. Merasi School and Scholarship Students possess new strengths and exhibit remarkable selfconfidence. Today there is a stronger female presence in the student body than ever before. Collaborative English Bi-lingual beginner Poornima launches financial literacy FAR SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS Despite challenges, six scholarship girls have become a clear voice of their community and guides for the younger generation and village youth. Sitara and Kashmira have completed 10th class at St. Paul’s School and are now facing a move to a new school in Jaisalmer, if one will accept them. Two years ago, this was the glass ceiling for Asha our first scholar. MERASI SCHOOL LIBRARY Traveling with a delivery of over 250 story books and educational DVDs, Jenny and Angelo nicknamed themselves the Book Mules after transporting this major haul halfway across the globe to LKSS. Immense gratitude goes to our couriers of knowledge for being true Merasi champions! Exploring the Merasi School library MERASI SCHOOL COMPUTER LAB Thanks to your generous donations of laptops, PCs, Macs, and XOs, the computer room has grown into a fullfledged computer lab. Nawab at age 12 has become our resident go-to tech geek and has assumed responsibility for the lab’s use. FAR volunteers focused on computer training with the children . MERASI MUSIC PRESERVATION Today the Merasi legacy is thriving in members of the rising generations! Music master Dr. Sarwar Khan has begun to reintroduce older, nearly forgotten songs in legacy classes. Music sessions in progress MERASI LEGACY PROJECT Music preservation programs perpetuate a unique cultural legacy from the Merasi’s own perspective. Nawab with Demi, a FAR intern, began collecting materials dedicated to the Dhol drum. They follow the Legacy Project footsteps initiated by FAR volunteer Marina. Transcribing Merasi input, a simple publication will be circulated by Merasi Youth leaders to the villages surrounding Jaisalmer. REPAIRING SACRED TOOLS Jessu, one of our music teachers, has been addressing repairs to many broken antique instruments housed at LKSS. The impact of his clever craftsmanship is a joy to behold and a huge asset to music related programs. Exploring a Harmonium Working on the Dholaks The Sarangi MERASI YOUTH GATHERINGS Sammelans have proven to be an effective way to reach youth who cannot attend the daily Merasi School or Music Merasi classes, by weaving village and town Merasi together in a blend of dignity, respect, fun, learning, healthy snacks, skits, and music. At the first gathering last year, 38 youth attended. At the eighth and most recent gathering orchestrated by our youth leaders, more than 120 were recorded in attendance representing many new villages! MERASI GIRL POWER Here’s to the indisputable Girl Power growing in the Merasi world! From the Sammelans to the School, from the Scholarship students to the youth leaders, the Girl Power is undeniable in our young spitfires. Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity. There is no tool for development more effective than the Empowerment of Girls. CULTURAL BRIDGES – STRENGTHENING INDIAN SUPPORT AND TIES The generosity shown to the Merasi by Indian schools and foundations offered our children a glimpse at a world without prejudice, a world that appreciates and celebrates their legacy. Families in Mumbai attended musical events to build ties and immerse the Jaisalmer Merasi in an environment of shared humanity. Supportive foundations helped us build bridges spanning all generations. KALA GHODA ARTS FESTIVAL Young Merasi musicians stole hearts at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, Mumbai’s largest cultural fête. Jesse bravely chose to be the only female in the “Mumbai 4” troupe of twenty-two. LKSS DIRECTOR – DR.SARWAR KHAN Honored for his work in cultural preservation by Maine College of Art in 2008, Sarwar is a master musician, a visionary artist, a passionate collector of fossils, a fearless activist, a crusader of women’s empowerment, and always a staunch believer in the power of education. His relentless commitment to bettering the lives of every child in his community inspires action in all who believe in his cause. “No More Manganiyar (beggar)…. We Are Merasi!” HOORAY! CLEAN DRINKING WATER For the very first time since opening in 2007, Merasi School finally has its own clean drinking water, and we can taste the joy! This past year Waterbridge Outreach Books and Water gifted Merasi School with the construction of a precious underground water tank and installation of a purification system. HUMAN RIGHTS CHALLENGES Back home in Jaisalmer the Merasi are served in caste restricted plastic cups. In Mumbai however they were treated as equals and served in proper ceramic cups. Three years of human excrement deposited at Merasi School and constantly broken LKSS entrance stairs demonstrate that change doesn’t come easily. Institutionalized prejudice is hard to eradicate! THANK YOU FARMILY! Our heartiest of thanks go to our dedicated board members and friends, our loyal donors, corporate support and family foundations. Volunteers: your passion and nearly 2000 donated hours dedicated to the empowerment and development of the Merasi exemplify mission put into action through selfless service. We couldn’t do it without every single one of you! And to all the many of you who are not captured by our camera – a legion you are! 314 E 84th Street #11, NY 10028, New York, USA Give Today Follow us : +1 212 628 7210 www.folkartsrajasthan.org Ms. Karen Lukas, Director [email protected]
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