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
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+1 212 628 7210
www.folkartsrajasthan.org
Ms. Karen Lukas, Director
[email protected]