SUR SAMALAYA - A home to safeguard people art culture
- Thasil Suhara Backer
- Mar 8, 2020
- 3 min read
SUR SAMALAYA
A RESOURCE CENTER FOR ARTS
Sur Samalaya resource centre for Arts is an independent institution; working in the field of culture specially focused to the state of Assam (situated in the north eastern part of India). For SSRCA ‘Culture’ is a category which connects to various sub- categories: Geography, Identity and History of a particular area.
This established in 1990 with a focus to establish self-dependent-self regulated Art industry with the local economy. Present activities of the centre include making and performing of traditional musical instruments use in the traditional performing arts of Assam. Through a process of systematic research Sur Samalaya also trying to resurrect many musical instruments which are departed from the present cultural landscape of Assam. Till date Sur Samalaya is regularly making and performing 64 traditional musical instruments. It has also a marketing wing named ‘Gogoi Badya Bhand’ named after founder Mr. Dijen Gogoi . Sur Samalaya believes in the organic and traditional knowledge system of learning, whether it is a performance or making a musical instrument. Hence it adopts the traditional method of making instruments rather using technology. The idea is not only to make and perform a form of Art, but to highlight the traditional knowledge system. Presently, Gogoi Badya Bhand has appointed 30 local young artists in the musical instrument making workshop as regular worker.
Centre has a performing wing ‘Samannaya’. It presents orchestra of 64 indigenous Assamese musical instruments including the tunes of Assamese folk-life, Rabha, Bodo, Tiwa, Missing as well as tea garden communities.
Similarly, Research and documentation of endangered art forms of Assam being an ongoing project of the centre’s Research and Documentation cell. This elaborate project aims to critically engage with the various forms of cultural expressions, present status and the transformations in the form of a digital archive.
With a vision of reviving the disappearance art forms and capturing the present practices, the center provides regular workshop, training and thought provoking deliberations.
Courtesy - Sur Samalaya
Dijen Gogoi
Founder Director
Born and brought up amidst tradition and cultures of rural Assam, Gogoi’s adopted Art and Culture as a lifestyle. As a kid, he used to take part in annual Husori performances of Bohag Bihu, which later became a passion. He specialized in Assamese traditional musical instruments making, improvising. At a very young age he realized that there are very few who are working towards traditional instruments producing in comparison to the growing popularity. Thus, he views this as a potential cultural industry, which can create opportunities for the practitioners.
Although he educated in the field technical engineering, from 1990’s he engaged himself as a regular instrument maker and in 1996 he established a workshop with some local youth providing proper training that he learned from his earlier generation. Gradually his dream of making this industry elaborate has been on a pace. Till today he produced almost 100 musical instruments, some of which are improvised like Sehnai made of Bamboo, Papa made of bamboo, goat’s horn and bottle guard, 16 feet extended Flute, Toka, Dhrutong (can be played by many people together) etc. In future Gogoi aims to introduce this instrument making process into a proper academic course for the new generation engagement.
Courtesy - Sur Samalaya
Junmoni Gogoi
DIPJYOTI GOGOI
Coordinator
Engaged in Sur Samalaya as a performer and later started coordinating different aspects of the center. She understands performance as a device for social interaction.She took SSRCA to a level where everyone interested can be a part of. Her passion in this field brought her to Hyderabad Central University to pursue her masters in Theatre Arts. Earlier she also earned a degree in Cultural Studies in Tezpur University. Besides she has worked with UNICEF and as a theatre manager for several theatre productions. She is interested with the idea of traditional intersection with the modernity. As a coordinator she is trying to create a connection between traditional knowledge system and folk medium for interacting to the contemporary society. She organizes regular workshop, trainings and discussions among the different community Artists and the villagers. Her vision is to introduce the centre into the global stage.
Courtesy - Sur Samalaya
Crafters / Artist / Family of Sursamalaya
Bitul Gogoi a.k.a Madha
Sikhajyoti Gogoi a.k.a maine
Sikhajyoti Gogoi playing Gogona a traditional bihu instrument.
Piyodra Gogoi (aita)
Dhenki - An old style rice mill found in Sur Samalaya.
Pragyajyoti Gogoi a.k.a Pimi and Sikhajyoti Gogoi
Palkipriya Gogoi a.k.a Putu
Rahul Gogoi a.k.a sumu and Bitual Dowari
Some photographs from Sur Samalaya Manufacturing Wing
In my visit to Sur samalaya in January 2020 the team was working on their new project Sur Samalaya Museum Project... World Aesthetic Forum sending wishes to entire family of Sur Samalaya Resource Center for Arts...
Visit Sur Samalaya Facebook Page see more of their finished Musical Instruments, workshop and other live performances.
Thank you...
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