The nationwide lockdown imposed to contain novel coronavirus has brought the lives of the musicians in Assam, who earn a living through their live performances, to a standstill.
Although a musician in pursuit of their craft often gets bogged down by multiple hardships every year, this global pandemic has left the musicians to feel the profound financial, artistic and emotional crisis.
However, The Library, a socio-cultural organisation, based out in Guwahati, has come forward to offer a helping hand to the musicians in the city and its outskirts areas.
Keeping in mind the hard times faced by the hapless musicians amid lockdown, this organsation has distributed food to more than 250 families of musicians in Guwahati so far.
The months of April and May are very crucial for the musicians who tirelessly showcase their performances on the stages set for Bihu in Assam.
Starting from ‘Bohagi adoroni’ to ‘Bohagi bidaay’, the stages of Assam seemingly come alive with live concerts and music.
However, the present lockdown to battle against the dreaded virus has left the musicians and their families battle with their means of livelihood.
There are a number of musicians in the state who eagerly wait for the onset of ‘Bohag’ as they can earn some good amount to remain content until the next year.
Thinking about the hard times of the musicians, Raju Ansari, a noted musician himself and his wife, Papori Thakuria, a singer have initiated the idea of offering food to them under the banner of ‘The Library’.
“There are a number of musicians who are struggling to make a survival now amid lockdown. We are here to provide them mental support by offering a small relief through food,” said Papori Thakuria, who manages the cultural section of the organisation.
The Library was formed to help preserve the ‘real’ music of Assam. Formed by like-minded people from different spheres, the organisation is led by ardent music lover Nawa Bhagawati and supported by several members.
At the initiative of Bhagawati and secretary Lachit Kalita, the organisation has been offering food to the musicians after the lockdown period started.
The musicians who also depend upon other public platform for showcasing their performances and earn a living are now receiving food from the NGO as their sources of income have been slashed completely ever since the imposition of lockdown.
The Library has been offering packaged food items comprising of five kg rice, one kg dal, 1/2kg salt, one kg potato, one kg onion, 500 gm soyabean, one litre mustard oil and one soap.
The organisation had also organised music events which featured celebrated singers like Begum Parveen Sultana.
Applauding the act of generosity shown towards the families of the musicians, Commissioner of Assam House Debasis Sharma, son of noted lyricist Pradip Sharma, offered 50 packets of food items to the The Library for further distribution.