B'baria musical instruments industry on verge of extinction
Sunday, 8 March 2009
Our Correspondent
BRAHMANBARIA, Apr 7: Musical instrument producing cottage industry is on the verge of extinction in the district as the prices of raw materials of the craft have increased manifold and gone beyond the artisans' buying capacity.
Besides, they have failed to expand the market of their products due to lack of working capital, proper patronisation and necessary market facilities, sources said.
As a result, the local artisans find it difficult to continue their age-old profession, and are switching over to other professions. Even some of them have become day labourers or rickshaw-pullers.
Talking to the FE correspondent, some artisans of Kalaisripara in Brahmanbaria town said earlier their profession was a lucrative and profitable one. But now, the local artisans are passing their days in abject poverty.
They used to manufacture musical instruments like drum, harp, tabla, harmonium, khole, flute, tabor, tanpura, cymbat, bell, banjo, monochord, sarode, trumpet, shehnai, tambourine, esraj, bugle, organ, kettle-drum, sitar, violin etc. These items had a great demand in the market.
Of the musical instrument sellers of the district town, Aftab Musical Hall, Alauddin Music Centre and Khagen Company are still running their business with hardship.
Conscious local citizens are of the opinion that necessary measures should be taken immediately by the authorities concerned to save the age-old cottage industry from extinction and help preserve the country's musical heritage.
BRAHMANBARIA, Apr 7: Musical instrument producing cottage industry is on the verge of extinction in the district as the prices of raw materials of the craft have increased manifold and gone beyond the artisans' buying capacity.
Besides, they have failed to expand the market of their products due to lack of working capital, proper patronisation and necessary market facilities, sources said.
As a result, the local artisans find it difficult to continue their age-old profession, and are switching over to other professions. Even some of them have become day labourers or rickshaw-pullers.
Talking to the FE correspondent, some artisans of Kalaisripara in Brahmanbaria town said earlier their profession was a lucrative and profitable one. But now, the local artisans are passing their days in abject poverty.
They used to manufacture musical instruments like drum, harp, tabla, harmonium, khole, flute, tabor, tanpura, cymbat, bell, banjo, monochord, sarode, trumpet, shehnai, tambourine, esraj, bugle, organ, kettle-drum, sitar, violin etc. These items had a great demand in the market.
Of the musical instrument sellers of the district town, Aftab Musical Hall, Alauddin Music Centre and Khagen Company are still running their business with hardship.
Conscious local citizens are of the opinion that necessary measures should be taken immediately by the authorities concerned to save the age-old cottage industry from extinction and help preserve the country's musical heritage.