For K.G. Jawahar, playing the bulbul taarang is a passion and a mad passion. He seems keen on bringing this string instrument back from oblivion.

Over the last two years, Jawahar has not let go of any opportunity to put the instrument on a stage. He has played it at gatherings of residents’ welfare associations, clubs and government departments. He has appeared on DD Podhigai with his pet instrument.

“Recently, I was invited by the government library in Ashok Nagar to play the instrument. They gave me a fee for it. With the money, I bought library membership cards for students of nearby government schools,” says Jawahar, who started focussing on playing the instrument after his retirement from a bank.

Without any formal training, 63-year-old Jawahar plays the compositions of M. S. Viswanathan, R.D. Burman and other stalwarts of film music on his bulbul taarang. A few strings are missing in the instrument, but that does not detract from its value. When Jawahar was around five years old, he received it from his father as a gift.

“Each of my brothers also received a bubul taarang, and I continue to cherish the one I received. In those days, it was known as the “poor man’s veena’. The knowledge of crafting this instrument is now almost forgotten. The versions of the bulbul taarang available at shops are more toys than instruments,” says Jawahar, a resident of Saligramam.

Jawahar takes utmost care with his bulbul taarang, which bears the name and memory of his wife Rani Jawahar, who has passed on.

“I consider the instrument an old man who has to be hand-held while walking. I have to be careful with the strings, as getting a replacement must be next to impossible. Only once has the instrument gone for repairs; that was 20 years ago,” says Jawahar.

He seeks the support of other musicians in reviving the instrument; he is also keen on teaching people how to play it.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by L Kanthimathi / March 30th, 2018