Meet the family of forty who make a living out of their love for bhajan singing, writes
Sacchidananda Kuragunda.
This is the story of a family of 40. A family that takes pride in the fact that each and every member of their large undivided family is an artiste. A family that sings bhajans, vachanas and folk songs. This white pyjama-jubba-clad group adorning vibhooti on their foreheads and topis on their heads is always in the forefront of State and National-level bhajan competitions.
Residing in Basapura, Davanagere, bhajans are the life and soul of this family. Popularly known as ‘bhajaneyavara mane’ (the home of bhajan singers), this family has established the Basava Bhajana Kendra under the leadership of H Basappa Master, the head of the family.
Seventyfive-year-old Basappa Master, who has to date directed over 200 dramas, migrated from Sonne village in Hagaribommanahalli taluk about 30 years ago and made Davanagere his home. Master and his family that stayed in a rented house on Betur Road recently moved to their own small home aptly named ‘Janapada’.
Making a living out of their love for bhajans, this family of bhajan singers will be present at any and every occasion they have been invited to.
Their ability for singing bhajans is so popular that they are a must at all important events that take place in and around their home town. Especially so at the annual Muharram function that happens at nearby Devarabelakere. The amount given out by the organisers of events earns them their daily bread.
Another peculiar feature of the family is that they never specify their fees and they don’t demand money. “We never specify the fees for bhajan singing. While some families give out Rs 500, rich families give Rs 1,000. We manage our family quite well with whatever little we earn.
The question of wasteful expenditure doesn’t exist at all because none of our family members have any bad habits. For that matter, we do not even drink coffee and tea,” says Shashidhar, Basappa Master’s fifth son.
Basappa Master’s family of 40 comprises seven sons, three daughters, four daughters-in-law, three sons-in-law and 22 grandchildren. While the entire family is engaged in the profession of bhajan singing, most of them have not studied beyond their SSLC.
On an average, this large undivided family requires about two quintals each of rice and jowar per month, and vegetables worth Rs 100-150 per day.
The activities in the kitchen start at 5 in the morning and go on till 2 in the afternoon, only to start at 4 pm again and go on till 9 in the night.
“Post-dinner, we all spend some time together and retire only at midnight,” says Basappa Master’s wife Gowramma.
This family of bhajan singers are so popular for their talent that they are invited by people from all over the State. Their popularity has spread to many places in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Goa too. Recently, the family won the first place in the National-level bhajan competition held at Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh.
The family also staged a drama titled ‘Atthigege Banda Agni Pareekshe’ recently, where only two of the drama artistes were outsiders.
“It is art that binds us,” says a proud Basappa Master.
Residing in Basapura, Davanagere, bhajans are the life and soul of this family. Popularly known as ‘bhajaneyavara mane’ (the home of bhajan singers), this family has established the Basava Bhajana Kendra under the leadership of H Basappa Master, the head of the family.
