Amarjit

53-year-old Amarjit is one of the few Nayakva singers remaining in his region. He belongs to Hathni village in the Mau district of Uttar Pradesh. It is on the Easternmost edge of the state, and the region’s culture is largely influenced by the Bhojpuri language. His father was also a Nayakva singer, and he learnt to sing and perform from him. Although he only studied until the 8th standard, he is well-versed in Bhojpuri and Hindi and performs bhajans and other folk songs in both languages. Nayakva holds a special place for him as it is not only a declining folk form currently but also because it is a great achievement in Bhojpuri literature and music. 

He performs on different occasions like birth, weddings and even death and chooses the appropriate stories to narrate for these occasions. Amarjit believes that the secret to being a good performer is to correctly recognise the audience’s mood and tune the music to it accordingly. The stories of Nayakva are larger-than-life and narrate the adventures of Nayak, the protagonist, as he navigates the absurd happenings around him.

In his region, much like elsewhere in North India, the death of a family member is also celebrated, and Amarjit finds this custom amusing. He tailors his songs and performances, especially to such death-related ceremonies where he reminds the audience of the importance of familial ties and remembering the deceased and honouring the lives they have left behind. He is also a farmer by profession but earns decently from music because he has established himself as a renowned singer of Nayakva. He hasn’t taught his children, though, as he thinks talent is inborn, and his children haven’t yet demonstrated sufficient interest in music. He teaches a few other students in his village, though.

• Purvanchal
• Uttar Pradesh