Taga Ram Bheel

Living in a peaceful and quiet boutique stay outside of the town at Mool Sagar, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, Taga Ram Bheel plays his favourite instrument Algoza. Taga Ram Bheel belongs from Bheel caste which is a tribal caste but they are considered Rajputs. Taga Ram who was also a shepherd learnt the art of playing Algoza when he was a kid from his father’s Algoza by stealing it in his absence. He has been playing since he was 10 years old. He has spent 30 years of his life in the jungles of Ranthambore where he used to play Algoza.

Algoza is not an easy instrument to play it’s about the game of breath. Taga Ram bought his first Algoza when he was 11 years old, he learnt himself by coordinating tunes. In 1981 he gave his first stage performance in Jaisalmer when he was 18. He has been performing every year in the famous Rajasthan desert festival since 1981. Taga Ram has given various programs for AIR, Jaisalmer.  Nehru Yuva Kendra Sansthan (NYKS) too invited him to perform for them which is a matter of great honour for him. With Rajasthan Tourism he travelled to all over India and delivered amazing shows. Apart from being a professional Algoza player, he follows mining also as a profession to earn his living. He not only plays the instrument but also makes exceptionally fine Algoza with his own hands. These instruments are so well made that people from all over the world buy it from him. He also conducts workshops of Algoza and people coming from all over the world attend it with great enthusiasm. Taga Ram had gone to France in 1996 for his first international tour, since then he has been to 15 countries in Europe, Singapore, Russia, Japan, Africa, the USA for shows and workshops. He not only plays Algoza in instruments, he plays matka and flute also.