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RAMPRIT YADAV AND GROUP

Bidesia is the most popular folk form of Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Its origin lies in the works of Bikhari Thakur, a playwright and poet, who is also known as the Shakespeare of the Bhojpuri language. Historically, during the British Raj, people from this region migrated to Calcutta in search of work. In those days, Calcutta was considered a foreign land and bidesia is a Bhojpuri word for videshi, a foreigner in the Hindustani language. One of Bikhari Thakur’s plays was called Bidesia and it was about the women who were left behind in the villages by their husbands. They pine for their husbands and sing songs while remembering them in their daily lives and on special occasions like festivals. Over time, these songs began to be performed with elaborate theatrical staging and dancers enacting the songs. The songs also took a political tint and commented on the violence against Shudras, Dalits and women and became a symbol for the fraternity of these groups.

Today, Bidesia survives as a tune that is known for its versatility and emotional appeal among the Bhojpuri-speaking people. The tune is so popular that it is also sung in the Awadhi-speaking regions in Awadhi, a genre known as Awadhi Bidesia. Ramprit Yadav sings both versions of Bidesia and writes his own songs to fit the tune. The songs he writes are mostly on philosophical and religious issues, about the impermanence of life and the importance of leading a moral life. He draws from his own devotion to Kabir, popularly known as Satguru among the locals and his observations of the society around him.

MUSICIANS

Sachin Arya

Ram Dular

Padarath

Ramprit Yadav

VIDEOS

Contact RAMPRIT YADAV at +91 9838634240