Zest of Folk in the Dunes
Sheru Khan is an all-rounder when it comes to singing and playing an instrument, but he has mastered in playing folk instruments like Morchang and Vapang. He is also an amazing singer and has also an outstanding beatboxer. The combination of Morchang and beatboxing in his performances enthrals the audience and the energy in the arena become so high, making the performance memorable for everyone. Sheru Khan belongs from the Manganiyar community of Rajasthan, particularly in Jaisalmer and Barmer region. He serves as an example of the wonderful amalgamation of rock and folk. As of now, he is part of the very famous folk singer band known as Mame Khan. With Mame Khan, Sheru has been going abroad, across seas to perform and show his talent.
While explaining the meaning of Manganiyar, Sheru Khan says that their families used to get rewards from royal Rajput families for their singing, hence the name Manganiyar is derived from the Hindi term “Maangna”, which means to ask. Sheru Khan’s eyes light up with a beautiful shine while talking about music. He is an eminent songwriter himself and is fond of composing songs, these songs are based on several auspicious occasions, and describe the human feelings, emotions in a very subtle way.
Sheru Khan and his group when begins they make the audience lose themselves in a dream as they began singing their enchanting music in the auditorium of the very renowned college Birla Institute of Technology, Pilani in Rajasthan. Sheru Khan and his group members, Ashraf Khan, Devu Khan, and Rajjak Khan are skilled musicians describe music as a coherent and binding factor and vouch for their community and neighbourhood for providing a cooperative and friendly environment for sustaining this culture. Every member of the group is so much dedicated to their passion which is music. They write songs and compose them in such a way that the essence of folk is revived in them.
Their songs are mostly sung for various auspicious occasions like marriage, navatras, childbirth, etc. Sheru Khan’s songs combine love with the skill of music, and the result is a masterpiece.
Simple, yet intense and yet so deep. This is Sheru Khan’s music which speaks volumes about the daily, and otherwise tedious human emotions, love, separation, the nervousness of a woman who is about to get married, who compares of the feeling of separation with the sting of the Scorpio all over ones’ body. All these human emotions are beautifully captured and blended with the beauty of rare ragas. Sheru Khan wants to carry forward the traditions of his family and community, to impart this culture to his coming generations as well, but like all his counterparts in this region, he also lays special emphasis on basic technical education for all.
All the group members are close relatives of each other. They wanted to take their family together for all the performances in the future so that they can help them in earning a livelihood. They want to perform all over the world and make their family proud. They want the world to recognize India with them. They wish they could have studied when they had the chance to but for now, they are determined that they would send their children to study and become literate. They want to make their upcoming generation literate without any compromise with their passion for music, which runs in their blood.
On asking how would the children be able to manage music with studies he said, “Arre humare yahan to khoon mein howe hai gaana bajaana, seekhne ki jaroorat nahi padti. Humara bahcha bhi rota hai to sur mein rota hai. “(Our people have music in their blood, therefore they don’t need anyone to sit with them and teach. When our kids cry, even that they do in melody.”