Karnataka - Hassan   

A life dedicated to folksongs

Honour: Kalamma at an old-age home in Hassan.

HASSAN: Kalamma, who is among the 30 artistes chosen by the Karnataka Janapada Academy for its annual awards, is a resident of Chaitnya Mandira, an old-age home run by the Kamadhenu Cooperative Society.

Ms. Kalamma, 75, told The Hindu on Thursday that she came to know about the award on Wednesday. She is planning to utilise the money she will get as part of the award for a health check-up.

Ms. Kalamma belongs to the community of goldsmiths. Ms. Kalamma, who has no formal education, grew up learning folksongs as her parents — Veerachar and Earamma — were folklore experts. Her aunt, Kalamma, also taught her folklore songs.

Ms. Kalamma said folklore was the face of rural life. People in rural areas sing songs while sowing, harvesting crops, grinding foodgrains and during weddings. It was the only entertainment for them at one point of time, she said.

Ms. Kalamma had written down all the folksongs she knew in a book, with the help of a boy near her house. She said she had recorded all “beesuvakallu pada” and “ogatu” (riddles) she knew in the book. The book was now with her younger daughter, Radha. If the book was published it would be of use to the future generation, she added.

Ms. Kalamma’s husband, the late Mallikarjunachar, was an employee of the Hassan municipality. He died 23 years ago. After her husband’s death, Ms. Kalamma was living in a room in Hadlimane road in Hassan and used to work as a labour and housemaid. When she was unable to work anymore, her younger daughter and son-in-law got her admitted in Chaitnya Mandira two years ago. She said that her family pension (Rs. 1,500 a month) was being taken by Ms. Radha. She does not know the whereabouts of her elder daughter.

Ms. Kalamma said she had given several performances. She has been honoured by organisations including Hassan district Kannada Sahitya Parishat and Rajkumar Abhimani Sangha.

Ms. Kalamma, whose health is deteriorating, wants to use the award money to undergo a health check-up.

Gururaja Hebbar, who runs the Chaitnya Mandira, said Ms. Kalamma entertains other residents of the home by singing folksongs, he said.

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