Padma Shri Sukri Bomma Gowda Inaugurates South Kanara Photographers Assn ‘Vraksha Suraksha ’19’
Padmashri Sukri Bomma Gowda aka “Sukri Ajji” Inaugurates South Kanara Photographers Association (SKPA) ‘Vraksha Suraksha -2019’ held at Mini Hall in the Town Hall premises on Wednesday, 3 September
Mangaluru : The nightingale of the Halakki Vokkaliga tribes, Sukri Bomma Gowda “Sukri Ajji”, who had won the Padma Shri award for folk singing, and considered to be a treasure chest of songs, Sukri has a song for every occasion ranging from birth, marriage to death, was in Mangaluru today-Wednesday, 3 September to inaugurate the South Kanara Photographers Association “Vraksha Suraksha-2019”, which was held at Mini Hall, located in the Town Hall premises.
78-year-old Sukri began singing at an early age along with her mother, and until now has sung over 1,000 songs. Honoured with prestigious awards like “Janapada Shri Award”, “Naduja Award” and the “Alva’s Nudisri Award”, Sukri Ajji, as she is often addressed, is a member of Badiegiri Gram Panchayat in Karnataka. She is a staunch supporter of women education and ban on alcohol in her village. Widowed at an early age, she became an agricultural labourer to earn her livelihood. She is a lady with a beautiful voice, a magnificent soul and a humble living.
Sukri Ajji, is the singing legend of ‘Halakki’ tribal community of Western Ghats, lives in a her tiled roof home in the foothills of the mountain range of Ankola, in Karnataka. At 78, she is the nightingale of valley, enrapturing the people with her melodious voice. Bade Ajji (grandmother) as she is called lovingly by the people of her community, is accessible to all who wish to hear her song. Western Ghats in India with all its bio-diversity is a beauty to behold. The rich hot spot is home to diverse social and religious groups with varying rituals, customs and lifestyles.
Sukri Ajji was welcomed in a traditional Kudla style, following which she planted a sapling in the premises of Town Hall, joined by P Sridhar-range Forest Officer, along with SKPA Board Members. Prior to the formal programme there was a interaction with media personnel, after which Sukri Ajji was escorted to the dais. The programme began with a prayer song invoking God’s blessings by Naveen Chandra-Cultural secretary of SKPA, followed by welcome address by Arjun R-Joint secretary of SKPA. The programme was inaugurated by lighting of the lamp by Sukri Ajji, joined by Sridhar P, along with other dignitaries on the dais, namely- Wilson Gonsalves- President of DK and Udupi Photographers Association; Padmanabha Suvarna- President of Mangaluru SKPA; Ajay Kumar- secretary; Harish Adyar- Vice President; Vittal Chowta- convener; Vasanth Rao- Treasurer, Environmental activists Dinesh Holla and Madhava Ullal, among others.
Following the lighting of the lamp, a sapling that was kept on the stage was watered by Sukri Ajji, also joined by the rest of the dignitaries. Harish Adyar gave a brief description of the Vraksha Suraksha programme that SKPA has been organizing since almost two years, in order to bring awareness among the children and youth about green environment and saving of trees. A audio video display on Vraksha Suraksha, and also on the profile of Sukri Ajji was shown to the audience. Following the speech by Wilson Gonsalves, where he complimented Mangaluru SKPA for their initiative in launching Vraksha Suraksha two years ago, which has made a difference in the community regarding clean and green environment, Sukri Ajji was felicitated on the occasion with a shawl, flowers, fruit basket, memento and citation.
Now the came the moment of the occasion, where the audience including children were anxiously waiting to hear from Sukri Ajji. Speaking in her North Kannadiga accent Sukri Ajji said, ” I have achieved everything through practice. I did not know of books or pens and music recordings until recently. I do not like recorded music. Music has to be sung aloud. The rich heritage of folk art can be preserved only if the Halakkis teach their children these songs. I feel sad that after my death, all my songs, saree, and strings of beads will all go with me. As I am the only one who knows so many tribal songs I am trying my best to pass it on to my grandchild and other children in the community, so that the Halakki culture remains”.
The wrinkles on her face that only multiply every time she breaks into a giggle, recollecting the compliments she got from all the ‘big people and stars’, are a testimony to the eight decades of her life as a proud and caring custodian of her folk culture. Throughout the programme she was in a happy mood, and with a touch of smile on her wrinkled face. Environmentalists Dinesh Holla and Madhava Ullal, and FRO Sridhar P were felicitated on the occasion, following which all three spoke on the importance of green environment. The announcement of Vraksha Suraksha Award was made, following which prizes were distributed to the children who had won in the Quiz, Essay and Drawing Competition which was held during the morning hours, on the “Vraksha Suraksha” topic. Vittal Chowta, S R Lokesh and District SKPA Secretary Dayanand Bantwal also spoke on the environment topic. The vote of thanks was proposed by Vasanth Rao, and the programme was compered by RJ Prasanna of FM 93.5.
ABOUT PADMA SHRI SUKRI BOMMA GOWDA :
The nightingale of the Halakki Vokkaliga tribes, Sukri Bomma Gowda, had won the 2017 Padma Shri award for folk singing. Considered a repository of songs, ‘Sukri ajji’, as she is popularly known, has a song for every occasion, be it marriage, birth, festivals or rituals. Sukri Ajji’s melodious voice has rendered her the recipient of several awards. In 1988, she received an award from the Karnataka government for “preserving the culture of the Aboriginal Tribes”. She won the Janapada Shri Award in 1999 and the Naduja Award in 2006. She also won the Sandesha Arts Award, the Alva Nudisiri Award in 2009.
Surki Ajji also features in a chapter in the second language kannada textbooks of class 8 SSLC students in Karnataka. The 78-year-old folk artiste honed her skills by singing along with her mother as a child. Sukri ajji later added on songs of her own and can now sing over 1,000 songs. She teaches the tribeswomen and their children the various songs she has retained in her memory. Married at the age of 16 to a 45-year-old Bommagowda, Sukri Ajji had two children and within a few years of marriage, she lost her husband and children. Determined to make it on her own, she worked as an agricultural labourer to earn her livelihood.
She later went on to become a member of the Badigeri gram panchayat in Uttara Kannada district. Unable to read or write herself, Sukri ajji is now a staunch supporter of educating girl children. She is also a campaigner for banning alcohol in the village, after her adopted son died in 2014 due to excessive consumption of alcohol. She was in Delhi at the time. Upon her return, she campaigned for the ban on alcohol but was not successful.