SHILLONG, Jan 25: Duitara maker and musician Risingbor Kurkalang was awarded Padma Shri award in the field of Art (Folk Music) category.
The award was announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the eve of Republic Day on Wednesday.
Kurkalang who hails from Laitkyrhong village is a gifted craftsmen who has made a name for himself by making the best string instruments using the wood of the Jackfruit tree, U Dieng Slang, Puma and others.
His instruments are being sold to various parts of the country including Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and others besides Shillong and several villages across Khasi Hills. The instruments are also on display at the Meghalaya Age stalls in New Delhi.
He has also collaborated with the Welsh musician, Gareth Bonello of The Gentle Good fame for the album Sai-Thaiñ Ki Sur (the weaving of voices).
Speaking to The Shillong Times, Kurkalang said he got a call from Delhi on Wednesday morning to verify if he was the artist who has collaborated with the Welsh musician.
“This has come as a surprise since I never expected that I will get recognition for the work I am doing,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kurkalang revealed that he started to development interest in this art while he was doing a SUPW project while in Class VIII.
“Slowly, many people started requesting me to make instruments for them. This is how it all started,” he said.
The Duitara maker said that he has inherited the art of making the instrument from his family and he is a third generation instrument maker.
Kurkalang said that he has a workshop set up on a plot the land owned by his late mother.
Initially, he used to get the wood for making the instrument from a nearby forest.
“From 2008 onwards, I started purchasing wood from Ri-War, Rambrai and other places,” he said.
Kurkalang said his nephew and fellow villagers work with him in his workshop.
“I make the instruments as per the order. I am not able to complete all the order during the whole year,” he said.
