Revive the great ‘Harikatha’ art form

Kakinada: It’s heartening to know that the 154th birth anniversary of ‘Harikatha Pithamaha’ Adibatla Narayana Dasu was celebrated for four days by conducting Harikathas in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (‘Remembering the Harikatha Pithamaha,’ City Life, Aug 22). Harikatha, a wonderful art-form of Andhra Pradesh, that was most popular and patronised by masses in my childhood, has almost vanished and is not heard of now-a-days. Harikatha is absolutely unknown to the present generation. Harikatha is an excellent blend of story-telling, music and dance, spiced up with incisive comments on the contemporary social and political scenario of the by-gone era.

It is a unique art-form that reflects the culture and heritage of India in general and of Andhra Pradesh in particular. Harikathas used to be organised as cultural programmes at temples during nine-day celebrations of Ganesh and Dasara festivals and Haridasus with their marvelous performances not only entertained, but also educated and enlightened people with stories from our great epics, like the Ramayana, the Mahabharat, the Mahabhagavatham, and lives of great Indian saints.

The way Haridas on the well-erected stage sang poems (padyams) so mellifluously, danced so rhythmically, narrated the story so skillfully, laced with relevant, humorous anecdotes, commented so incisively on the contemporary social and political affairs of the state and the nation, enthralling the audience. The people comprising the young and the old, the rich and the poor, the literate and illiterate, seated on the taurpalin sheet–covered ground enjoyed watching the Harikathas which were conducted for three or four hours at nights during the aforementioned festival seasons. It was indeed most rewarding and memorable experience that helped people gain knowledge about our great epics which are the treasure-troves of Indian culture and heritage.

As a school-lad and later as a college-student, I relished watching these Harikathas performed so amazingly by the eminent Haridasus, late Balla Basavalingam, famous for his Harikatha ‘Parvathi Kalyanam,’ and late Podugu PanduRanga Das, well-known for his Harikatha ‘Sri Veera Brahmedra Swami Charitra.’ I still cherish those pleasant memories of Harikathas and feel quite sad about the disappearance of this great art-form from our modern lives. It’s time for the state government and the Central government to save this art-form of Telugu people from extinction and revive it through the Department of Culture.

Dr Venugopala Rao Kaki