Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Folk artist Makar Singh Bhumij died Friday in Assam’s Tinsukia district. He spent his life preserving Jahali Geet, the traditional music tied to the Adivasi Sohrai festival. The veteran performer led a troupe that kept the oral traditions of the Bhumij, Santhal, and Munda communities alive.
Makum MLA Sanjoy Kishan and members of the Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association gathered in Doomdooma to honor his memory. Kishan explained the circumstances of the artist's final hours. "Bhumij was rushed to Tinsukia Medical College and Hospital yesterday (Thursday) after suffering a sudden health crisis reportedly linked to high blood pressure while carrying out cultural responsibilities. He subsequently passed away," Kishan said.
The songs Bhumij performed capture the essence of agricultural life and shared history. Jahali Geet relies on the dhol and madal to mark the harvest season. These traditions belong to a wider family of folk expressions in Assam, such as Jhumur, Tusu, and Karam songs. Many families in these communities look back to ancestors from Chotanagpur, Jharkhand, and Odisha who arrived in the region during the colonial tea plantation expansion. Through his work, Bhumij ensured these ancestral ties remained strong.
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