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Hakim Khan with his 500 years old Kamaicha
Kamaicha | Folk to the Folks
Mr. Hakim Khan, a generous and flamboyant man, hails from Harwa, Rajasthan. He plays one of the oldest existing Rajasthani instruments, the Kamaicha. The one that he owns was given to him by his grandfather and is 500 years old. The man is very right in stating that he might be eighty, but his fingers are not. The extinct Ragas and Raginis find afresh narrativization in their conversation with the interviewer. He mentions that music has lost its true essence in the modern world with people taking up other prominent music from the film industry.
About the Interviewee
Name: Hakim Khan
Age: 80 yrs
Instrument: Kamaicha
Place: Harwa, Rajasthan
About Kamaicha
The Manganiar community of West Rajasthan uses Kamaicha, a unique bowed instrument that features a large, bowl-shaped resonator covered with animal skin, a rectangular fingerboard, and a round peg box. The instrument is designed with three primary gut strings and eight drone steel strings, which are tied to metal hooks and passed over the bridge before being secured to the pegs. The instrument is played using a bow made of Sheesham wood and horsehair. This instrument serves as a popular accompaniment to the songs of the Manganiar community and is known for its distinct sound and visual appeal.
