Daroji Eramma
Born1930
Died12 August 2014(2014-08-12) (aged 83–84)
Bellary, Karnataka, India
NationalityIndian
Other namesBurrakatha Eeramma
Occupation(s)Folk singer and performer
Known forBurra katha

Daroji Eramma, popularly known as Burrakatha Eeramma, (1930–12 August 2014) was a folk singer and performer of the Burrakatha, a folk art form of epic storytelling from South India. She was awarded several awards including the Rajyotsava Prashasti in 1999.

Life

Eramma was born in 1930 in a family from the semi-nomadic Buduga Janagama community, a scheduled caste tribe. She learnt the Burrakatha from her father Lalappa as a young adolescent, and had taught this folk art form to the members of her family and community.[1]

Though illiterate, Eramma could perform twelve folk epics from memory, which amounts to 200,000 sentences and 7,000 pages in print.[2] These folk epics include Kumararama, Babbuli Nagireddi, Baala Nagamma, Jaisingaraaja Kavya and Bali Chakravarthi Kavya.[2]

Her performances often lasted for days, accompanied by her sister, Shivamma, and her sister-in-law, Parvathamma on percussion, while Eramma herself would play a stringed instrument with one hand and bells with the other. She had participated in the awareness campaigns on and polio vaccination.[2]

She died on 12 August 2014 at Bellary in Karnataka. Her last rites were performed at her native village Daroji in Sandur Taluka of Bellary district.[1]

Recognition

Daroji Eramma received the Rajyotsava Prashasti in 1999 as well as Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Award instituted by Government of Karnataka.[2] She was awarded the Sandesha Arts Award in 2003 for her contribution to arts and folklore.[3] The Department of Tribal Studies, Kannada University, Hampi felicitated her with the Nadoja Award in 2003.[1] Prasar Bharati awarded her the Best Folk Artiste Award in 2010. She received the Janapada Shri for 2010 in 2012.[2]

A student of Hampi University, L. Sarikadevi, wrote her 2006 doctoral thesis on Eramma, which helped to popularise Eramma and her practice.[4] Some of her performances have been recorded and published by Chalavaraju, a scholar of intangible heritage based at the Kannada University.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ahiraj, M. (13 August 2014). "Daroji Eramma is no more". The Hindu. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Ahiraj, M. (22 February 2012). "Janapada Shri Award for Daroji Eramma today". The Hindu. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  3. ↑ "Sandesha Awards - Sandesha - A foundation for culture and education". www.sandesha.org. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  4. ↑ Bharadwaj, K V Aditya. "Burrakatha Eramma selected for Janapada Shri Award - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  5. ↑ Ahiraj, M. (27 November 2006). "A great honour has been bestowed on me: Eeramma". The Hindu. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
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