Live Performance: 30mins
Discussion: 30 mins
2025
Performance of new and old songs by Ruby, Rita, Poonam & Radha, followed by discussion
Livestreamed from the outskirts of the village of Farhada, Bhojpur, Bihar
2 New songs were developed through a workshop produced by zeropowercut with Ruby, Poonam and Shakuntala
3 old songs selected from ongoing research into anti-caste folk expression
Facilitated by Piyush Kashyap & Raju Ranjan
Food by Puneet,
Electricals by Vishal,
Sound Tech by Firoz
Live-streamed in collaboration with The Listening Biennial (Third Edition) and uncanny stations
Language of Songs: Bhojpuri
Discussions in Bhojpuri, Hindi & English
Guest Respondent: Brahma Prakash; Author of Cultural Labour: Conceptualizing the ‘Folk Performance’ in India
Translations read by Suvani Suri (uncanny stations)
When we started this project many people in the village said that “they can't make it”, but Ruby, Radha, Poonam and Rita made it! Ruby wrote 2 new songs based on lives of women we interviewed. We had 3 more traditional songs, which we selected from our ongoing research on anti-caste expression. Ruby, Radha, Poonam, Rita and Saraswati performed these songs infront of a live audience, online and offline. The project was produced by zeropowercut, and shaped through collaborative workshops led by Piyush Kashyap and Raju Ranjan.
About the 2 new songs produced :
The first song documents how one of the performers we were working with, faces insults
from her society as well as from her partner, for her choice of becoming a performer. The song argues that art is considered obscene by caste society, only because it has the power to influence reality and make change.
Excerpt, Translated:
Stupid uncultured men preach to me
That art is obscene
What do they know about labour?
Art makes god, art writes faith
Art makes what is real!
The second song is about a women’s choice to marry her lover, against the system of arranged marriage within one’s own caste.
Excerpt, Translated:
Before I wake up,
He begins with housework
He respects my word
I love him
I don’t want my caste to arrange my marriage
I love whom I love