“Mother, today I saw a man playing a single-stringed guitar,” said the girl, removing her school bag and putting it on the couch.
“Oh how did it look?” asked her mother.
“It had a round body with a long split neck and only one string,” said the girl excitedly.
“That’s not a guitar. That’s our Indian instrument— Ektara,” explained the mother.
Introduction
The word Ektara is derived from two Sanskrit words of ‘ek’ meaning one and ‘tara’ which means string, thus describing its fundamental nature. It falls under the category of a chordophone, and is known for its simplicity. Ektara develops a connection between music, nature and human spirit. It is similar to the single-string found across various cultures. It is prominently used in South Asian countries of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal.
History
According to Natya Shastra, the first ever stringed instrument from the Indian subcontinent was Ektara. The origin of Ektara dates back to the twelfth century, though some historians believe it was developed before. Its simple structure allowed the wandering musicians to carry it around easily. Ektara was popularly used by the Bauls of Bengal for their devotional music. With time it has changed and evolved yet has been successful in preserving its historical essence. Thus it can be said that Ektara was prevalent in the medieval period though its development began earlier.
Construction
In ancient times, Ektara was made using basic natural materials. Its body was made from a dried gourd which also acted like a resonator. Bamboo is used for construction of its neck which is split and connected to the opposite sides of the dried gourd. Strings are made of gut or silk though in modern times they are made up of steel for durability. The natural materials help in producing raw and authentic sound. Its construction has now evolved by using wood or metal body resonator. However the core principles of simplicity and resonance still remain unchanged.
A classic Bengali ektara is made up with the half of a dried gourd shell, working as a sound resonator along with a metal string running straight into the middle of the shell. The string is tied to a knob at the top. The string tension is supported by split bamboo strips, tied to opposite sides of the gourd shell. By pressing the two strips, the tension on the string loosens and thus a low pitch sound is produced. There is no markings of sound in the Ektara. The pitch and sound is adjusted by hearing the sound.
Variants
Ektara is found in various forms all over India. The Gopichand or Gopi Yantra of Bengal features a stretched skin membrane over the gourd resonator. Players can use the split bamboo skin to produce unique songs. This task of squeezing the membrane is assigned to the left hand while the right hand plucks the string. Gopichand is indeed the most popular version of Ektara. Apart from this there are other variants like a Tuntuna. It has a different construction of neck and resonator as compared with Gopichand. In Tuntuna, the neck is not split and is fixed behind the resonator. Regional variations also include differences in size, material of strings, material of resonator and length of neck. The Punjabi instrument of Tumbi is also considered a variant of Ektara due to its single- stringed nature. There is also Dotara, which as its name suggests, involves two strings.
Sound
The sound of Ektara is hypnotic and meditative. It represents the folklore and the cultural heritage of the country. It is used by folk artists in storytelling and playing devotional songs. The simplicity and accessibility of Ektara is cherished by the itinerant travellers. The ektara’s use in devotional songs shows its spiritual significance, helping in creating a connection with the divine. It is the sound of the wandering sadhu, the travelling folk singer, and the heart of devotional music. The ektara is a symbol of India’s rich musical heritage and a testament to the power of simplicity in artistic expression.
The playing technique of an Ektara is simply plucking the single string along with adjusting the pressure on its neck. The amount of tension on the neck determines how much the string should loosen or stretch. A professional player can produce various sounds just by altering the pressure. It is usually plucked by the index finger while the thumb provides it support. The material of which the resonator is made of also determines the sound as a gourd resonator produces a mellow sound while the wooden one produces a bright sound.
Ektara and the Bauls
Baul is derived from the Middle Eastern word ‘bawal’ meaning mad or possessed. When the bhakti movement was spreading all over India, it took a distinct turn in Bengal. The people form a community of itinerant musicians called the Bauls. They believed that the supreme could not be found in external sources like temples or mosques, rather it existed within the human. They treated the human body as the site of ultimate truth, encompassing the whole universe. There were no gender, religious or caste restrictions in joining Bauls.“Temples and mosques obstruct my path,” the Baul sings, “and I can’t hear your voice when teachers and priests crowd around me.” Rabindranath Tagore was fascinated by the Baul tradition. He was feeling a disconnect from his organised belief and that’s when he saw a Baul singer. The singer was a postal runner by the name of Gagan Harkara and the song was “Ami kothai paabo tare/ amaar moner manush je re”( where will I find him – he who dwells into my heart).
The Bauls are usually seen travelling with an Ektara in their hand. Most of the paintings depict a Baul by displaying an Ektara in their hands. For example, the painting of Robi Baul by Abanindranath Tagore, nephew of Rabindranath Tagore, shows an old man holding an Ektara high above his head. The old man is shown with flowing clothes and is said to be Rabindranath Tagore. Also, in a painting by Jamini Roy called Bauls, the front yogi is shown holding an Ektara in his right hand.
Popular players
Ektara is usually played by folk singers or musicians. One of the most popular Ektara players is Lalon Fakir. He was a Baul saint of the nineteenth century and was known for his philosophy of humanism. He composed various songs and poems and some of them were published by Rabindranath Tagore in Prabasi, the monthly magazine of Kolkata.
Purna Das Baul is another important Ektara player of the twentieth century, popularizing Baul music and Ektara on a global level. He has travelled to around 140 countries representing his Baul heritage all over the world. He has also been awarded with Padma Shri in 2013 by the government of India.
Ektara has also been used in various Bollywood songs like ‘Ik bagal me chaand hoga’ from Gangs of Wasseypur and ‘Mitwa’ of Lagaan. The ektara may have also been featured for texture on recordings like ‘Within You Without You’ by The Beatles.
Conclusion
Thus ektara is not merely an instrument, it represents a way of life valuing simplicity and authenticity. It encompasses spiritual, social and historical dimensions. In many cultural functions, the sound of Ektara is said to derive a connection with the divine. It also helps in preserving the oral tradition of storytelling and narrative songs. Ektara remains a vital part of Indian culture and heritage due to its association with devotion and folk traditions.
“How come I never heard about an Ektara before?” asked the girl curiously.
“Because it’s a traditional instrument used by folk singers to narrate stories. They don’t wish to be popular or rich. They wish to create a connection with God,” explained the mother.
“I too want to learn Ektara,” declared the girl.
“Of course you can. Learning a musical instrument develops discipline and embraces your creative side,” said her mother.
FAQs
Q1- What is an Ektara?
Ans- An Ektara is a single- stringed chordophone.
Q2 What is an Ektara made of?
Ans- The ektara consists of three parts – the resonator, the neck and the strings. The resonator is usually made up of a dried gourd shell. The neck is constructed of a split bamboo stick. The strings are usually of steel.
Q3 Is the Ektara still used today?
Ans- Yes. Ektara is still used by the Bauls of Bengal and in various other folk traditions. It is also now globally popular and is used in Bollywood as well as Hollywood songs.
Q4- Why did I choose to write about Ektara?
Ans- I once saw a Baul singer playing the single-stringed instrument and was fascinated by it’s raw and authentic sound. I was shocked to see how that singer was able to produce so many different sounds using just a single string. Something about the sight of the wandering musician finding the supreme in himself attracted me and made me curious about the instrument and thus I decided to do my research about it.
By: Siddhi Shrivastav
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