Pune:

Miraj, a small town in Maharashtra’s Sangli district, is famous for its musical instrument craftsmanship and has been awarded the coveted Geographical Indication (GI) for its sitar and tanpura. Label.

The manufacturers claim that these instruments, made in Miraj, are popular with some famous artists, including those who are famous in the world of classical music and films.

The geographical indication mark indicates that a product originates from a specific geographical area and often enhances its commercial value.

Miraj’s tradition of making sitars and tanpuras dates back more than 300 years, with more than seven generations of craftsmen working on these stringed instruments, the manufacturer said.

On March 30, the Intellectual Property Office of the Government of India issued GI tags to the sitar of Miraj Musical Instruments Cluster and the tanpura of Soultune Musical Instruments Manufacturers Company.

Mohsin Mirajkar, chairman of Miraj Instrument Cluster, said it is the apex body for sitar and tanpura manufacturers in the town.

He told PTI that more than 450 craftsmen are engaged in the production of musical instruments, including sitar and tanpura, which are part of the body.

The sitars and tanpuras produced by Miraj are in high demand but cannot meet the demand due to limited local resources.

As a result, instruments from many other parts of the country are often sold under the guise of being made by Miraj, he claimed.

“When we started receiving complaints about such products, we decided to fight for the GI label and apply in 2021,” Mirajkar said.

He said the wood used for making sitar and tanpura is procured from the forests of Karnataka, while pumpkin gourd is procured from Mangalveda area in Solapur district of Maharashtra of.

“In a month, the cluster produces 60 to 70 sitars and around 100 tanpuras,” Mirajkar said.

He said: “Online business accounts for about 10%, 30% to 40% comes from musical instrument retail stores, and the remaining 50% is direct customers, including some well-known artists.”

He claimed that clients include yesteryear classical singers and founders of the kirana tribe such as Ustad Abdul Karim Khan Saheb, the late Pandit Bhimson Josh and the recently deceased Rashid Khan.

Artists like Shubha Mudgal and film industry singers like Javed Ali, Hariharan, Sonu Nigam and AR Rahman have used instruments made by Miraj, he added.

About the origin of the art of making sitars, tanpuras and other musical instruments at Miraj, he said: “During the Adilshahi period, King Adil Shah sent skilled workers to Miraj to make the dome of the dargah. These workers initially Trained in weapons. -Making.” “However, with the decline of war in the British era, they turned to making musical instruments. The princely state of Miraj sponsored this art and we are the descendants of these skilled workers who continued this tradition,” He said.

Talking about the history of temple-making in the small town of Maharashtra, Mirajkar narrated an incident over 200 years ago when a famous classical singer visited Miraj and something went wrong with his temple.

“After inquiring about a skilled worker who could repair the tanpura, he was directed to Patwardhan Sarkar of Miraj Sansthan (then part of the princely state of Miraj). Two brothers, our ancestors, Farid Mohideen Saheb Shikalgar and Farid Saheb Shikalgar, They are all skilled workers and they were brought in to repair the tanpura,” he said.

“Although they were unfamiliar with the instrument, they tried to restore it and had such success that the classical singer praised their work, saying they had improved the tanpura,” he added.

Milajka said he learned about it from his ancestors, but no one remembered the singer’s name.

Thereafter, Patwardhan Sarkar recognized the potential of these workers and decided to establish an instrument-making industry to sponsor the craftsmanship, Mirajkar said.

He said the banks of the Krishna river were encouraged to grow pumpkins required for making sitar and tanpura.

“Whenever classical artists visited Sunstein, there were discussions on how to make the sitar or tanpura according to their specifications, thus improving the quality of the instrument,” Mirajkar said.

When asked how the GI tag will promote the manufacturing of sitars, tanpuras and other musical instruments at Miraj, Mirajkar said, “This will put Miraj on the global map and the artisans will also get recognition.” He said they also plan to Establish a training and research center for musical instrument making. “Those who are interested can join the training program here,” he added.

On the economic feasibility of making tanpuras and sitars, Mirajkar said it was possible but claimed that the rewards for skilled workers were disproportionate to the hard work required to make the instruments.

“If I have to raise the wages of these skilled workers, I have to raise the price of the instruments. But if the price goes up, there will be fewer buyers,” he said.

Mirajkar said the government has approved the development of the Miraj Instrument Cluster but the work of the agency is yet to be completed and additional funds are required.

“To make it more viable, common people, music lovers and the government should consider helping this entity,” he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)