The art of playing the dhak is now being referred to as a dying profession. While some of the dhakis may be lucky to retain old contacts, some others have shifted to the lighter tasha or dhol. Still others are moving away from their traditional profession. During this year’s (2020) Durga Puja, the Covid 19 pandemic ensured that all the dhakis of Bhagirathbar village in Pashchim Medinipur stayed home. Among them was 72 year old Jugal Roy, the most skilled dhaki in the village, who is admired for his extraordinary prowess and who retains his passion for this traditional drum. 

Jugal belongs to a family of traditional dhak players, who have played for generations. He started training in his art from the age of eighteen, learning from a skilled master who lived 50km away. Taking advantage of the fact that his guru happened to be a paternal cousin as well, Jugal would visit him as often as he could or invite him over to his own home whenever possible. Of course, a small fee would have to be paid, and his training under his guru was somewhat tempered by his limited financial ability. But his enthusiasm and innate talent won the day and within five to seven years, he had mastered the dhak. 

Jugal has now been playing the dhak for over 45 years. During the first three decades of his career, he would perform within West Bengal only – primarily for puja clubs in Kolkata and Kharagpur. His fame outside the village however came to him only some fifteen years ago. A local police officer heard his performance and began to promote him. He was sent to perform at Durga Pujas and Kali Pujas and participate in competitions across the country - to Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab and around West Bengal as well. He would be accompanied by other players from his family and was awarded numerous cups and shields. He is particularly proud of the award he received at Kharagpur IIT and at a Ranchi event, where he stood out among all the other dhakis assembled there. 

Jugal procures his dhak from artisans in Garhbeta , a 50km distance from his village . They, according to him, are the best in the craft. He trains a few youngsters in the village every year and opines that though a few dhakis in his village have picked up well, mastering the dhak requires a certain level of intelligence that not everyone in the village possesses. The rich sound of the dhak can often be heard in the evenings, as young men of the village gather around in front of his home to train and rehearse. His only son does not share his passion for the dhak, though he is an adequate player. The newly trained dhakis try to entice Jugal to accompany them on their visits to the city, but Jugal is no longer interested in travelling to Kolkata. He is not as strong as he once was and prefers to perform in the villages close by.

A master of traditional beats, Jugal has also experimented with new rhythms and has invited us to his village to see him perform. Since his earnings from the dhak are only seasonal, Jugal, like most other dhakis, is a cultivator as well. He has a small plot of land of his own but also works on leased land in order to sustain his family. He is currently busy harvesting rice, peanuts, potatoes and mustard.