Fifty year old Shyamlal Mandi is a farmer and a musician, deeply rooted in the culture of his community. Passionate about music and quick to pick up a tune, he had spent his childhood and youth only playing the santal drums, tumda and tamak. His involvement with Santali traditional songs began only when he was thirty years or so, spurred on by his talented mother who is a treasure trove of traditional songs. and the various Santali music competitions that are commonplace in his district, Purulia.
He became aware of the richness of Santal culture and the wealth of knowledge embedded in the songs. He developed a deep, unwavering respect and understanding of Santal music and has buried himself in expanding his knowledge since. Until then, by his own admission, he was content to be just a spectator, as a happy-go-lucky youth in his school days (Shyamlal studied till Madhyamik) and later busy with his farming, his chicks, goats and cattle and occasional carpentry for his own needs.
Even though he did not have a guru and pretty much learnt through his ability to observe keenly and his unwavering commitment, Shyamlal is today the unofficial musical guru in his village today and leads the village musicians. He picked up the dance steps from the women in his village and simultaneously taught himself a host of traditional Santal instruments including the Banam and the tirio (flute). He does not sell these instruments, but plays them for his own satisfaction.
Shyamlal teaches anybody who comes for any musical assistance in his village. He has also taught his two daughters and son and hopes that daughters will be able to practice their musical skills even after they get married. His son has become a skilled tamak player.
Though a busy farmer, Shyamlal and his group participate in musical competitions through the year and are usually awarded the first prize. Ever since they received government accreditation a few years ago, they have also been invited to government organized programs around Purulia. These programs fetch them more money per head than the prize money from competitions which is also shared among the 15-20 group members. But government sponsored programs are offered only occasionally and not every year while there are numerous competitions each year. However, Shyamlal, a man with simple needs, plays his music, not for the money, but to satisfy his soul. He is grateful that the payments, irrespective of amount, at least help with the upkeep of their instruments and keep their music alive.
Shyamlal has also learnt the art of Chadar Badani, a rare form of Santal puppetry, thanks to a training programme Daricha had conducted in Purulia some years ago.