Drum beating: An endangered traditional occupation?

Somasiri RANHALUGE

RAJA-KARIYA: Drum-beating was known as one of the services rendered by the people to the ancient kings in Sri Lanka. "Raja Kariya" or the service to the kings had to be done by their subjects in the ancient times.

In this way, caste system originated in the form of various traditional occupations namely, farming, fishing, pot-making, drum-beating, washing clothes and jewellery-making.

With the development of society some such traditional occupations became modern and found their niche in this society. For example, jewellery shops, laundromats, carpentry workshops, with modern machinery, mechanised farming and fishing.

However, drum beating seems to have lost its bearings due to many reasons, with social mobility.

I got the opportunity to speak about it recently when I met a very experienced and knowledgable person who is engaged in drum-beating as a livelihood in Anuradhapura.

According to him, it was service rendered to the ancient kings who ruled during the time of feudalism and it has played a major role as a mode of communication because there was no other form of effective communication when it came to conveying messages to the people in the past.

At a time like this when communication has reached its zenith with modern technology, drum beating has paled into insignificance.

In spite of the fact that it has emerged in a modern way with dancing which is known as up-country, low country, Sabaragamuwa and Ruhuna, it is confined to religious places and some social, and cultural occasions as an ritual or rites. e.g. funerals, 'poruwa' ceremonies, perahera etc.

These are some of the traditional places where it takes place. 'Thammettama', 'Davula', drum and flute are still used by them on such auspicious occasions and their charges range from Rs. 3,000 to 5,000 per day as they say.

However, they are faced with a natural threat also as far as their occupation is concerned. It is the skins of wild animals that are used for drum making e.g. 'Thammettama', 'Davula' and drum.

The prohibition of killing wild animals by the Government has stood in the way of continuing this employment.

According to them, the skins of deer and monkeys are used for drum-making in Rajarata and those of cattle are not used by them for this purpose like other provinces in the country.

It is said that drum-beating as a livelihood is becoming unpopular with social mobility among the youth today.

The other reason is that the present generation do not regard it as an essential part of social development. The drum has become a modified one among the musical instruments that are used by the youth today.

Many of the youth who are educated and have other skills, go in search of jobs in the public and private sectors without depending on their traditional employment.

They still appreciate the great service done by a former president to upgrade the living conditions of these people by constructing houses with modern infrastructure facilities.

Sandamalgama and Ruwanpura in the Anuradhapura district are such awakened villages which are born out of his concept.

In the religious places like Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura and Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, this occupation is held in very high esteem because it is treated as an essential feature of Buddhist rituals.

The people who have dedicated their service in this regard, are given land and houses with modern facilities in Anuradhapura while giving them fixed salaries as well.

In spite of the fact that many other traditional occupations preserve their identity in the modern society, drum-beating as a livelihood is becoming an endangered occupation.

But, the people's ability to adapt their lifestyles by going in search of various other jobs, proves the theory, 'survival of the fittest'. After all, man has all the qualities to become 'the fittest' among all living beings on earth. The question of extinction does not arise as far as human activities are concerned.