Jahan Geet Singh of Chandigarh is the youngest female dholi who is creating ripples with her beats
This 17-year-old Chandigarh dhol player is living up to her name, which literally means ‘song of the world’. When she started playing dhol at the age of 14, she was the youngest dhol player in the city, and now she is also the best. In a tete-e-tete with Anne Cherian she shares her success saga…
How did you make inroads in male bastion of dhol playing?
When it comes to dhol playing, the world had never witnessed a female dholi and my main reason for taking it up was to prove that even girls can make everyone dance.
How did people react on seeing you with a dhol?
Being a girl, things weren't easy for me. My family has constantly remained supportive of me in this venture and I received a lot of appreciation from the audience as well, but there were many difficult situations too. My counterparts were initially not encouraging, but I learnt to overcome the criticism and prove myself beyond it.
What kind of challenges did you face initially when you started as a dholi?
I started when I was barely 14 years old and the dhol was not an easy instrument to be lifted. To carry it continuously for long period of time and simultaneously beat it with full vigour is very demanding. There were times when my hands would sell and bleed. But I was determined to carry on.
What is it about this traditional Punjabi instrument that fascinated you the most?
Dhol is the most powerful and energetic instrument and can make anyone dance to its beats, irrespective of the culture he/she belongs to. The beats of the dhol fills every heart with happiness and that’s what fascinated me the most about it. And it’s the only instrument which does not require any kind of backup instruments to make the atmosphere livelier other than the vitality of a dholi.
Do you play the regular sized dhol or have you customised one for yourself?
I play the standard-sized dhol and that’s the toughest part indeed. The sheer size of the dhol with an approximately weight of 7-8 kgs being carried and played by a girl leaves the audience amazed when they watch my performance.
Where all have you participated till now and which performance is close to your heart?
Till date I have given more than 100 stage performances all over Punjab and Chandigarh. I’ve worked with various government organisations and taken part in govt-aided cultural events. I was given the State Award by the then Chandigarh administrator, Shivraj Patil in 2014. In the year 2015 I participated in a TV show ‘Entertainment ke liye kuch bhi karega’ judged by celebrities Anu Malik and Farah Khan; it was my most memorable performance.
As a dhol player what are the key aspects one should keep in mind?
Firstly, it requires a lot of stamina and energy to carry and play the instrument. Secondly, the beat, rhythm and the pace are some key aspects one needs to pay full attention to. Perfection is required to get people to dance to the dhol beats.
How did you balance your passion for dhol with academics?
As a student of class XII, it was really difficult to strike a balance between the two. I had to plan my schedule accordingly and devote ample time to my studies and dhol practices. My mentor Kartar Singh helped me through it all. I used to study early in the morning so that I could take out some time for dhol rehearsals. I scored 95.2% in class XII boards.
What message do you have for girls who would like to take up dhol-playing?
I would really love to carry on and take my passion to an international level. Being a female dhol player, I will be happy to see other girls coming forward as it would mean that I have accomplished my goal of inspiring other young women out there.