In Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, the bamboo bansuri is greater than a musical instrument—it’s a dwelling household craft. From melas and devotional gatherings to educated musicians searching for exact tuning, flutes made right here journey far past the district.
Among the many artisans sustaining this custom is Mohammad Shafiq, who runs Shahji Flute Maker. A 3rd-generation craftsman, he realized the artwork at dwelling, rising up amongst bundles of bamboo and half-finished flutes. “This work was all the time round us,” he says. “We didn’t select it—it grew to become a part of us.”
A Lineage Rooted in Bamboo
Shafiq explains that flute-making begins with bamboo choice. High quality determines sound. For premium bansuris, the bamboo have to be spherical, clean, and free from cracks. After procurement, the bamboo is dried and graded. Decrease grades are used for primary flutes bought at festivals, whereas superior tubes are reserved for tuned devices meant for critical gamers.
“Materials decides the music,” he notes. “If the bamboo is just not proper, the sound won’t keep regular.”
Precision in Tuning
As soon as a tube is chosen, measurements are marked fastidiously. Finger holes are drilled solely after actual positioning is calculated, since size and diameter decide scale. For instance, a 19-inch flute with a 19 mm diameter produces a particular tonal vary.
Sprucing improves each grip and end, whereas tuning is examined with a meter and adjusted till the sound is obvious. Ornamental silk thread binding, usually achieved by girls artisans, provides each aesthetic worth and revenue to households related to the craft.
Market and Continuity
By way of Uttar Pradesh’s One District One Product (ODOP) initiative, the craft has gained entry to loans and exhibitions. Shafiq views assist virtually, noting that conventional instruments—sharp knives and exact measuring scales—usually matter greater than heavy equipment.
Flutes from Pilibhit are bought throughout India and attain worldwide patrons, together with in the USA, by way of export channels. Orders usually request customized scales and particular tunings.
For Shafiq, survival is dependent upon sound. “If the bansuri provides a mithi awaaz—a candy, melodious tone—folks return.”
In Pilibhit, it’s this sound that retains three generations related to the identical workshop.
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