Bihar’s all-women Musahar musicians beat drums of change

Dressed in bright orange saris, a group of women dance with a rhythm and energy that feels like an announcement, a declaration of their existence. But this is no Bollywood scene, and their music carries no lyrics. These women, belonging to Bihar’s Musahar community, are dancing to the beat of their own story – a tale of assertion and survival.

The Musahar community, placed at the very bottom of India’s caste hierarchy, has long been marginalised and belittled for their “rat-eating” traditions. These women, from Dhibra village in Danapur block near Bihar’s capital city Patna, know that this label of “rat-eaters” has always been a cover for deeper injustices inflicted upon them. 

In response, 16 Musahar women came together to form Bihar’s first all-women band in 2013. And thus, the Sargam Mahila Band was born.

“We were not persecuted because we ate the damn mice,” said Pancham, 34, one of the band’s founding members.

We were persecuted simply because we existed. So, we started this band to tell the world that we exist and that we will continue to live.

For Pancham, each beat of the drum is a bold proclamation of her presence. “Every time I beat the drum, I feel like I’m announcing to the world that I’m here,” she said with conviction.

Their journey began with a workshop organised by Naari Gunjan, an NGO supporting the Musahar community. During the workshop, the women were asked if they could play musical instruments — something they had never imagined doing. 

“Music was always something men did,” reflected Pancham. “Especially for events like weddings and religious ceremonies. For women like us, from marginalised communities, our roles had been set long before we were born.”

Also read: Musahars in Bihar struggle to educate their children

Beating the odds

Savita Devi, 36, recalled the first time she saw a drum. “I thought, how could I ever play this? It felt like something that didn’t belong to me,” she said. But with practice, she and the others learned to keep the rhythm, beating the drums in sync with one another, and slowly, their confidence grew. 

“Every time I struck a beat in time with the others, I felt a little braver,” Savita said. “It wasn’t just about the music. It was about proving to myself that I could do something new, something people like me weren’t supposed to do.”

Their perseverance paid off. They mastered their instruments, becoming Bihar’s first all-women band. But their first performance at a wedding was nerve-wracking — not because of their music, which they had perfected — but because they were stepping onto a stage that no women from their community had ever stood on.

“We knew people were looking at us, not just because of the music, but because we were women playing it,” Pancham said. “Some were amazed, others confused, but we kept going. Just being there was a victory.”

That initial performance marked the beginning of their journey toward recognition. Today, the Sargam Mahila Band performs for weddings, local events, and even government officials. Where once these women laboured in fields or brick kilns for piffling wages, now they earn Rs 5,000 for each performance – a far cry from the Rs 150 a day they once struggled to earn.

The bond between the band members has grown stronger as their music has gained recognition. “When one of us is struggling, the others are there to lift her up,” Pancham said.

They still remember the first time they were paid for a performance. “It was unbelievable,” Savita said. “We were all emotional. The money wasn’t just about finances. It was a symbol that our work held value, that what we were doing mattered.”

Also read: Landless Musahars continue their wait for development

Their rise, however, was interrupted by the pandemic. The lockdown silenced their drums, leaving them, and their families, in dire straits. “During the lockdown, no one helped us,” said Anita Devi, 33, another band member. “Our husbands were out of work, and so were we. It was a very difficult time.”

Drumrolls of success

The women of Sargam Mahila Band are nothing if not resilient. They regrouped, and once restrictions eased, they were back on stage. One of their most memorable performances came when they played alongside a male band at a large wedding in Patna. Initially sceptical of their abilities, the men were soon won over by the women’s powerful performance.

“After the show, the men told us we were the stars of the night,” Savita said. “It felt like a huge victory. Not just for us, but for all women who are told they can’t do something just because they’re women.”

When the band enters a wedding hall with their instruments, they still face uncertainty and curiosity. “People don’t know how to react at first,” Savita said with a smile. “But when we start playing, our music reaches their hearts.”

More than just hearts, their music is reaching young girls. “When they see us perform, their eyes light up,” said Pancham. “We’re building solidarity among the most oppressed women.”

The band knows that they have come a long way. Still, they continue to hone their skills, working to expand their reach. They are inspiring more women to pick up instruments and make their own music, defying societal norms.

“When you play your own music, you’re telling your own story,” Pancham said. “We want to take our music to new places. Not just across Bihar, but across India. We want to announce that we exist, and we will continue to live. If the drum is our medium, so be it.”

Also read: Musahars overcome fear, but face a long road ahead

The lead image on top depicts members of the Sargam Mahila Band, from the Musahar community, getting ready to perform. (Photo courtesy Sudha Varghese) 

Kumar Gaurav is a multilingual audio-visual journalist from Bihar.