Uncertain future stares at Kommu Koya troupe

Transfer of Chintur mandal to East Godavari district puts the tribal artistes in a quandary. "The transfer of our mandal to East Godavari district will entail a lot of hardships for us in reaching the district headquarter of Kakinada, situated about over 200 km away from our village," says M Rajaiah

August 22, 2014 11:54 pm | Updated September 29, 2016 09:17 am IST - KHAMMAM:

Tribal dancers from Khammam district performing the ‘Kommu Koya’ dance at the World Folk Day celebrations at Ravindra Bharathi in Hyderabad on Friday. Photo: Nagara Gopal

Tribal dancers from Khammam district performing the ‘Kommu Koya’ dance at the World Folk Day celebrations at Ravindra Bharathi in Hyderabad on Friday. Photo: Nagara Gopal

Tribal artistes belonging to the Kommu Koya dance troupe of Tummala village in Chintur mandal are worried over their future in the aftermath of the merger of their mandal along with six other mandals of Bhadrachalam Agency in Andhra Pradesh.

The Kommu Koya dancers of the village have earned a wide reputation for their exhilarating performances at social and cultural programmes in the Agency and elsewhere in the State. The artistes have been spiritedly pursuing the distinctive Kommu Koya art form against all odds to keep alive the glorious Adivasi cultural heritage.

Wide appreciation

Their contribution to spread awareness against female foeticide, child marriages and other social evils besides AIDS through the vibrant art form has won them wide appreciation from various organisations in the past. The artistes also spearheaded a cultural campaign against Polavaram in the last couple of months. However, the Centre’s decision to transfer their mandal to the State of AP has landed them in a quandary.

“The transfer of our mandal to East Godavari district will entail a lot of hardships for us in reaching the district headquarter of Kakinada, situated about over 200 km away from our village,” says M Rajaiah, an artiste of Tummala village.

“Although our village is not situated under the Polavaram submergence zone, it has been merged with AP,” he lamented.

“We are already facing a tough time in eking out a living due to dwindling patronage. It will be very difficult for us to sustain ourselves and our art in the future without the support of the government,” he said.

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