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A Brief History of the Merasi
The Merasi (meaning 'musician' or 'keeper of the stories') descend from 38 generations of rich artistic heritage. They are musical historians who narrate the Thar Desert's folk past through sacred, celebratory songs.
Rasul Khan & Karim Khan perform in the Thar Desert
While the Merasi are an auspicious presence at births, weddings, funerals, and other major rites of passage, they are considered social pollution outside of those contexts. As modernization sweeps across India, Merasi music is rapidly losing popular favor.
When older Merasi die, they take with them song systems that are not taught to younger generations because the performance of traditional music is no longer an income generator, however small. The result is that Merasi music is on the cusp of eradication.
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Philosophy & Community
Merasi women carrying wood through a small village
We believe that community-powered education is the most constructive response to poverty. Our mission is defined by the Merasi, a population of lower caste musicians living in the sprawling Thar Desert of northwestern India.
For 38 generations, the Merasi have composed, performed and maintained a vibrant, distinct folk music legacy. Despite their cultural significance, the Merasi are considered 'Untouchable,' the lowest strata in India's hierarchical caste system.
Merasi are born without birth certificates, denied access to education, political representation and adequate healthcare and live well below the poverty line. With modernization blazing across India, traditional music, the Merasi's one recognized form of social worth, is on the brink of extinction.
Amdist crippling marginalization, a critical mass of Merasi decided that the next generation will not inherit this hopeless reality. Building on earlier successful educational initiatives of Folk Arts Rajasthan, Merasi School is the community's artistic and social vision in action.
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Where We Work
Jaisalmer District, Rajasthan, India
Map courtesy of Woodworth Associates
The Visual Landscape
The Thar Desert spans more than 200,000 square kilometers, making it the 18th largest desert in the world. It blankets the majority of Rajasthan, spilling over into the Indian states of Haryana and the Punjab to the north, Gujarat to the south and Pakistan to the west. This seemingly arid landscape provided fertile inspiration for the Merasi's enormous body of folk music.
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