Under the latest and popular online series of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya entitled ‘Exhibit of the Week’ the “BANAM” – (A bowed monochord musical instrument) collected from 2003. The Community of Santhal, Bankura, West Bengal. It’s Measurement Height – 71.5 cm., Width – 20 cm. (At wooden peg), Thickness of the middle part – 11.5 cm., displayed in the audience as the Third Exhibit of the month of November, 2021 through official website, Facebook, Instagram and twitter page of the IGRMS.
In this regard Praveen Kumar Mishra, Director, IGRMS said that Banam, a bowed monochord instrument, is one of the ancient musical instruments of the Santhal tribe. It is carved out of a single log of wood, the lower part is hollowed and covered with lizard hide and tightened with bamboo pegs.
String made of horse hair is fastened from one end to the other on which the bow is used to produce the sound. It is played as an accompaniment during all festivals particularly associated with fertility of soil and harvesting.
Banam is played with the bow; the notes are produced by gentle pressing of the fingers of the left hand on the string of the instrument. Apart from a traditional musical instrument, Banam is also known for its workmanship manifested in decorative motives and sculptural forms.
It has a short neck and a head which is beautifully carved in the shape of a human head. The tuning peg is inserted in the ear and the string comes out of the mouth.
The upper portion of the instrument is carved with an image of human face which adorns a crown like decoration depicting human miniatures of three female figures in standing posture indicating the Guru and her disciples.