Rani Maring keeps Khasi tradition alive, receives Sangeet Natak Akademi recognition
Shillong, July 5: Of the handful of people in Meghalaya who are silently working towards keeping the Khasi culture and tradition alive is Rani Maring, a septuagenarian from Ri Bhoi’s Pahambir village under Nongpoh constituency.
The musical instrument maker was one of the recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards (Akademi Puraskar) for the year 2025 in the field of folk and tribal musical instruments making. The awards were announced last month.
He is also the receiver of several state awards. However, the fame has barely affected the humble instrument maker, who is not only striving to keep tradition alive but also helping posterity carry forward his legacy.
Among the many musical instruments that Maring makes are duitara, maryngot, ksing, bom, sitar and tangmuri. A farmer by profession, Maring learned the art from the elders in the village, which is popular for its folklores. “I did not go to any institute to learn the art. I learnt from seniors (senior instrument makers) and taught myself to perfect the art. I started making the instruments in 2000,” said Maring on the phone.
He not only creates the medium of music but is a proficient player of several instruments, including Duitara and sitar, which is not a traditional Khasi instrument.
Maring supplies his creations to Dak-ti, a platform for artisans and artistes in Shillong, the state library and other private clients. And when he is not creating musical instruments, he is busy with his primary work, farming.
Maring has students not only from the village but also from institutes in Shillong like Martin Luther Christian University, North-Eastern Hill University and St Anthony’s College.
When asked how he feels about the recognition, Maring said he is humbled. “No doubt the recognition came late but that does not lessen my happiness. I am thankful to everyone who has helped me, including (danseuse) Monica Chanda ma’am (in Shillong),” said the artiste.
