Aalha Gayan: Heroic folk song of Bundelkhnad

Introduction

When you ask someone about Bundelkhand who lives in another state, they may not be familiar with this region, but they must have heard of Aalha-Udal through the folk song ‘Aalha Gayan’. However, this case is only applicable to older generations. The new generation is not much interested in listening to these Aalha songs, so to make them aware of our rich heritage of folk songs, there is a need to study their history and cultural significance.

Bundelkhand is a culturally rich region of central India that contains seven districts of Uttar Pradesh and six districts of Madhya Pradesh. There have been developed a rich heritage of folk art forms which has its own cultural texture of local dialects. The tradition of folk song is a prevalent art form among all (e.g., Sohare, Gari, Faag, and Lamtere), etc.  Aalha Gayan is one of the most significant heroic folk songs of Bundelkhand.  It has historical importance in the oral tradition.

Historical Background

Aalha gayan (songs) is a blend of heroic stories that date back to the twelfth century. During the Chandel dynasty of Mahoba, there were two military generals named Aalha and Udal who were alike sons of the king Paramal or Paramardidev. They are remembered for their bravery and loyalty in the war against the Prathviraj Chauhan of Delhi. It is said that Aalha, Udal, and other brothers together fought 52 forts’ s war (Baman garh ki ladai) against contemporary kingdoms.  Vellore of these wars compiled by contemporary poet Jagnik in the book named Aalha Khand/ Mahoba Khand or Parmal Raso. The original manuscript has not been discovered; the story passes on through generations in the form of folk songs and folk ballads. Many people in Bundelkhand have handwritten  Aalha commentaries that are still there. Some of it is also in Devanagari style, but the singers sang in the Bundeli style.

Princes of Mahoba Durgavati also used to listen Aalha song, who fought against the Mughals. In the 16^th c. Maharana Pratap went to the Kumbh fair of Prayagraj to listen to the Aalha gayan and respectfully brought the Bundeli singer along with him to Mewar (Rajasthan) and listened to him regularly to remind the Vellore of Aalha. When Akber came to know this, he also called Aalha Gayak from Bundelkhad and listened to him many times. Rani Laxmi Bai, queen of Jhansi, also loved to listen to Aalha songs, and Aalha was her ideal.

By the 17^th century, Aalha songs became popular among the English as well. They called Aalha singer in their camps and listened to it again and again. They had also transcribed it in English. Impressed by it, C.E. Elliot published a translation of fourteen wars in Hindi in 1972. Later, more translation was done in the Bhojpuri and Bundeli languages. Elliot had translated it into English and sent it to England in 1920. It is said that the Aalha song was played to the British army during World War first to fire them with enthusiasm to attack. William Waterfield published his book titled Lay of Aalha in English in 1923.

In 1930, Aalha singer Shivram Singh was sentenced to death for a murder charge. He asked to sing Aalha as his last wish. He created such a spell by singing Aalha that the officer lost in his singing, and the time of execution passed. The officer was pleased and spared him from a death sentence. All these events prove the authenticity and legacy of Aalha Gayan.

Performance Tradition

There are many methods of singing Aalha. There are many versions of Aalha Gayan in distinct regions. Aalha gayan is sung mostly in Bundelkhandi and Awadhi. Aalha Gayan is not just singing; it is performed with full energy and expression in a loud pitch. Singers known as Aalha Gayak. Singers create an environment of battle with their singing. Musical instruments such as Dholak, Nagada, and Majira, etc, accompanied the singer and matched their pitch. Singers belong to different rural communities, and mostly singers learn from their ancestors. These singers have preserved the history in the form of singing. Performances take place occasionally as seasonal festivals and fairs. Kajali Mahotsav is one such great occasion to calibrate and promote Aalha ballades and to appreciate and honor the Aalha gayak.  Audiences who are familiar with the story and the dialect enjoy the singing by reciting the verse behind the singer.

Aalha Singers

Baccha Singh is one of the most famous Aalha singers who started singing at the age of ten. He died in 2021 at the age of 80. He earned fame by recording more than 30 Casitas of Aalha Gayan. He was able to sing for nine hours continuously. He was inspired by his father and the Aalha singer Mulla Singh. Baccha Singh got the honor from President R. Narayan in 1998. He was also honored by Ram Naik in 2018. He also got a pension for his contribution to preserving folk music.

Uma Shankar from Kamal Khera village of Mahoba is also a renowned Aalha singer. He also learnt it from his father. He sang Bundeli, Kanpuri, Rai Bareli, and Unnaoi variants of Aalha gayan. He and his group have been performing Aalha for 25 years. He wrote in the Anahad NGO blog that he earned a lot of money and fame from Aalha singing. He teaches music to 35 students along with his son. Other singers named Ram Ras Pandey, Kaldar Singh, Chhotelal Pal, Sheelu Singh Rajput, Surjan Chaitanya, Sajjan Mishra from Sultanpur, and many more played a role in preserving this art form of Aalha song. Gaffur Khan Natraj Cassettes are most famous for being commonly listened to by the people. In 2016 Music and Art Academy Delhi awarded the cheques of 3 lakhs to 49 famous Aalha singers. Sanjo Baghel female singer of the devotional Aalha song.

Significance

Aalha Gayan is beyond entertainment for Bundelkhand people. Aalha songs bring you back to life in history. Drama narrates the story on the stage with the Aalha songs during the festival. Alha Gayan, which has been traditionally alive for hundreds of years, is the unique identity of this region. Alha singing increases moral strength in life and removes the feeling of despair in life.  A few decades ago, People used to listen to the Aalha on the radio and tape recorders while doing their farming and daily work. It was part of the common habit of listing Aalha. In Bundelkhand, children were brought up listening to Aalha songs. Pilgrimage sites such as Chitrakoot, Aalha song is played in every shop, and people listen to it while doing the circumambulation of Kamadgiri mountain. These have all been replaced by time.

Theme and Content

Aalha singing is the living source of knowing the history of the 12^th century. As I read in the book Lay of Aalha, Aalha songs throw light on every aspect, such as political, social, economic, religious, customs and tradition, food and living style, flora-fauna, taxes, military, geographical condition, witchcraft, and magic. Heroism (veer rash) is prominent in the verses. Feudalism and land grants are prominent features of that time. Aalha is shown as a man of ideals and ethics. Aalha Gayan teaches the value of brotherhood and unity. Things have been exaggerated to maintain the rhymes and heroic flavor. Singer also composed the Aalha song and wrote accordingly to match the tone of music and instruments.

Current Condition and Revival Efforts

Aalha songs exist only in oral melodic form, still alive in the region due to the efforts of a few groups for hundreds of years. The government needs to support the singers. Minister Pushpendra Singh Chandel requested to establish an Aalha Singing cultural center in Mahoba so that Aalha can be transcribed and new research on Aalha could be possible. It will also play an important role in the development of tourism in the Bundelkhand. But no progress has yet been made in the direction of the execution of any such cultural center for Aalha singing.

During the Kajri festival, the tune of Alha singing can be heard in every nook and corner of Mahoba city, but ever since Alha singing has started being presented through videos, stage artists have been neglected. The younger generation is becoming ignorant of this heritage of our folk art. In such a situation, the district administration has prepared a blueprint to establish ‘Aalha Gurukul in Mahoba’ to give a new lease of life to Alha singing. The news of presenting this draft to the cultural ministry source, Amar Ujala, 2021, but no progress has been made on it.

Conclusion

Aalha Gayan is a centuries-old art of singing folk songs, which has developed many variations and styles over time and spread nationwide. Generational interest is inclining toward rap and pop music, overshadowing the importance of folk songs and their singers. In the age of globalization and digitalization, it has become challenging to maintain its uniqueness and the interest of people in listing Aalha songs. On the other hand, it also gives a higher reach to a variety of audiences through YouTube and Spotify. More initiative should be taken to revive the interest of people to support the Aalha gayak. The government should pay special attention to the execution of initiatives.

References

1. Chauhan Sudha, Mahoba, Aalha Udal ki Mahangatha, Red box, Aalhaabad.
2. Waterfield William, Lay of Aalha, Oxford University, 1923.
3. https://historified.in/2024/12/16/alha-udal-ballads-the-echoes-of-heroism-and-legacy/
4. https://anahad.ngo/artists/umashankarsen
5. https://eparlib.sansad.in/bitstream/123456789/755266/1/9854.pdf
6. https://www.amarujala.com/uttar-pradesh/mahoba/mahoba-me-alha-gayan-mahoba-news-knp6049513109
7. https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Jul/15/alha-folk-music-snake-and-ladder-game-part-of-snakebite-awareness-campaign-in-madhya-pradesh
8. https://youtu.be/4trpP3F1s1M?si=fHsNCIRTmmgeENQk
9. https://youtu.be/J-ZffpSC7D8?si=x1X8wloPLZGPP4jI