About the performance 

Thousand River Blues by Halgi Culture Band

We have always heard stories of Dalit struggle, pain, exclusion, and disrespect. But how often do we witness Dalit celebration, Dalit culture, Dalit joy in the so-called ​‘mainstream’ society? Halgi Culture brings you the joy that is the Thousand River Blues! 

Rooted in the beats of the Halgi (tamate, hand drum) and the lived realities of Dalit – Bahujan communities, the performance transforms music into a medium of memory, protest, and celebration. For a community whose stories have only recently been lettered, whose words were long denied space, the performance is an act of reclamation. When the voices of Halgi Culture pick up these letters, these words, they sing, dance and rap in many languages, turning silence into resonance.

By weaving together folk rhythms, rap, and multilingual expression, the band redefines the blues. It is not sorrow alone but a collective assertion that Dalit identity is alive with pride, creativity, and resistance. 

Thousand River Blues compels us to ask: Who is this for? Where does it come from? Why has it been hidden for so long? The answers arrive through rhythm and dance. This show is not just a performance; it is a declaration of Dalit joy, cultural pride, and political imagination. 

About the band

Halgi Culture is a socio-cultural collective dedicated to anti-caste advocacy, gender equality, and social justice using the Halgi, a musical instrument deeply rooted in the Madhiga Dalit community of Karnataka, which carries a legacy of both rhythm and resilience. Often disregarded by mainstream society, Halgi Culture reclaims this instrument through workshops and performances, creating a space where music challenges oppression and redefines identity. 

This performance by Halgi Culture at IHA is in collaboration with Azim Premji University.