Author Archives: Prabhakar Jamkhedkar

Tracing the roots of powade, this section explores how Shahirs became the torchbearers of oral history in Maharashtra. It unpacks the evolution of this poetic form—from celebratory ballads of Maratha valor to instruments of protest and identity—and their enduring relevance in community memory. … Read More

This essay frames powade as more than performance—it’s a living archive of Maharashtra’s social and political struggles. By capturing everyday resistance and community pride, powade becomes a grassroots historiography, telling stories often left out of written records. … Read More

Not all powade sound the same. This section delves into the variety of powade forms—religious, political, heroic—and the instruments that animate them, such as the daf, dholki, and tuntune. It’s an exploration of how rhythm, voice, and form come together to give historical storytelling its pulse. … Read More