TV
Just as the lotus blooms from the mud, true talent often emerges from the most unlikely circumstances. Genuine talent is never born with a golden spoon; rather, it shines brightest when forged in struggle. Such is the story of Prabhasini Bhoi, lovingly known to all as Mamali. Born into a humble household as the third daughter among six siblings of Mandar Bhoi and Ullasi Bhoi, Mamali lives in a small thatched house in Chaupada village under Kantapada block of Cuttack district.
Twenty seven-year old Mamali is completely visually impaired. Yet, Mother Nature has blessed her with extraordinary compassion and creative power in her voice. Her melodious singing of devotional bhajans carries a unique resonance that enriches Odisha’s traditional folk art, giving it a distinct identity. Through her soulful renditions, Mamali has not only preserved the heritage of Odisha’s devotional folk music but has elevated it with dignity.
At 63, Mandar and his wife, Ullasi are burdened with hardship. Of their six daughters, they have somehow managed to marry off four. Mandar was once known as a 'dhuduki' player and singer, earning his livelihood through farming while keeping his passion for the traditional dhuduki dance alive. From these pursuits, the family scraped together a modest living. But tragedy struck when Mandar suffered a paralytic attack, ending both his profession and his passion.
Now, the responsibility of feeding the five-member household rests entirely on their daughter, Mamali. She sings at village gatherings, religious festivals, and community events, earning a meagre income that barely sustains the family.
Mamali’s musical journey and devotion to the art form were deeply shaped by her father. As a child, she would sit in his akhada and absorb every note, even though she was visually impaired. Despite her lack of sight, Mamali developed an extraordinary interest in music, carrying forward the legacy her father once lived for.
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During her early years at the school for the visually impaired, she secured the first position in music among 300 children, a moment that laid the foundation of her musical journey. Her parents had initially left her at the school with a sense of relief. However, when her mother Ullasi’s health deteriorated, she went to bring her daughter back and was confronted with a grim reality. At the school, she found her daughter in a state of extreme neglect. She was almost reduced to skin and bones, in a pitiful condition, with lice falling off her body. Despite repeated requests, the school authorities refused to release the child. It was only after seeking the intervention of the local police that the father, Mandar, was finally able to rescue his daughter.
Subsequently, Mamali’s musical journey found a new revival. Folk art has always run deep in her lineage. Once, after listening to the traditional folk performance 'Ghoda Nacha', Mamali was captivated and requested her father to let her learn the art form. Her father took the initiative, and soon Mamali began training under many Gurus.
Gradually, Mamali immersed herself in mastering the art, and by 1999, she began performing Ghoda Nacha. However, due to a lack of support from organizers and fellow artists, Mamali was left with no choice but to abandon the folk dance after a few years.
In the end, Mamali turned to Bhajan, which perhaps was destined for her. Today, she has carved a unique niche by singing Odisha’s traditional Bhajans with her melodious voice, accompanied by the harmonium. Her performances not only mesmerize audiences but have also earned him widespread recognition and respect across the state.
For each performance, Mamali and her team earn only between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,500, including travel expenses. Every month, the group manages to get around 20 to 25 programs. After dividing the earnings among all members, the share that reaches each one is barely enough to survive.
Despite not being able to see, Mamali’s talent in playing the harmonium continues to amaze many. Within just a month, she mastered this complex instrument under the guidance of a Guru. Over the years, Mamali has performed on many stages. At one point, financial struggles forced Mamali to sing modern songs with wedding bands. Despite the good pay, Mamali says she could never find joy there. “The money was fine, but there was no happiness. Unlike devotional singing, the audience’s love and respect were missing,” she recalls.
Now, Mamali wishes to dedicate the rest of his life to singing bhajans in praise of the Lord. She is wholly devoted to devotional music and also nurtures dreams of becoming a more recognized singer in the future. Teaching music to children is another goal close to her heart.
At present, Mamali practices and performs with an old, broken single-reed harmonium. She longs to buy a new double-reed harmonium, but financial constraints have made it impossible. Many influential people—officials, collectors, politicians, and ministers, have admired her unique talent and promised to gift her a harmonium. Yet, those promises have vanished like water bubbles, leaving Mamali struggling with her humble instrument and her unshaken devotion.
Despite being visually impaired, Mamali has never been a burden on her family. Rather, by relying on her musical talent, she has shouldered the responsibility of supporting his family of five without hesitation. “What is true and what I am, I have accepted that. That is why I do not react much to others’ mockery. Instead, I try to answer it through my refined performances, and audiences appreciate that. Except for a few people, most spectators have supported me and shown me respect. For that, I am deeply grateful, and it is because of them that my musical journey has come this far,” Mamali responded in her characteristic candid style.
Mamali studied up to Matriculation in a school for the visually impaired. She is somewhat familiar with Braille, which helped her progress a little further in life.
Though the government repeatedly announces slogans about women’s empowerment and the upliftment of persons with disabilities, real support for a courageous, talented, and hardworking young woman like Mamali remains absent. She receives only a meagre monthly disability pension of Rs 500. The meagre assistance she received under the government scheme was not enough to complete the construction of a modest house.
Today, it is solely Mamali’s devotional singing that sustains her family, covering even the most basic daily expenses. Mamali has expressed her readiness to tour across Odisha and spread the divine name through devotional songs without charging any fee. However, the challenges of worldly responsibilities, managing a seven-member team, and covering expenses such as vehicle rentals inevitably bring financial needs.
For this reason, she accepts only what devotees willingly offer in the name of the Lord, but never demands or pressures anyone. According to her, the true wealth lies not in money but in the love, appreciation, and acceptance of the audience and support from her elderly parents.
