Democracy finds its rhythm with folk songs in Palamu

Panki CO uses folk music to spread awareness on SIR

Divya Modi

Ranchi

In an era dominated by digital campaigns, animated explainers and social media outreach, a government official in Jharkhand has demonstrated that sometimes the most effective way to connect with people is through the language of their culture.

What began as a routine voter awareness drive in a remote village of Panki block in Palamu district has transformed into a heartwarming example of grassroots communication. Instead of delivering another formal speech or reading out official instructions, Circle Officer and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in-charge Marwari Singh Sahu picked up a microphone and broke into a Nagpuri folk song.

Within hours, the video of the officer singing in the local language while explaining the importance of electoral roll verification spread rapidly across social media, amassing more than two lakh views in just 24 hours. More importantly, it struck a chord with villagers who found the official process difficult to understand.

The song carried a simple but significant message—eligible voters should verify their names in the electoral rolls, fill up the enumeration forms correctly, submit the required documents on time and ensure that no eligible voter is left out of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision exercise.

“Presently, I am posted in Panki as the Circle Officer and also serving as the SIR in-charge. During a field visit, I came across a gathering where villagers were being informed about the enumeration form. I realised many of them were unable to understand the process. That’s when I decided to explain it through a song in the local language,” he said.

The spontaneous decision quickly changed the atmosphere. What could have remained a routine government awareness meeting turned into an engaging community interaction, with villagers listening attentively and joining in as the familiar tunes made the official message easier to grasp.

This is not the first time Sahu has turned to music to communicate public messages. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, he similarly composed and performed songs in the local language to spread awareness about social distancing, cleanliness and public health measures.

“Even during the lockdown in 2020, I tried creating awareness on social distancing and on the importance of cleanliness through songs in the local language. I feel even if a dozen people benefit, it is worth the effort,” he said.

The ongoing Special Intensive Revision is one of the Election Commission’s key exercises aimed at ensuring that electoral rolls remain accurate and inclusive. The campaign seeks to help eligible citizens verify their details, submit necessary documents and participate fully in the democratic process.

The innovative campaign has also received recognition from the district administration. Sharing the viral video on its official Instagram handle, the Palamu Deputy Commissioner’s office described it as a “unique style of voter awareness.”

The accompanying message read: “Unique style of voter awareness! In order to spread awareness among eligible voters under SIR-2026, the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer of Panki has appealed through a song to fill the enumeration form and submit it on time. Come, be a part of this public participation campaign and play your role in strengthening democracy.”

While election awareness campaigns often rely on posters, advertisements and official notices, the Nagpuri song from Panki has offered a refreshing reminder that democracy is best strengthened when its message reaches people in a language they not only understand but also cherish.