BELLARY:Daroji Eramma (84), one of the last exponents of Burrakatha, the folk art of oral rendition of epics, passed away at a private hospital in the city on Tuesday.
She had been hospitalised a few days ago after she complained of respiratory problems. Eramma, who belonged to the semi-nomadic Budga Jangama tribe (Scheduled Caste), was born in Hale Daroji village in Bellary. Despite being illiterate, she received many awards such as the Karnataka Rajyotsava, Kannada University’s Nadoja, the Burrakatha Kala Shri and the Janapada Shri awards.
The folk epics she has sung amount to around 2 lakh lines, approximately 7,000 pages in print. Eramma is survived by a daughter, son-in-law and grandson.
Ministers Parameshwar Naik and D K Shivakumar condoled the death, calling it a “great loss to the folk art”.
Naik said Eramma will be laid to rest with state honours in Daroji village on Wednesday.
The Karnataka Janapada Parishad and Kannada University too condoled the death.