Kosh
Digital Archive

Kosh Digital Archive is an inclusive platform for Rajasthan’s arts—scholarly yet accessible, combining academic depth with a user-friendly, Spotify-like experience for all.

Wispers from the dust

Since the 1960s, a few collectors and researchers began traveling through Rajasthan to document its music. However, when they attempted to record in remote villages for the first time, musicians—especially singers—reacted with fear upon hearing their voices emanate from recording devices. "You have stolen our voice," they would sob. "The machine now possesses my voice; how will I sing again?" Consequently, many flatly refused to participate in recordings thereafter. It took time to reassure them and regain their trust for subsequent recording sessions.

Today, there exist thousands of recordings of Rajasthan's music. Ironically, the concerns of those singers in the 1960s were valid; in some ways, their voices were "stolen." Their recordings now reside scattered across private and inaccessible archives, undocumented and at risk of fading into obscurity.

Traditional archivists are wary of the digital age, fearing piracy and misuse, diligently safeguarding their troves. Meanwhile, younger musicians may or may not be aware of these ancestral archives. Yet, upon discovering old recordings—be they audio, video, or photographs—the eyes of young musicians often light up, sometimes with suppressed tears. "This is my grandfather," they might say, "or my great aunt—no longer here." They invariably ask, "Could you please share this with me? I want to show it to my family."

Why not establish a living archive, where the voices of these musicians can be given back? A repository that rewards their music's survival through listeners' appreciation and treats it with the respect it deserves as cultural heritage—vibrant and enduring, not fading into the past, but ever alive.

THE IDEA OF THE PROJECT

Kosh is a digital archive for the arts of Rajasthan—scholarly, inclusive, and accessible to all, with a Spotify-like interface. It addresses four key challenges: disappearing repertoire (by offering free access to ancestral material for Rajasthan’s artists), research protectionism (through a secure, subscription-based platform that also supports artist families), lack of digitisation (via a centralised, verified content repository), and unreliable YouTube archiving (by providing authentic, contextualised information on Rajasthan’s rich artistic heritage).

Ensures reliable, authentic information, countering misinformation about Rajasthan's arts.

Centralized repository of verified content from private collections, aiding artists and researchers.

Free access for Rajasthan artists to their ancestral repertoire, fostering cultural continuity.

Secure platform with anti-piracy measures, supported by a profitable subscription model to sustain archiving and financial support to hereditary artist families.