Chakmundi, (a) north Bihar village is inhabited by Muslim fakirs who sing to their sarengis  to earn a living ...

Chakmundi has kept alive for centuries the Sorthi Birjabhar, Raja Bharathari, Gopichand, Rani Saranga and several other forins of folk music, now vanishing from most parts of the country. But tuberculosis has proved a deadlier adversary than Time, threatening to wipe out the men who make it.

Four out of five villagers suffer from tuberculosis, people here say. Seventy died of the disease in the past two years. Many are waiting for death.

... The villagers said the DM has ignored repeated requests to visit Chakmundi.

Their MP - the high-profile Ram Vilas Paswan – too has kept away.

There is a government hospital at this village of 200 families. but its doctor rarely shows his face ... (Source: The Statesman 27 May, 2000)