Well known as a folk instrument collector, he has a collection of 175 folk instruments in his museum in the city of Maroda. Rikhi Ram Kshatriya from Bhilai, Chhattisgarh and currently working in Bhilai steel plant has been collecting and playing these instruments since 1985. He creates and makes these instruments as well. He knows how to repair each and every instrument.

He not only learnt music and all these musical instruments, but he went to the remotest tribal areas to understand the culture, tradition, history of all these amazing rare instruments.
Rikhi Ram ji says, “The main purpose of collecting these instruments is – I am an artist. And the artist is identified by the culture and tradition there. If the culture there is destroyed, what is the identity of the artist there. I have worshiped art with my heart. That is why there were a lot of feelings. That is why I collect musical instruments and try to promote music and folk dance as much as possible”

Rikhi Ji’s father was the head of the Ramayana troupe, hence the congregation were kept in the house of the chief. The musical instruments kept in the house attracted the young Rikhi. Everyday, he used to see the instruments, touch them with new curiosities, play them, and gradually they joined his collection. This series of musical instruments started in 1985, and is still going on!

After that the journey of Rikhi Ram ji went on to become more musical. He is the founder and in-charge of a cultural institution called “Lok Ragini”. Some instruments that adorn his collection are Dafda and Nissan of Raipur, Ronjo of Rajnand, Dhank of Durg, Tudburi of Dantebada, Hiranang of Kanker, Singangabaja of Surguja, Tamaria of Jashpur, Bilaspur Ki Hirki, Dhungaru, Bastar ka Tamok.

The love that he holds for our culture is simply admirable, He says all the instruments in his collection are not from any one religion. There are sixteen districts in Chhattisgarh. There are different Adivasis and tribes living in those districts and all these instruments has been collected from them, and it is his responsibility now to ensure that this legacy and tradition never dies, even after his death.