“We need a programme to expose Indian children to music and dance quite early in life”
Gen X, gen Y and gen Z are all passe. Meet the Facebook gen, or gen FB for short. The gen that knows no borders and is more aware of Hollywood and the Grammy awards than, say, who the the Sangita Kalanidhi is this year. The gen that prefers an SMS or a tweet to sending emails. And if you are still writing letters, well, you must be ancient!
I tried Googling ‘world music festivals' and got pages of results, mostly about western music and dance, jazz and rock, with even a beer fest thrown in. Only a few results hinted at Chennai's music and dance festival which is several decades old. Not surprising, given the fact that the world is so West-centric but it set me thinking. Here we are, in the midst of an astoundingly huge and vibrant festival — one of its kind — which the world doesn't seem to have heard of. And some of our own gen FB is part of this world.
True, the Margazhi festival is largely privately crafted and run; mostly voluntary in terms of sponsorship and participation; a series of uncoordinated, self-governed or loosely governed events without any central authority or regulator. And yet it happens unfailingly year after year, with the local police station not even needing to step in except for some assistance with traffic. That is some achievement, indeed!
But Gen FB couldn't care less. In fact, they don't even know they need to care. Nobody told them.
If they haven't heard about it we must ask ourselves — as Indians and parents. We do not celebrate our heritage enough. The virtual absence of youth in the audience — especially the teens — is proof enough. Among the performers, perhaps one can still count quite a few. But in the audience, hardly any are seen.
Having been an avid member of the Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth (SPICMACAY) in college, I know how difficult it is to persuade the young to walk into a concert of classical music. It is just not the ‘in' thing: it is not ‘happening' enough and certainly not associated with having a good time. I remember how a few of us had to go around literally dragging students into the hall for a baithak and then seeing them transfixed once the music began. They would later admit sheepishly that they were really missing something. One of these worthies told me, after an unforgettable evening of khayals and bhajans, “forget hearing Bhimesen Joshi, I hadn't even heard of him”!
That was the last millenium; this millenium, I am not all that glad to tell you, is only a mite different!
Globalisation
Gen FB is mostly from the best schools: they are urban, elite, suave, know their mind and speak out. But they are almost fully lost to globalisation and what this has left half-done, Bollywood has faithfully completed; music from the West and dance from Bollywood. If I were a vidwan I would have said: “besh, besh”!
Gen FB is so busy ‘globalising' (which is confused with westernising), learning French, Salsa and playing the guitar, that it is happy to remain ignorant about our cultural heritage. This ignorance of our cultural past and our musical and dance traditions among the elite is shared by the disadvantaged sections who are equally at sea but for a different reason: they rarely have opportunities to listen to, learn or appreciate our music. This, I think, is the real tragedy: the lack of awareness about our rich cultural heritage in general, and music, in particular. And the reason is that we don't take pride in our heritage as much as we ought to. And we don't expose children and teenagers to the joys of our classical traditions.
Carnatic music is among the greatest musical systems of the world and its tala framework is easily the best, most comprehensive and complete. So, a nation that has produced some of the greatest forms of music is now forced to come to terms with mediocrity being passed off as ‘good' music. I shudder to think what would have happened if someone had not called the bluff. NRI children on the contrary, seem relatively more proud of their culture and music and it is a pleasant surprise to see them so well grounded and trained in Indian classical music in spite of their upbringing in a foreign land. In this, perhaps, lies the clue to a possible solution.
Arts in education
We need a programme to expose Indian children to music and dance quite early in life. Once children hit their teens, they have their own notions of what they think is ‘done' and what is not. So, starting at that age is likely to fail. Introducing classical music and dance as a part of the school curriculum would be a good way to start. Many private schools arrange classes post school and if it were part of the curriculum, perhaps sensitisation would be much better. But this still doesn't absolve parents of their primary responsibility of ensuring the right exposure at the right age in non-school and informal settings.
Ravikiran, chitravina artiste, some years ago, launched a great initiative to spread awareness about music: to document, train and sensitise government school children. Recently, a group of senior musicians headed by sitar artiste Arvind Parikh, formed the All India Musicians Group. The AIMG is an association of 12 classical musicians drawn from the Carnatic and Hindustani traditions to create awareness and support in government, industry and the media, for Indian classical music.
Another option could be to introduce a ‘minor' stream — similar to the West — in all courses under which students can choose subjects not related to their major or main subject of study. This will ensure that, given our obsession with ‘professional' courses, we don't leave behind the liberal arts, humanities, languages and the like which are vital to national pride and belongingness. It would be a natural way to ensure that these ‘unpopular' streams get nurtured and scholarship reaches the critical mass. Engineering with music or medicine with dance, perhaps?
Also, private sponsors tend to put money into events which are touted as ‘fun' and ‘youthful'. I have never understood why only western music or dance shows qualify.
Perhaps this tends to reinforce an association of the Indian classical arts with the ‘dowdy' and ‘old', and western music with ‘young' and ‘fashionable', and crowds out funding of programmes featuring classical arts. Our media — especially the visual media — needs to give more space to culture and the arts.
Today, we rely on western scholarship to tell us more about our own history, scripts and archaeology. It will be a sad moment indeed, if we have to go abroad to find experts in Indian music and dance. And that moment may be here sooner than later.
We need to collectively act fast before that happens.
(The author is a bureaucrat and student of classical music)
While it is saddening to see the indian classical music going out of favour, cribbing that youth don't come is useless! Youth don't attend western classical concerts either! Comparing Salsa and classical music is comparing apples and oranges. Any classical art form needs training to understand and appreciate it. The carnatic musical trainers are, sorry to say, extremely caste oriented and very egoistic! If anyone has tried learning classical music, they will know how the teachers take as students predominately children whose forefathers are also musicians (mostly bramhins!). Add to that, most artists are extremely elitist!
Unless we stop these pretentious attitudes and elitist behaviour and be humble; and THEN teach people in a simple easy way to appreciate and understand the art it will never gain popularity. The new generation as it is has enough and more to deal with and forcing arts own their throat will not really do the arts much good. Result: I hate math and classical music!
The article is a eye-opener for today's Indian parents' to wake-up and groom their Next Generation to suit the requirements.... Its a need of this valuable hour.... Bravo to author ....
WoW!! You have presented the authentic views on the current scenario of
Indian music and dance. The need of the hour is to highlight more and
more about Indian classical music and dance so that we continue enjoying
our rich heritage. If we don't give classical music to the listeners
thinking nobody listens and cares, how can we expect the generation to
listen?
It will be very unfortunate that we will have to find our heritage and
culture on foreign lands and in foreign hands.
Totally agree with the author here. Time to make Indian Classical music and dance part of the school curriculum.
At the pain of being called uncivilized and uneducated, I dare say
that arts like music, dance,literature etc., play a very
insignificant role in the lives of most of us and for all practical
purposes, we don't miss anything in life if we are not conversant
with or connoisseur of any of them. Considering the quick pace of
life and struggle for existence , these art forms are not meant for
every one to practice, participate or even enjoy. In the little
spare time and money available, people will tend to go to a show
which appeals to them. Therefore if the traditional classical forms
have lost out on this count, we need not feel sorry. In the name of
preserving the art forms, please do not force such courses on our
children. The choice should be completely left to them. In any case,
if an art form / traditional skill does not provide an opportunity
to make a decent living honourably, it natural that they will fade
away; no tears need to be shed.
So true..we are becoming too western centric. not only music but also the various other fields we have already forgotten it.
I agree with the author on the point that mediocre music is passed on as good music these days in India. The pressure to not get mocked at by peers make the kids start accepting mediocre Bollywood and Western music as the best ones. Instead of completely blaming them, it is important for the Indian classical music community to adapt a little towards the new generation without compromising on the core values. For example, they could encourage experiments in newer formats of presenting carnatic music concerts rather than enforcing a strict style. It is the music that is important and not necessarily the style. There seem to have been more experiments in 1950s and 60s than now, which is unfortunate. Taking something to a new audience requires us to understand them first and work accordingly. For example, this generation (the "FB gen" as the author calls) prefer listening to music in iPods. They should be given options for downloading keerthanas of say GNB & MLV at reasonable rates.
I echo the sentiments expressed by Sri TKR. Inspite of our rich
heritage, Bharatiya/Sastriya music is yet to get the deserving 'spot'
or 'status' it ought to in the minds of a majority of youth in our
country. As for carnatic, the value of our music & its scientific
evolvement is, sadly, appreciated only by a miniscule of the younger
generation & even the aged in the South do not have 'ear' for it.
Today's youth are not introduced to our culture primarily by parents
who applaud & rejoice when kids sing/dance to uncouthed filmy music or
numbers. Puja at home, temple visit & attendance of spiritual
discourse together by the family have stopped & so children are dis-
interested in our culture. FB & TV have unfortunately come to occupy
more time/priority. Parents talk of pressure of studies as key factor
for not exposing the children to music forgetting that many musicians
of the day were brilliant both in studies & music/dance. It is time
for parents to change their mindset and approach.
I agree with the author in full! The media is also an active encourages of this fad of globalization, where learning French, and Salsa is considered more fashionable than knowing about classical traditions of Indian music. The Sawai Gandharv music festival concluded just 2 weeks back in the city of Pune - and yet during the festival, I could not find any report on it in the mainstream English and Hindi media. The only report was in the local edition of a popular daily. This for a music festival which attracted thousands of people. Our current day leaders(read Bollywood Heroes, cricket stars, TV anchors) are to blame - they are contributing to the declining taste for classical music, which I should admit is more soulful than all the mindless numbers turned out by the Bollywood these days. Only exposure to classical music, will help youngsters understand its nuances. Else, an entire generation will be lost.
Very true, How many parents will let their children pursue music as a
career. Education takes front seat.. rest next. Today in many of the
homes money is not a problem, at least they should encourage or test the
aptitude of their children , and few could and should be allowed in this
sector to salvage, sustain our heritage.. Of course I am bullish, this
art will not fizzle out, it has the depth and the aura to sustain in
this tweeting world
Fully agree to the thoughts of the author.......but what the author wants cannot happen suddenly ....it has to go slowly ........ I think DEWARISTS is one such attempt .............although its not purely classical but its kind of fusion ........and the music composed in it is really interesting.......
I cannot agree more with you. The keywords in your article are "national pride and belongingness". I have been living out of India for last 10 years, and the ethos of national pride is hard to miss here. I think the art and music fraternity needs to do more than just catching the FB gen young. I have felt that most of the classic music is created with a religious theme and in a traditional setting which doesn't go well with today's generation that consumes music for fun and in much non-traditional way. I think that should change in order to attract a younger/teen audience.
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