The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Music an antidote to violence: Kalam

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Sunday, Aug 21, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Music an antidote to violence: Kalam

Staff Reporter

Bangalore Gayana Samaja completes a 100 years of celebration of music and dance

CELEBRATING MUSIC: President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam greeting Gangubai Hangal after bestowing the Bangalore Gayana Samaja Centenary Award on her, Vellore Ramabhadran (seated) and R.K. Shrikantan (right) in the presence of Governors S.M. Krishna and T.N. C haturvedi. — Photo: Murali Kumar K.

BANGALORE: Music is the antidote for all the violence and terrorism that is tearing the world apart, and music is a reminder that peace and harmony reside where music is celebrated, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said here on Saturday.

Inaugurating the centenary of the Bangalore Gayana Samaja, Dr. Kalam said such is the magic of music that the mere strains of Bismillah Khan's shehnai can restore the rhythm to ravaged souls. Music, in fact, is proof that all nature is rhythmic, unto to the last atom, and it is rhythm that keeps nature in harmony.

"I often listen to M.S. Amma, and Kishore Amonkar and feel at peace," he said.

Dr. Kalam, whose love for music is part of popular lore, said that as a scientist he is convinced that music can work with science to end terrorism and violence.

His passion for the fine arts has meant that the Rashtrapati Bhavan is regularly playing host to musicians of all kinds.

Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia's flute, L. Subramaniam's violin and a host of artistes of both Hindustani and Carnatic classical music have enthralled him and his special guests at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, and listening to music in the famed Mughal Gardens on a moonlit night can be the most soul-lifting experience, Dr. Kalam said.

Taking the example of the Carnatic music's trinity, Dr. Kalam also said music is a unifier.

The three, Thyagaraja, Muthuswamy Dikshitar and Shyama Shastri, composed and sang in different languages in Thanjavur, and there is no gainsaying the fact that music transcends all barriers, including language, he said.

Dr. Kalam, who has had the nadaswaram maestro Sheikh Chinna Moulana play for him, said he had later asked him to play for special children.

He had obliged, and he was later told that the children had enjoyed the music greatly.

Congratulating the Bangalore Gayana Samaja for its 100 years of celebration of music and dance, hosting every doyen of Carnatic music, not to mention the great Hindustani singers and giants from the world of dance, he bestowed the Gayana Samaja's Centenary Award on Gangubai Hangal, R.K. Shrikantan and Vellore Ramabhadran.

Annual grant

Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh announced an annual grant of Rs. 2 lakhs for the Bangalore Gayana Samaja, hoping that it would soon become a hub of the fine arts for the southern part of Bangalore, just as Chowdiah Memorial Hall is a landmark of culture in the northern part of the city.

With its history of a hundred years, the Gayana Samaja is already an institution to reckon with in the fine arts field, the Chief Minister said.

Maharashtra Governor S.M. Krishna, who is a patron of the samaja, and was recently felicitated for his contribution to its activities during his tenure as Chief Minister, remembered that the centenary celebrations were launched with a concert by Balamurali Krishna.

Governor T.N. Chaturvedi and Deputy Chief Minister M.P. Prakash were present at the function.

The function ended with a violin recital by L. Subramaniam and party.

Samaja president H. Kamalanath traced the history of the institution.

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