The Hindu : National : PM calls for academy in honour of Tansen

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 18, 2005

National

National

PM calls for academy in honour of Tansen

``Listening to your music and seeing you immersing in emotions, we feel the power and presence of God''

AN HONOUR: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gives away the Ustad Haafiz Ali Khan award 2005 to Pakistani Ghazal singer Fareeda Khanam in Gwalior on Saturday. Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Madhya Pradesh Governor Balram Jakhar are also seen. — PHOTO: A.M.FARUQUI

Gwalior: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday called for honouring Sangeet Samrat Tansen by setting up an institute in his memory here.

Presenting the Hafiz Ali award to Pakistani Ghazal singer Farida Khanam and Indian classical singer Malini Rajurkar, Dr. Singh said Tansen's contribution led to the founding of the Gwalior music tradition.

"I think that we can truly honour Tansen by establishing a Tansen Music academy here," Dr. Singh said. The Culture Ministry would help in this regard if music lovers showed interest, he added. He recalled that the former Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, was so taken with renowned Carnatic musician M.S. Subbulakshmi's singing that he reportedly said, "Who am I, a mere Prime Minister, before you, the queen of song?"

Dr. Singh said he felt the same way in the presence of royals from the world of music and dance. Music is a medium through which a man connected himself to nature and God.

"Listening to your music and seeing you immersing in emotions, we feel the power and presence of God," he told the musicians. Referring to Farida Khanam, Dr. Singh said she had popularised ghazals. The popularity of ghazals in India and Pakistan has helped to popularise Indian classical music also. He said Malini Rajurkar's rendition had a blend of the Gwalior and Kirana "gharanas." — UNI

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