The pristine beauty of classical music
MANJARI SINHA
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The Spic-Macay convention in Jaipur stirred a debate, pleased many a young heart.
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THE RIGHT POSE Kathak exponent Munnalal Shukla
It was a celebration and introspection time for Spic-Macay during their weeklong 21st National Convention, held at Gyan Vihar Universe in Jaipur. Inaugurated by Pratibha Patil, Governor of Rajasthan, around 1200 delegates from across India stayed in an ashram-like ambience and participated in a host of activities that comprised early morning yoga sessions, talks by artists like Anjalie Ila Menon, followed by intensive workshops of Dhrupad, Kathak, Kutiyattam, Rajasthani folk music, to Kalamkaari, Patta chitra, Phad painting, terracotta, blue pottery, black pottery, and ceramic sculpture. If the film screening was followed by a discussion with the director Govind Nihalani, the drama "Tumhaari Amrita" was followed by an interaction with the protagonists Shabhana Azmi and Faroukh Sheikh, apart from a galaxy of artistes from the world of classical music and dance who performed every evening including the concluding overnight concerts from 8.30 p.m. in the evening to 8.30 a.m. the next morning.
Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma who charmed with his riveting Megh-Malhar on santoor believes that our classical art is associated with spirituality, which is why it gives solace and destroys negativity. In the present times when everybody thinks and talks on the basis of caste, creed, and nationality music connects, because it is a universal language. One cannot see a swara, one can only feel it. And for having a feel of it one needs introspection. One has to become `antarmukhi'. One need not bother about the theoretical knowledge like raga and tala, one need to just concentrate on the sound. By listening to music wholeheartedly one will improve one's concentration and get rid of stress. If one needs addiction at all, one need not take drugs. In stead, classical music provides a high.
Talking about the development of a raga he says the slow aalap creates the atmosphere of a raga, when you precede to `Jod' you feel the pulse of it. By the time the aalap culminates in Jhaala, both the artiste and the listeners get into the mood of the raga before starting the composition. He also warns the youngsters not to clap in between because it causes hindrance in the thought process (dhyaan mein khalal padta hai). He finds it a welcome change that one sees a lot of young crowds in concert halls these days, whereas in earlier times only people 50 years of age could be seen. It was because our classical music needs certain decorum for the listeners as well.
Asked if classical music is on a decline, he denies it and says we are not competing with pop and bhangra. In general people prefer to opt for an easier route, whereas classical music is `aag ka dariya' (a river of fire) and one has to delve deep into it. TV is a powerful medium, and it could promote classical music, but the problem is with our changed value system where everything has become commercial. Just because other things are being shown one gets the impression that classical music is on the decline, which is not true. The concept of global village in fact has become a danger. We have to guard our classical heritage against adulteration.
Munnalal's take
Kathak guru Munnalal Shukla, one of the torchbearers of Lucknow Gharana, who was taking the intensive classes in Kathak during the convention, also shares the view. He finds a damaging threat to young children the stuff that is being shown on TV channels in the name of music and dance.
He literally took his students out to show what is a Kadamb tree like, before teaching his students the composition where Krishna is described playing flute under a Kadamb tree. He thinks our music and dance are deeply connected with our cultural ethos, and unless and until one cultivates a feel for it, one cannot teach dance or any classical art for that matter.
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