Hearing is believing
This is with reference to the article `The Hills are Alive" regarding SaMaPa Sangeet Sammelan published on 24 November 2006 in these columns. It seems that the author of the article Manjari Sinha has made a deliberate attempt to mar the career of the young maestro Abhay Rustum Sopori, an excellent young santoor player. I have heard his concerts several times in Mumbai and his unique style of playing inspired me to invite him to perform under my Shiva Sangeetanjali banner and honour him with the Kalawant Samman for his excellence in santoor playing and for being the foremost musician in his age group. It also seems Manjari Sinha was not personally present during Abhay's recital because she has mentioned that the awards were given by Lt. Governor B.L. Joshi, whereas the fact is, he was not present that day at the function.
I specially flew all the way to Delhi to attend the second annual function of SaMaPa. Abhay's performance was the highlight of the evening. His playing was characterised by excellent layakari, intricate taan patterns and at the same time maintaining the purity of the tough ragas played by him. The compositions sung by him, in the rare raga Rageshree Kauns, were of a high virtuosity and technical perfection. It is unfortunate and sad that a senor critic like Manjari Sinha is deliberately maligning a young artiste like Abhay. Sopori Academy of Music and Performing Arts (SaMaPa) is not only a music academy but a movement whose main aim is to propagate Indian music and culture and create awareness among youth. And it's a shame that in such an atmosphere a young artiste is being unnecessarily demoralised.
It is advisable that the critic tries to present the facts instead of concocting imaginary faults and biased criticism.
SUSHILA RANI PATEL
(The author is a Top Grade vocalist with All India Radio, an awardee of the Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar among others.)
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