Three colours, seven notes
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If you thought the national anthem was the tricolour’s only musical link, India’s musical stalwarts could teach you a thing or two.
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PHOTO: RAJEEV BHATT
MY WORD Pandit Jasraj and Hari Prasad Chaurasia wax eloquent on the national flag.
Recently celebrated musicians including vocalist Pandit Jasraj, flautist Hari Prasad Chaurasia, mandolin exponent U. Shrinivas, and pakhawaj exponent Bhawani Shankar were in Delhi with their colleagues to remind Delhiites about, not their rich musica
l legacy, but about the significance of the national flag. Using a musical format linked with verses recited by Javed Akhtar the programme, “Tiranga”, is conceptualised by Durga Jasraj and has already travelled to several countries including the U.S., Britain and the UAE.
“Ever since we became free,” notes Chaurasia, “we have hoisted the national flag. But no one knows what is its history, the meaning of its colours, and why they were chosen.”
The programme is meant not only for Indians but anyone interested in knowing about the tricolour. “When you do a programme abroad,” says Pandit Jasraj, “the audience does not consist merely of the Indians residing in that country. Last year on 26 January we performed in London, and 60 per cent of the crowd were Europeans.”
With the spoken word to link the musical expression, the show is an audiovisual lesson with a difference. The chakra of the flag, for example, is represented by the percussionists, who include ghatam player S.V. Ramani and tabla exponent Vijay Ghate. “Chakra means cycle, and we represent that through percussion,” explains Ghate.
Strong group
Fresh from a presentation in Dubai, the artistes are pleased with the response.
“It is not just a group known for one person. Each member is mast in his own way, and people want to know what we are doing on the flag theme,” says Jasraj.
People were so impressed they wanted their flags’ stories to be included in the programme too, he says.
“But Durgaji told them this would not be possible, though a similar format could be worked out for the flags of other countries.”
On the collaborative nature of the music, tabla artiste Ghate says, “Each time it is different. We have all the rasas and all the moods. But there is no fusion in this as such. It is all Indian classical music.”
Saying his role in the setup is “like water”, Ghate says, “I play with all of them.”
May the waters run deep.
ANJANA RAJAN
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