Motivate youth to shun social evils: Guv to musicians

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 24

In his bid to use the power of music and its impact on intellectuals, social and personal development of children and youngsters, Governor Acharya Devvrat today urged the state’s folk and classical musicians to compose music that motivates youth to attack serious social evils like drug addiction and female foeticide to make society a healthy place to live in.

This would not only motivate the youth and others to shun social evils like drug addiction, but also changed their mindset towards female foeticide, Devvrat said.

He made this fervent appeal to the state musicians here after he released a Himachali album “Aaja Meri Janiye” by Pandit Balkrishan Sharma at Raj Bhawan.

Devvrat termed Balkrishan’s album as an effort at preserving Himachali culture, adding that music influenced both soul and heart. The musicians should work for the uplift of society composing music that not only healed but also reformed, he said.

They should compose songs and tunes attacking the present-day burning problems like drug-addiction and female foeticide that were eating into the very vitals of society. Songs and music focusing on Beti Bachao and water conservation campaigns would reach the masses that, in turn, could act as a catalyst for social change among people to make healthy society, Devvrat said.

He said drug-addiction was destroying youth. “It is essential that a new kind of music should be created to provide a solution to this social evil. This will also help in infusing a spirit of nationalism among youth,” he urged the musicians.

Devvrat said female foeticide was a social evil and efforts were being made to change the mindset of people. Musicians should contribute towards this social evil through this medium, he said.

He said Himachal had a rich culture. Each district had its own folk music, which was an indispensable part of the lives of local people, he said. The Governor urged Pandit Balkrishan Sharma to continue his efforts to preserve culture of the state.

Dr Sunil Jogi Chairman, Hindustani Academy and Railway Ministry and Parliamentary Affair Ministry, was also present on this occasion and recited some of his poems related to social issues that enthralled the gathering.