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Little space for classical musicians

With commercial forces dominating the scene and event managers calling the shots, Indian classical music is fast losing out in the hill state.

Little space for classical musicians

Eminent sitar player Gagandeep Hothi.



Tejaswi Lohumi

With commercial forces dominating the scene and event managers calling the shots, Indian classical music is fast losing out in the hill state. Fewer opportunities for budding artistes to hone their talent are making it difficult for youngsters to grow up as professionals and join the ranks of top-grade musicians. Perhaps the biggest drawback is that aspirants often struggle to find an accomplished guru within the state and this discourages the young talented lot who are keen to make a career as a professional artist. 

The hardship of Indian classical artists does not end with extensive education and training, which involves years of hard work. The artistes must eventually look for opportunities to earn enough to sustain themselves. Himachal does not have much to offer for a passionate musician who wants to pursue a career in Indian classical music. There is a surfeit of cultural programmes like the famous Dashera of Kullu, the Maha Shivratri of Mandi and the Summer Festival of Shimla, held across the state every year but classical musicians rarely get a chance to perform at such events. A huge amount of money is spent to invite established singers from outside the state. While local folk artistes are given an opportunity to showcase their talent, the organisers are loath to offer such platforms to classical musicians of Himachal.

Classical musicians spend a lifetime trying to achieve perfection in their art and they mostly bank upon income from live performances to survive. Although many colleges in the state offer degree courses in music, events that focus on classical music are lacking. There is a steady exodus of talent because those who are keen to make a career in this field have no option but to move out of the state for brighter prospects.

“There are hardly any classical music concerts and very few openings to encourage and inspire a classical artist. This is the prime reason for the “flight of talent”, laments Dr Gagandeep Hothi, an accomplished sitar player from Shimla who won the music competition for senior category at the prestigious Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan when he was just 12 years old. A good artiste can surely captivate an audience but event organisers lack the expertise to differentiate between good and average artistes. Classical music always attracted a select audience but this art form was highly valued until a few years ago, he adds while explaining the reasons for a gradual decline in interest in Indian classical music.

Teaching music at schools and colleges or playing at religious ceremonies as accompanists are the only avenues for artists and pursuing a career as a performing artiste is a far cry. A career dictated by market dynamics is often robbed of artistic freedom. Unfortunately, most musicians nowadays are forced to make this sacrifice to earn a livelihood as the booming new-age music muffles the serene sound of Indian classical music.

Hari Dutt Bhardwaj, a flute player, who has won as many as eight gold medals at the annual state youth festival and excelled at the national level too, points out that Indian classical music is highly valued at the international level but not given much importance at the state level. 

“Events like the Shimla Classical Music Festival throw up a rare opportunity for Himachali classical artistes to perform. Such classical music concerts should be held at the district level too so that artistes get a much-needed platform to showcase their talent, suggests Diwakar Sharma, a tabla player from Waknaghat. A beginning has been made by providing opportunity to artistes from the hill state and government should organise and promote more such events. 

A tabla player from Waknaghat, Diwakar Sharma, suggests that classical music concerts should be held at the district level so that artistes get the much-needed platform to showcase their talent. A beginning has been made by the department by providing opportunity to artists from the hill state at the Shimla music festival and it should organise more such events.

Neeraj Shandil, who is also a proficient tabla player and a teacher, maintains that learning classical music for a career may not be a good idea, but it can be an additional source of earning. Those who put in the required hard work and prepare to play at various religious functions and as accompanists at other musical events will certainly reap the benefits, he says.

(The writer is a software engineer, a musician and a passionate trekker)

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