Rajeshwar Singh ‘Raju’
A couple of years ago when I met a student of Institute of Music and Fine Arts, Jammu, I was astonished to find him chewing Pan-Masala. When I asked him, isn’t it harmful for your health and voice? After all you are a vocalist. You should be cautious and refrain from such things which can harm your voice.
At my question, he gave a bizarre smile and said “What is the fun of caring so much about the voice, when it’s not going to pay me in the long run? After completing my graduation I have to apply as an art teacher in some school or will try to get a job in Information Department or J & K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages.”
I was startled at such a revelation. It was really painful to know this. It means the institutions that are for flourishing Art are not producing artists in real terms. Then who will come ahead and take reins of Art Movement in their hands and be inspiration for others in this field?
The materialistic approachis turning fatal for Art. It’s a matter of regret that majority of those studying in different Art Institutions have the ambition of only getting degrees and securing financial security through jobs.
It is pertinent to add here that it’s not quite long that Indian Classical Music was introduced as a subject in Schools, Colleges and Universities. But within a short span of time, strange results have started stunning everyone.
When Pandit Paluskar and Bhathkhande had thought of imparting training of music in schools they would not have even dreamt of the present degraded standard of Indian Classical Music and that the series of dedicated and proud artists and Gurus like Pt. Omkar Nath Thakur, Pt. Devdhar, Pt. Patwardhan, Narayana Rao Ji Vayas, Rattan Jankar Ji, Raja Bhaiya Poonchwale etc. will be followed by majority of irresponsible so called artists, who will bring a bad name to Indian Classical Music for selfish petty gains.
They had an idea that while establishing Music Academies, Music will reach to every interested one. In order to make it available to everyone and get it out of monopoly of handful of persons, it was introduced in Schools, Colleges and Universities.
The thought was that, it will put an end to so called Guru’s supremacy and the pupil will not be compelled to carry on so called Guru’s orders for years to get kind look of him/her. Many a times so called Guru tried to exploit their pupil as they were totally dependent on their mercy. If one was interested to learn music, he had to make best of efforts to please so called Guru and seek training. For a serious learner it was quite tough to identify a genuine Guru from a lot.
The Indian Classical Music was made an academic qualification with just one mission of making it accessible to every interested one. The point of concern is that it has now become merely degree course for earning livelihood. To serve the cause has been replaced by Dal, Roti problems. Anyone who feels other subjects quite tough opts music.
On encouragement note, it needs to be added here that music is still being imparted in Guru-Shishya parampara by few dedicated Musicians, who take it as a mission. Even if the pupils don’t undergo training for years, they look different from those in schools and colleges. The reason is quite obvious that in traditional Guru-Shishya Parampara, Shishya is full of dedication and has an ambition in the mind to excel in the field. The Guru even wants to impart the best so that he could produce an artist of a caliber who could carry his legacy forward and serve the music in future. Whereas those with an ambition of getting degrees only are playing mockery with the art and create hurdles for real talent who do not get admission because of them.
Those aspiring to get degrees only are not prepared to go into the depth of music. Actually they have no inclination towards music. It has become a profession option for an artist who seeks training for just earning a livelihood. There is no creative output but merely mechanism. Does it guarantee a bright future for Indian Classical Music?
Only those who are really interested in Indian Classical Music should come forward and do well for music. Those who join Institute merely for time pass or earn degree should not play with the future of those who really want to serve Indian Classical Music.
The way different channels are exploiting music whether for good or bad is another issue but the fact remains that the contenders for Classical Background have always won appreciation from public as well as judges and have emerged as the real talent. They give credit for the same to able guidance of Gurus.
It does not mean that Institutions are of no use. They offer the platforms for exposure to talent. But only the interested ones should be imparted trainings who have the mission of setting up such Institutions.
While summing up it is heartening to say this truth that academic qualification of music can produce only degrees the real talent has to emerge from Guru-Shishya Parampara only. Those who study in Institutions must seek training from exponents of the field under Guru-Shishya Parampara so as to excel in the field.
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