|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Indian classical music, which is highly structured and has its own grammar and discipline, is sometimes not easily comprehended by a lay listener. But by gaining prominence abroad, too, it has more and more Indians, especially youngsters, falling for its charm now, securing its future," feels acclaimed classical vocalist Dr Ashwini Bhide Deshpande, doyenne of the Jaipur Atrauli Gharana.
Born in Mumbai in 1960, Ashwini, a child prodigy, grew up listening to the soulful sound of the tanpura and other melodious music at home and later learnt music from her mentor-mother Manik Bhide, a classical vocalist of this same gharana. `A0However, it was guru Narayanrao Datar who sharpened her aesthetic skills as she did her Sangeet Visharad from Gandharva Mahavidyalya. Meanwhile, Ashwini remained in the blessed tutelage of the great Pandit Ratnakar Pai and maintained her tradition of excellence in academics as well as music. Credited with two valuable books on music, scores of albums and an impressive dossier of performances in India and abroad, Ashwini is undeniably a colossus on the firmament of Indian classical music. In the city recently for a music concert during the Chandigarh Police Week celebrations, Ashwini shared her views on the contemporary music scenario and more. With an illustrious academic record, having a Master’s degree in microbiology and a doctorate in biochemistry, how did you take up music as a profession? Like marriages, professional careers, too, are predestined but the only thing is that we are blissfully ignorant of this. My passion for music caused me to revolt and as ordained, I sacrificed my career in science for it. Whatever God does is always for the good. However, I could have accomplished more if I had chosen music as a career earlier. `A0Even my daughter Niranjaji Deshpande, BE-Chemical Engineering, is doing her Ph. D, but is an amateur vocalist already. As a purist, do you favour fusion or remixes in classical music, from its propagation point of view? A big ‘no’. Ours is an over 5000-year-old classical music tradition. Where is the necessity for such ventures when the entire West listens to and appreciates our music in its pristine form. Fusion and experimentation are inspired by commercial considerations. What are the advantages of learning music under the guru-shishya tradition compared to the teaching process in colleges? Whatever the Guru
intuitively realises in himself or herself from his vast acquired
`A0knowledge and experience must be imparted to the disciple with
sincerity, which is possible only if taught on one-to-one basis, as per
the "nayaki" tradition. This is certainly not possible in
schools or colleges. Moreover, it is not only the musical knowledge Do you favour reality shows for classical music also? Yes, but not with the SMS playing the judge and not the idea of commercial gains these shows promote. Reality shows are at least doing a good job of hunting talent and encouraging others. But participants and winners must not be swayed by adulation and instead learn more classical music for sustained growth. Sunidhi Chauhan and Shreya Ghoshal cashed in on their wins and worked hard to stay and rule. Are you satisfied with the patronage for classical arts? What, where is it. After the royal patronage, a few corporate houses and government `A0akademis are doing a bit but there are financial constraints. In fact, we need a national or state cultural policy to ensure promotion of all fine and classical arts in a planned, systematic phased manner. Only Spic-Macay (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Musical Arts among Youth) is religiously engaged in the promotion of the musical arts. I appeal to all to contribute to the noble cause.
|
