Indian Classical Music

Music is an universal language. Everyone in the world can relate to it. For better understanding, if we compare Music with food, Music and food are so similar, if we take rice and give it to a Japanese, he might come up with sushi, and the same rice if given to a South Indian he might come up with dosa. So the flavour and the recipe changes according to the culture, but the basic element is the same. Similarly Music and its basic elements are universal throughout the Globe but what matters is interpretation.

Now about Indian music, you all might be very well aware of Bollywood and Indie-pop music but the spiritual and contemplative essence of Indian culture that India is known for is very well represented through Indian Classical Music in India, unfortunately the common man knows very little about Indian Classical Music.

Basically music is divided into three parts- Swara, Taal and Nritya.

Swara/Sur has its origination from the frequency of natural sounds. The category includes the sounds of any living organisms, from insects larvae to the birds chirps. The sound of waves, rain, the harvest, the thunders, the lightnings.

What is unique in Indian Music is that a distinction is drawn between Music of God and the Music of people. The music of people is what we now call as folk music and music of God is called Classical Music.

Indian Classical Music has evolved long time in History. In the Vedas, we find the first description of the Swara which came from the Omkar or ‘Om’. Then there comes different forms of Music like Dhrupad. Dhrupad is a kind of tidious or slow and it has a dedication to strong emotions. Dhrupad gaiki has evolved into Khayal Gaiki. Khayal is nothing but Dhrupad in new texture, movements or with some new adorns. Khayal basically means to sing at your own will and create your own path within a set of disciplines and boundary conditions.

Now to popularize our Indian classical music or to promote our famous Indian Classical Music we need strengths from the youths of India Today. How will our children grow the taste until and unless we make them taste the culture?

We should gradually but firmly establish music into every child, now whatever he does later that is a different issue all together, but we don’t teach them to listen to the Indian Classical music. Music is not only a journey, people must be patient enough to listen to the music, do reyaz and only then it can be understood.

But youngsters now a days is not listening to classical music is a gross misconception in itself. I represent myself to this generation and I love classical music more than western and Bollywood music and I refuse to take this statement about now a days. Now a days has always been bad! Even during the era of Tagore, people have probably said that youngsters now a days wouldn't amount to do anything! Today we look at it as Golden era. The part we don’t understand we end up judging it. There must be things that kids now a days don’t understand. How much are we trying to explain them? Instead we are saying classical music is not everybody’s cup of tea.

Therefore in order to understand or get the taste there are now a days many international societies which is actively working for the promotion of Indian classical music like SPIC MACAY, Society for the promotion of Indian classical music and Culture amongst the youth. Or we can organize some interactive sessions in schools or colleges, or awareness camps. But the basic development should start from home.