Reading through the latest Outlook’s cover story of lack of heirs to ageing musical maestros hit me hard. Apparently, there are a number of gharanas which have become existential through history books only and there is no one to carry the torch ahead. The magazine itself points out through the words of the masters that the younger generation is not willing enough to tread this path. Reasons vary by the multitudes ranging from lack of financial security to lack of interest. Personally one feels the availability of various other entertainments and the arduous path prescribed by the masters over the generations are the major impeding factors. Today practicing and aspiring musicians will simply rubbish the famous “mombatti ka riyaaz” saying that there is no time. For the uninitiated “mombatti ka riyaaz” is a term employed when practice is measured in terms of no of candles that burnt and not in terms of hours. On an average the candles used to burn for four hours and great ustads like Vilayat Khan used to aspire for title of “paanch mombatti riyaazi” (that is the one who practices till 5 candles are completely burnt). These seem fairly tales to us when these are real stories that took place not more than 3 decades back. In a span of 3 decades situations have changed dramatically as is evident from current scenario when we see there are no heir apparent for greats like Bismillah Khan, Bhimsen Joshi and many others.
Today the music is more an entertainment than a path to spirituality and salvation. The better the PR and hype greater the aura surrounding the artiste. Even the standard of the audience is derogating and the demands are more populist rather than classy. It is also evident from the trends in the more popular musical form of Bollywood film music. The purists might wrench their hearts but people are making money in the business. The correlation coefficient between quality product and business capability is fast tending towards zero. So what is the end of all this drama? As always you have to give lot of time sweat and patience to achieve class in the classiest form of classical music that India has maintained over millennia. It is again a game of quid pro quo…you give some you take some…you put in the effort music promises you liberation and peace….
