The end of this year marked a new beginning of efforts to revive and strengthen the tradition of Hindustani classical music in the Doon valley. Sunday morning saw music lovers of Dehradun gathered at a cosy venue at the MKP Inter College where a stage had aesthethically been created under the old “Kokila Banyan” tree on the campus grounds.
Preparations for this morning concert had been going on for a while and all enthusiasts of classical music were informed well in advance about this initiative planned by Kalashray, a new cultural organization devoted to the promotion of art and culture.
Several literary events have been held in the Doon valley over the last four years and this has created a great interest in students and youngsters in reading and writing. Many organizations are trying to sustain this interest.
The Booknerds have been holding weekly events for the past three years to revive the love for the written word in the valley.
Now, it is a welcome step that has been taken in the direction of reviving an interest in Hindustani classical music that is somewhere being left behind in the fast and westernized music that young people like to listen to these days.
As events of classical music are few, Kalashray has come up with the concept of concerts to be held in the mornings featuring the morning ragas.
Sunday’s concert under the picturesque Banyan tree turned out to be a huge success, promising many more concerts like these that would put people of the valley back in touch with the great and rich tradition of classical music, vocal as well as instrumental. Doon-based musician and ghazal singer Himanshu Darmora, who has created this concept, said on the occasion that usually classical music events were held in late evening or night and thus the morning ragas were neglected. “We will have these morning events at various venues to rediscover the beauty and magic of the morning ragas,” he said.
The first artiste to perform in the morning was Ustad Asghar Hussain, the famous Indian violinist who played Raga Jaunpuri creating a mesmerising effect on the audience .The violin of Asghar Hussain sounded as if a beautiful voice was singing the composition. The pathos of the Raga was brought out very effectively and dexterously by the Ustad who was accompanied on the tabla by young and highly talented Doon-based artiste Chitrank Pant .The two created magic on the stage and people could not get enough of the violin recital.
This was followed by a sitar recital by Pandit Shubhendra Rao, disciple of Bharat Ratna Ravi Shankar. He is a world famous musician and Doon audiences were delighted to listen to him play Raga Parameshwari ,the beautiful and haunting morning raga created by Pandit Ravi Shankar by mixing Rageshwari, Bageshwari and Ahir Bhairav ragas.The concert concluded with two bhajans sung by Himanshu Darmora , the first in Raga Tilak Kaamod and the second in Raga Charukeshi.-both morning ragas . At the beginning of the programme, students of MKP College sang a “Bandish” in Raga Bhairav .They sang under the guidance of their teacher, Seema Rastogi.
Congress leader Suryakant Dhasmana was the chief guest at the concert. Academician and artiste Mamta Singh, Vijayshree Joshi, publisher and poet Rajneesh Trivedi, music lover Ram Chakravarty , youngsters , students from various colleges and schools and many music teachers were among the audience this morning .
It was after a long gap that people in the city could savour the depth, divinity and sweetness of classical music. It was a spiritual experience for all present. The wonderful ambience of the venue , amid the lap of nature, added to the uniqueness of the experience.Many senior citizens were present and they greatly appreciated the "Prabhatanand Swarudghosh" initiative of Kalashray ,which has been created by Darmora.
The very fact that people spare time to attend the morning concert on Sunday is testimony to the desire of the art and music lovers of Dehradun for more such activities that would recreate the magic which the purity of classical music can in one’s life.In these times of rushed living and stressful lifestyles , what this music can do for one’s mind , heart and spirit can really not be described in words.
The peace and spirituality that could be seen and felt at the concert gives one a lot of hope. The immortal, eternal classical music of our country can be a cure for any an ill.