Celebrating syncretism in the country and rejoicing the legacy of the maestro Ustad Asad Ali Khan, Madhumita Ray organised a tribute concert. By Jigyasu Joshi
Even in the technology-driven world, where people have a short attention span, Hindustani classical vocalist, Madhumita Ray believes that there is a young lot who are still interested in learning the classical music and spend time on learning the art. “We cannot expect the things to be like they were many years ago. And because of the constantly changing times, we all run so fast that keeping up with our own culture has become difficult. However, when I see young students coming to us and learning with utmost dedication, I feel happy and hopeful,” said Ray.
Madhumita Ray organised a musical concert acknowledging the contribution of Ustad Asad Ali Khan to the Hindustani Classical Music industry. Also a student of Ustad Asad Ali Khan, Ray shared about the time she trained under the maestro and shared how it helped her with her music. She belonged to the Khyal tradition and initially trained under Ustad Ghulam Taqi Khan. “I was very upset after Khan sahab’s demise. I met Ustad Asad Ali Khan at that time only. He blessed me at Khan sahab’s memorial and said that he is always there if I need him. It was after that I went to him for training. And for the next 18 years, I was under his guidance,” said Ray.
Recalling one incident, she said, “There was one concert for which I wanted to sing a particular raga, which people normally do not sing at concerts as it is a very difficult raga. So while I was learning that, he wasn’t very happy with the way I was singing it. He asked me to call my husband to pick me up and he doesn’t want to teach me. And my husband was called and while going I requested him that if he can give me one more chance to learn and sing it once for him. So he said yes and gave me one month’s time. I went back and started searching for the raga and came across different versions of it. At the end I was very frustrated and I went back to him after a month, crying and said that I was not able to learn. So he had a big smile on his face as he knew that I have done a lot of hard work and he then taught me the raga himself and I also performed it for the concert.”
Ray however feels that despite all the other developments happening in the music industry, the classical music genre still lags behind. “Music education in India is very poor. At the very basic level if we talk about music education in India, it is very poor. The schools teach all kinds of music but the music overall is not taught in any school. This I believe is due to the other pressures through which a student passes. They don't have time for music,” she said.
She added that there is certainly a fear that the classical music art, if not passed on properly, might just fade away. “The schools should give emphasis on the subject of music. They should catch them young. There should be workshops and classes and music as a subject should be included in the curriculum. That’s the only way I suppose we can carry on our music as a culture.”
Ray believes that for the aspiring younger generation, who wants to learn music and attain excellence, should know that there is no shortcut for it. “There is no shortcut to success. And there is no shortcut to excellence. You have to go through the ground, you have to go through it all. You cannot get it in one day. There is always hard work and the dedication that counts and adds to your success,” she signed off.