Comments on: Hindustani music finds a ‘rudali’ http://blog.aneeshpradhan.com/2006/10/hindustani-music-finds-a-rudali/ My personal weblog Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:32:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Venkat http://blog.aneeshpradhan.com/2006/10/hindustani-music-finds-a-rudali/#comment-15 Venkat Wed, 08 Nov 2006 05:50:46 +0000 http://aneesh.underscorerecords.info/2006/10/23/hindustani-music-finds-a-rudali/#comment-15 I agree with Aneeshji and Shubhaji on their views in relation to the Outlook Magazine article. It is however not surprising that such an article would get published. From the point of view of the lay person, the image of Hindustani Classical music is represented by the faces of maestros such as Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Pt Ravi Shankar, and so on. Thus when a journalist whom I equate to the lay person here (although most lay persons would have a better understanding of the nature of India's arts than our favourite journalist!) sees an opportunity for a cover story when one of our maestros passes away, he declares the end of Hindustani music as he knows it. In searching for the causes of such literary mishaps, I wonder whether this article in the Outlook magazine is a result of the proliferation of mass media. It is mass media that created these faces of Hindustani music (and for that matter any music). I don't mean to say that musical geniuses were created by mass media but that they have been popularised by it. Mass media of course has its limitations as a forum for unbiased and comprehensive coverage of ideas. In this era where mass media space is so limited, all aspects of Hindustani music are not able to be disseminated and explored. So where am I going with this? Well my point is that mass media and its popularization of art forms is possibly part of the reason for such unscholarly work appearing in publications. Although the flip side of this must be acknowledged as well, in the sense that mass media can also facilitate the widespread dissemination of our music. Current structures of mass media however are not suitable to this end. I agree with Aneeshji and Shubhaji on their views in relation to the Outlook Magazine article. It is however not surprising that such an article would get published. From the point of view of the lay person, the image of Hindustani Classical music is represented by the faces of maestros such as Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Pt Ravi Shankar, and so on. Thus when a journalist whom I equate to the lay person here (although most lay persons would have a better understanding of the nature of India’s arts than our favourite journalist!) sees an opportunity for a cover story when one of our maestros passes away, he declares the end of Hindustani music as he knows it.

In searching for the causes of such literary mishaps, I wonder whether this article in the Outlook magazine is a result of the proliferation of mass media. It is mass media that created these faces of Hindustani music (and for that matter any music). I don’t mean to say that musical geniuses were created by mass media but that they have been popularised by it. Mass media of course has its limitations as a forum for unbiased and comprehensive coverage of ideas. In this era where mass media space is so limited, all aspects of Hindustani music are not able to be disseminated and explored. So where am I going with this? Well my point is that mass media and its popularization of art forms is possibly part of the reason for such unscholarly work appearing in publications. Although the flip side of this must be acknowledged as well, in the sense that mass media can also facilitate the widespread dissemination of our music. Current structures of mass media however are not suitable to this end.

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