THE NATIONAL SCHOOL INTENSIVE- Dr Seth

>>When I was a child my parents took me to visit many ashrams. I have fond
>>memories of watching The Mother playing tennis at Sri Aurobindo Ashram in
>>Pondicherry,of the smell of freshly baked brown bread and of witnessing
>>the table football game there. I remember the serenity of the Shahenshahi
>>Ashram in Rajpur, the beautiful bhajans of the Swamiji and the gushing
>>waterfall not very far away. The Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh was very
>>special-Swami Chidanandaji had an all pervasive glow in his eyes. He would
>>attract people without saying anything. As I grew up I started visiting
>>ashrams all over the world by myself. I went to the retreat of Swami
>>Muktanandaji in the Catskill mountains in New York, stayed at a monastery
>>in France where the monks meditated with Gregorian Chants, practiced
>>dhrupad at the ashrams of Ustad Aminuddin Dagar in Kolkata and Ustad
>>Fariduddin Dagar at Panvel, visited the gurukulas of Shri Ammanur Madhava
>>Chakyar in Irinjalakuda and of Pt.Kishan Maharaj in Varanasi, attended a
>>two week camp at the Bihar School of Yoga in Munger and visited many
>>other ashrams. These experiences helped me realize that the ashrams were
>>actually scientific laboratories where the inmates experiment with their
>>lives, following the results of the research work carried out by our
>>ancestors and directed step by step by the gurus. Here I am referring to a
>>small group of ashrams which have retained the >>character of what they
>>were actually designed for.
>>All of us do not have to live in an ashram but as Swami Niranjananda
>>Saraswatiji says, we should visit a true ashram at least once a year. The
>>atmosphere of the total giving at the Sivananda Ashram, the humility, even
>>of the Abbot of the monastery in France, the intensity in Ustad Aminuddin
>>Dagar sahib’s ashram and the rigorous riyaz at Ustad Fariduddin Dagar’s
>>ashram have left indelible marks on my being.
>>Today young people visit different cities in the world during their
>>vacations or take up fancy jobs. Very few visit ashrams. The SPIC MACAY
>>NATIONAL SCHOOL INTENSIVE at Modern School, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi is
>>an attempt to bring the ashram to the student. As the saying goes if the
>>mountain does not come to Mohammed, Mohammed must go the mountain.
>>The children attending the Intensive will do yoga and meditation from 4 am
>>to 7 am, have holistic food, do shramdaan, hear talks and attend workshops
>>by inspiring dancers, singers, artists, puppeteers and yogacharyas, watch
>>film classics and witness performances by top artists of our country for a
>>period of five days.This will include a full night of classical music by
>>five great musicians. It will give them an experience of staying in the
>>proximity of great masters in different areas of human endeavour, learning
>>from them and watching them perform.
>>May this experience enrich the lives of many of my young friends.

>>Kiran Seth

On Worthy Inhertitance- Anshuman Jain

A very disturbing development was highlighted by a magazine recentlyabout the decline in Indian classical music's 'guru-shishya parampara'and that many of our greatest maestros are not leaving behind anyworthy inheritors.. . (outlook, sept 23) It also had a comment by our founder Dr Kiran Seth.Our maestros are getting older and there are very very few artistesleft who can carry forward their legacy or produce the same kind ofmusic or dance.. not to say that there aren't any good musicians inthe younger age group but their numbers are restricted.When shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan passed away in August, oneof his relatives made a telling remark: "Ab Bismillah Hotel band hogaya." The reference was to the hordes of relatives who lived off Khansahab's earnings. The irony drew from a very different kind of povertytoo: there is a big question mark over who will inherit his uniquemusical legacy. None of Bismillah Khan's shehnai-playing sons ordisciples have displayed an iota of his genius.

This is a unique problem that we face today and SPIC MACAY as amovement dedicated to the preservation of our heritage needs to givethis problem a thought and perhaps find a way out.
Almost all the artistes (young and old alike) of this country interactwith us on a daily basis.

Dozens of artistes are going all over India and interacting with thousands of students in hundredes of places oflearning. Can we make use of this opportunity and go beyond the usualroutine of organising lec-dems and concerts and workshops (mainly incrafts)?Can we as a movement help or aid in stemming this phenomenon.. thoughits easier said then done but today SPiC MACAY inspires many youngminds to learn 'to appreciate' their heritage and classical art forms,perhaps we could go a step further and nudge them and push some ofthem towards even taking up any of these art forms as a career.

Ofcourse there are numerous issues and constrains involved. ANd weneed to have discussions on that...OR Do we leave the youth alone. May be they who attend SPIC MACAYactivities are motivated/receptive or eager enough to take up an artform as a career on their own?VIEWS AND SUGGESTIONS ON THIS TOPIC ARE WELCOME!

Of Gharanas - Harsh

As someone who has listened to concerts for some time and has dealt with artist bios, and i am curious to learn about the concept of gharanas.

A gharana to my understanding is a linkage by lineage or style of music that a group of musicians belonging to a particular gharana practice.

However most gharanas have their identities inextricably linked with geographies - Gwalior Gharana, Jaipur Gharana, Banaras Gharana and Agra Gharana etc etc

I can comprehend this in the sense that in earlier times since commuting between regions was not prevelant and hence gharanas could find convenient identities and good differentation by geographic segmentation

However, now that artists have transcended geographical boundaries, what is the likely future of the whole conecpt of gharanas. What about artists who experiement and form newer gharanas of their own.

and i dont quite comprehend the gharana system as would be evident by my ramblings so far?

Buildig Bonds with the Flying Forces- Neerja Sareen

This is to inform everyone that as result of meetings with the Defence
Secretary, Govt.of India and the Chief of Air Staff, SPIC MACAY will now be
organizing classical concerts for the Indian Air Force families at base
stations.

Our first concert is taking place at the HQ Western Air Command, Subroto
Park, New Delhi, on thursday, September 21, 2006, with a Bharatanatyam
recital by Ms. Rama Vaidyanathan.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal S.P.Tyagi has kindly
consented to be the Chief Guest.

We hope this inaugural concert will be the beginning of a long cooperation
between the Indian Air Force and SPIC MACAY.

AIR FORCE SCHOOLS TO PARTICIPATE

The Air Force Schools have also agreed to participate in SPIC MACAY
zctivities. For the first time, all three IAF schools in Delhi are taking
part in the ongoing Virasat series and have organized Lec-Dems and
workshops.

We have requested State Coordinators to keep in view the schools and base
stations of the IAF while planning and programming the activities of SPIC
MACAY.

Internal reshuffles and adjustments- Kiran Seth

Dear Friends:

I would like to remind you that the 2 year period for all posts in SPIC
MACAY is coming to an end. Please make sure that new people are trained to
take up responsibilities at all levels. December is the month when the new
names should be announced for all posts and they should formally take over
on the 1st of April 2007. The 3 month interim period could be used to train
the new person for the post. Please do make sure that we bring in fresh
blood to lead the movement.
Thank you very much.

Anjolie Ela Menonji has donated two paintings to us to raise money which we
are badly in need of. If you know of anyone who might be interested in purchasing these please be in touch with us.

Mrs.Neerja Sarin has worked out a very nice plan with the IAF.

Regards.
Kiran Seth

North Virasat Invites you to Kathakali

At North zone we begin with the Kathakali performance of Shri Kala MandalamGopi ji .This maestro was born in 1937 and still gives captivating performances of two hrs each two times a day. His art, its intricacies and dynamism are>unparallel. He is coming all the way from Kerala with a troupe of 8 and is performing>as per the schedule given below. I request you to be with him wherever you can. Kindly try to send students>under your care. This is an invitation.


We are grateful to our supporters all over the world and are particularly>thankful to Chandigarh administration for the financial help of 1.25 lakh for the virasat series.



>>8th Sept. 6pm MN School of Sports Rai, Sonepat
>9th 11am Tagore Bal Niketan school , Karnal
>9th 6pm Panjab Engineering College , Chandigarh.
>11th 11am St Bedes College Shimla
>12th 11am Auckland house school , Shimla
>13th 11am Bishop Cotton School , Shimla
>14 th 11am Raj kiya Kanya Maha vidyalaya, Shimla
>15th 11am St Marys School , Kasauli
>15th 7 pm YS Parmar Horticulture University, Solan
>16th 11am Lawrence School , Sanawar

.>>We have also made other circuits for other artists and many cities , I shall keep you informed.Thanks again for your valuable support, hope to see you for sure.

With regards
>Dr Lavasa
>SPIC MACAY Volunteer ,
NZ Coordinator

Memoirs of some special encounters - Kiran Seth

USTAD BISMILLAH KHAN

Ustad Bismillah Khan was one of the finest human beings I have ever met.
He was a great musician - we all know that. But he used music to transcend
it.

“Yeh to ek ibadat hai (This is just a prayer)”, he would say. He was on a
different level, and it showed on his face - almost childlike and smiling.

At namaaz time, he would request all guests to leave. He was one of the most
beautiful examples of our composite heritage. Sitting with him in his small
barsati room in Varanasi, he once told me that he was playing the shehnai on
the banks of the Ganges one day, when the Goddess Ganga rose out of the
waters and blessed him for the lovely note that he had played. He narrated
this with such conviction and glow in his eyes that I was moved to tears.
Almost every time that I have sat at his feet and interacted with him, he
has shaken me to the core. His complete faith in the spiritual domain
irrespective of the religious order, has always inspired me.

Some of his quotable quotes are: “Hame paisa chahiye, par sirf paisa nahin (I want money, but not just money)”; “Insaan ki pehchan hai uski jaban (A person’s character is determined by how she keeps her word)”.
And he was one who lived by what he said. At the SPIC MACAY annual convention at Dehradun
in the early nineties, Ustad Bismillah Khan was scheduled to give the concluding recital of the classical music overnight. The whole group had been booked by a train reaching Dehradun, one day earlier. The tickets were waitlisted, but we had contacted the Railway Board to get them confirmed.
This did not happen and the group could not board the train at Mughalsarai. We were very taken aback. Many people coming solely to listen to Khan sahib would go back disappointed. In those days, there was only one flight from Varanasi to Delhi (there were no flights to Dehradun), and there were no SUVs. The only way that we could have the whole group reach on time was to fly them down to Delhi and have a matador take them from the airport on a whole night journey to Dehradun. Very hesitatingly, I suggested this to Khan sahib on the phone. His reply was: “Jab hamne vayda kiya hai, hum use nibhayenge (When I have given a word, I will honour it).” He reached Dehradun in the early hours of the morning just in time for his concert. I
suggested that we postpone his programme to the afternoon so that he could rest a little. He asked me if people were there in the hall. When I replied in the affirmative, he decided to go straight onto the stage. He gave a memorable concert. That was Ustad Bismillah Khan.

I first met Khan sahib in 1978 in Crown Hotel, Fatehpuri in Chandni Chowk. I had expected him to be staying at a five star hotel, but when I went there, I found this unshaven man wearing a lungi and a baniyan, sitting on the floor. I had gone to request him to perform for the students.
He heard me out, at the end of which he asked, “Par paisa kitna doge? (But how much
money will you give?)” When I told him that we had only a small dakshina to offer, he immediately refused. I tried hard to argue with him, but he would not oblige. He said that he had a large family of his own and of his musicians to look after and that he would not perform unless he was paid properly. I had given up and was preparing to leave when he asked me to sit
down. He talked to me some more, and realising the genuinity of the effort, finally gave his consent. This gave SPIC MACAY a boost. After that he performed all over India for this movement. In fact, probably his last public appearance was at the SPIC MACAY convention in Jaipur on June 19th, 2006.

Like all human beings, he had his failings. His temper scared many people including his family and accompanists. However he would become normal very soon and would never harbour any ill feelings towards anyone. The Padmashri, Padmabhushan, Padmavibhushan, Bharat Ratna and yet the ‘no airs attached’ Ustad Bismillah Khan will be remembered by us for a long long
time.

Khan Sa'ab.........reflections - Shakuntala Lavasa

Whenever I came to know of any programme of Ustad Bismillah Khan Saheb, I would turn all tables to make it possible to be there inspite of busy schedule with patients and difficult travels.
I remember being with him at the Silver Jubille convention of SPIC MACAY at IMA Dehradoon.
Besides his music which is unparallel , the great maestro,s simplicity and the capacity of instant rapport with the audience was admirable.
When the organisers announced about the Governor,s presence for his programme he at once interrupted with the child li ke innocense " achha hai aaap aayen hain yahan stage par aajayiye aapke saath kee vajah se hamara bhi photo chap jayega"
At another concert at the inaugration of Virasat last year at Delhi he said "bas hamara naam bolte rahiye din bhar, sab kaam safal ho jayenge apne aap" and he elaborated "bismillah " kahte rahiye din bhar.
We also arranged his concert in the valley amidst the thick of problems and where any thing of this sort happened after 30yrs. He was extremly happy and wanted to go there again. The last concert of his life was at the National convention at Jaipur on the 19th June.
SPIC MACAYites had the unique privilege of not only listening to the voice of his Shehnai "his music" but listening to the voice of maestro himself and having a close peep into his total personality time and again which was indeed charismatic and simply simple!
He loved SPIC MACAY , we are sure of this and we love him and will miss him always

Ustad Bismillah Khan Sahab Passes Away - SM site

It is with profound gried that we announce the demise of BHARAT RATNA Ustad Bismillah Khan, one of India's best-known musicians, a master exponent of shehnai and the greatest supporter of SPIC MACAY, He died of heart failure at the age of 91 early on Monday, 21 AUGUST 2006.

Schools and government offices were closed in his home state of Uttar Pradesh, and flags flew at half-mast to mourn the musician who was given the country's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, in 2001.

Born into a family of musicians who played for royalty, Khan sahib transfixed generations of audiences across the world with his soulful rendition of classical music on the "shehnai," an instrument which, untill his arrival on the musical scene, was just played during marriages in northern India.

In 1947, Khan sahab played the instrument at the historic Red Fort as India became independent from British rule.

For SPIC MACAY he has always been an icon, an ideal.. a person we simply couldn't do without. For more than 20 years he regularly inaugurated almost all our National Conventions and major series across India... playing mellifluous music on his shehnai to give an auspicious start to our programmes.

He single handedly inspired and impressed thousands of students and adults whenever he interacted with them. His sheer humility, his ever smiling face, the happy persona, his charm.. that lay not only in his music but also in his conversations, his talks. The way he could take you back in time and regale and kindle you (at the same time) with

his anecdotes, life experiences was simply amazing!

We can be proud of the fact that Ustadji's very last performance on stage was for SPIC MACAY only on June 19, 2006 at the inauguration of the 21st National Convention in JAIPUR. But Ustadji always knew when it was time for the curtains to fall.. and today the curtain has fallen for the final time!

We at the movement feel at a terrible loss, almost orphaned. Let us all pray for the peace of the DEPARTED SOUL!!

A great human being passed away. We are dedicating all our programs for the next one year to the loving memory of Ustad Bismillah Khan.

All in a day's news - Kiran Seth

A great human being passed away yesterday. We are dedicating all our programs for the next one year to the memory of Ustad Bismillah Khan.

Justin of NSIT has made a very nice promo which NDTV (we met Pranoy Roy who
liked it very much) has agreed to air for the next two weeks on all three of its channels. Please do view it and give us your feedback,to justin_nsit@yahoo.com.

We had a very nice North East convention at Guwahati the last before last weekend.

The Governor of Assam Lt. Gen Ajai Singh convened the first Advisory Board meeting of the state of Assam in the Raj Bhawan on the 12th which was well attended by representatives from different parts of the state. The Lady Governor, Mrs. Krishnaa Singh who is the Chairperson also spoke after which we had a very good lunch at the Raj Bhawan. We also met the Chief Minister Shri Tarun Gogoi who promised us financial support. It was a very productive
two days at Guwahati as representatives from 5 states had come- Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tripura, Manipur and Assam.


The EZCC has agreed to sponsor the travel and 50 % of the remuneration of Folk and Craft people taken from their region. We can have Purulia and Mayurbhanj Chau, Gotipua and Shankh Vadyam and also workshops by Pattachitra and Sholapeeth craftsman. Please use this offer. Contact Rupali from the Kolkata chapter, rupalisachadev@rediffmail.com.

Regards.
Kiran Seth