JOIN USHindustani classical music maestro Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan will unveil a self-composed anthem for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan at the Sangeet Martand Ustad Chand Khan Music festival, which begins here on Tuesday at Kamani Auditorium.
The festival in its 22nd edition scheduled to be held for two days features eminent musicians such as Shubha Mudgal, Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty and brother duo Rajan-Sajan Misra.
“I do not belong to any political party but I was really moved by Prime Minister Modi’s effort to clean India. I am proud to be an Indian and that’s why, I decided to compose this anthem,” Ustad Iqbal told PTI.
Khan believes that the heritage of music can be preserved when passed on from one generation to other and says he will introduce one of his students among the great artists at the festival.
The music festival is being held to celebrate the platinum jubilee of Sursagar Society of the Dilli gharana and pay tribute to its founder Sangeet Martand Ustad Chand Khan.
The Daryaganj-based society aims to spread interest in Hindustani music among the country’s youth. “Music is spiritualism. It’s like painting a picture with air. One must have a taste of good music. There is no language for music. I can sing in Bengali, English, Hindi, Tamil but what matters is the richness and purity of music,” says Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty who is travelling from Kolkata to perform here.
“People often say nowadays, many don’t have a taste for Indian classical music. But even today, all my shows are housefull. We just need to reach out to the people and help in developing a good taste in music. In fact, newspapers and news channels should try to enlighten people through their stories and presentation of Indian music. They should look for new talents and present it to others through their special stories,” says Chakraborty.
The musician’s daughter Koushiki Chakraborty has formed an all-women band of Indian classical music, ‘Sakhi’.
Vocalist Shubha Mudgal, who has also composed some indi-pop songs like Ab ke Sawan, says since the event is intended as a tribute, she will perform her favourite genres: khayal and thumri.
“We are all students of music, brought up by music. Hence, my effort will be to pay tribute to a grand master through my music,” Shubha Mudgal told PTI.
At the event, the Ustad Chand Khan Lifetime Achievement Award would be conferred to Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj.