The third annual countrywide Classical Voice of India contest, organised by Lucknow-based Sangeet Milon, is going to be held at Rotary Sadan in Kolkata on June 4.
While talking to Arundhati Choudhuri, the life-force behind the organisation, one discovered an interesting ‘fairy-tale’ on how it all got started. Almost three decades back, she left the City of Joy to live within the quiet campus of Lucknow’s Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute (SGPGI) with Dr. Gour Choudhuri, her Medical Specialist (Gastroenterologist) husband. Both were concerned about children, their health and enjoyed teaching; but he was passionate about his profession; she loved music.
Very soon she met Milon Debnath, a dedicated music teacher, who, in the absence of a ‘Standardised Raga’ theory in the Hindustani classical music, was reorganising the Kramik Pustak Malika compiled by Bhatkhandeji. His logic was that the raga should be delineated according to the path shown in the selected bandish; because different compositions display different angles of the raga. The angle, as shown by the bandish, should get the top priority to avoid any confusion.
This was exciting, and Arundhati began learning and scripting the reorganised book. Gradually she felt the urge to spread the good word. But Choudhuri had something else on his mind.
According to Choudhuri, “In 2004, a Fellowship of the World Health Organisation to go to Australia (University of Sydney) to study how health promotion or preventive health is practiced in developed countries provided me a new perspective. I realised that for each patient diagnosed with a disease, there were 1,000 who were at risk of developing it, and 1,00,000 who could be prevented from falling in the risk category itself, by health promotion.”
“I therefore thought of starting HOPE Initiative (Health Oriented Programs and Education) to focus on preventive aspects, and target school students because I felt this was the vulnerable age, at which if youngsters could be made aware of health issues, they would make better informed choices and live healthier lives. Also, as youngsters tend to be more enthusiastic and energetic in these formative years, they could act as health ambassadors and carry the message home to their families.’
Convinced, the couple accepted the challenge of transforming “health” from a boring topic of do’s and don’ts to a vibrant interesting method to communicate and impact young minds. The methods chosen were important: no didactics, only interactive formats like quiz, debates, skits, poster making, and screening of movies (HOPE has made six movies on topics such as lifestyle issues, exam stress, addictions) Along with these, children are encouraged to become ambassadors by participating in rallies on health issues (Hepatitis, hand-washing, etc).
These interactive sessions with children crystallised another idea in Arundhati’s mind. She wished to introduce classical music to school children of the culturally barren region of Uttar Pradesh. The doctor was more than agreeable; because both agree that the psychosomatic effects of music help in many ways.
Moreover, she felt, “Going by the reality shows, the young ones proved that they can sing such complex film-songs with amazing dexterity; then why not encourage them to sing classical bandishes along with a few phrases of raga elaboration and thrilling taans? This way children will get introduced to our traditional classical music and related subjects.”
So she went ahead to organise a contest Classical Voice of Lucknow 2010. The contest took off with some specific and commendable aims and objectives. The core idea is to popularise raga music and instil a serious sense of responsibility in the minds of young classical students while learning a particular raga and its compositions. These compositions are no less beautiful than any film song.
HOPE Initiative team shouldered all the workload and the contest was a huge success. Next year saw Classical Voice of UP; then came Classical Voice of India in 2011. Rest is history.
But while organising the contests, Sangeet Milon realised that if on one hand the young winners need constant monitoring for their bright future as vocalists, their hardworking, sincere gurus also need proper recognition on the other hand.
The idea of identifying dedicated gurus and honouring them became the motto of Sangeet Milon; and it did identify several gurus, who despite their young age and quiet work away from the limelight, have offered a commendable service to classical music. As a result ‘Save the Gurus to Save the Classics’ became the tagline. Also, to make a humble beginning, half of the total prize money was offered to the gurus as a token of respect.
This way, both HOPE Initiative and Sangeet Milon started as small individual efforts; and grew from strength to strength by helping each other. With support from WHO India in 2004, HOPE became a movement. UP’s education department engaged HOPE to train teachers of government schools in health education.
It has now touched over 10,000 schools and over 5 million students; published health books that have been translated in several regional languages.
Classical Voice of India began its pan-India journey with 10 cities, this year it aspires to cover 25 cities. Eminent musicians and institutions extended unstinted help.
“The journey has been exciting, challenging and rewarding,” the couple conceded, “It has provided our team and us a unique way to serve the society – by making the future generation aware on health issues – both mental and physical.
We do not want the youngsters to make the mistakes that we made in our generation. Everyone is welcome to join in this movement and play active part in it.”
