Heritage takes centrestage at Kapurthala fest

Kapurthala, Jalandhar , Oct 29 (UNI) Music maestros strung and sang a similar raga at Punjab's most famous cultural extravaganza over the weekend--don't let music fall prey to globalisation.

When it comes to the Santoor, there is no better exponent than Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. Marked for his aesthetic appeal, the undisputed king of 'Santoor Wadan' had his audience spellbound on the second day of Kapurthala Heritage Festival here last night.

But what emerged from his lips before creating magic with his fingers made his listeners take note. "In the present world of globalisation only one kind of culture is dominating the rest,'' said the internationally acclaimed instrumentalist at the concert whose ambience was enhanced by a barely lit stage covered in an Indian rug. "'If we do not make efforts to preserve the more than 1000-year old cultural heritage of India, the day is not far away when we will forget it completely,'' he said ominously.

Held at the magnificent Sainik School, a French architectural marvel, the Kapurthala Heritage Festival which is in its fifth year aims to promote the rich heritage of an undivided Punjab though a large share of it is lies across the border in Pakistan. However, artistes from both sides of the border take the stage every year to transport the city of the descendents of Mian Tansen to a realm where mind and music transcend each other.

Organised by the Punjab government and Kapurthala Heritage Trust in collaboration with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), the event brings in a horde of tourists every year. Indian and Pakistani artistes are offered the stage to perform so that Indian classical music manages to stay in its glory in the coming years.

If Pandit Sharma sounded a warning, Pandit Chhannu Lal Misra, a celebrated member of the Banaras Gharana, took it further. After enthralling the audience with typical Banaras-style 'thumri' and 'dadra' compositions in his sonorous voice, the vocalist said to keep Indian classical music alive among the present generation, first the people will have to be made aware of the music.

"People do not know the meaning of 'Sa Re Ga Ma', this is why the classical music is vanishing today,'' he said in a disappointing tone."Classical music today has become 'paper music' and the artists 'paper artistes'. Instead of entertaining the audience they torture them." On the stage, however, Pandit Misra was a figure of composure and his music eclectic, with the highly revered musician lightly strumming the soothing 'swarnmandal', which resonated colourfully with the notes of his chosen raga.

The three-day Fifth Baba Jassa Singh Kapurthala Heritage Festival began on Friday evening on a musical note with the 'Shabad Kirtan' by Bhai Mansa Singh, a renowned Raagi from Kapurthala. B S Narang, a renowned classical singer and 'swarnmandal' player from Jalandhar mesmerised the audience with a 'bandish', 'Lat uljhi Sulijha de balam', in raag 'Vihaag'. This was followed by 'Sufiana Kalam' by Reena Hans, a music lecturer from Jalandhar. However the much-awaited event of the evening was the light-and-sound Punjabi play 'Tatti Tavi da Sach' based on the martyrdom of Guru Arjun Dev Ji, the show as resplendent as the place it was held.

With another day to go and with the likes of 'Mallika-e-Ghazal', Pakistani ghazal singer Farida Khanum yet to perform, the festival is living up to its promise. There is such a vast repertoire of classical music today that festivals of this kind go a long way in promoting 'God's own Music'.

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