Rashtrapathi Bhavan concert series is now a book

New Delhi, Sep 19 (UNI) The classical music and dance concerts launched by President APJ Abdul Kalam nearly four years ago is now in black and white.

Dr Kalam received the first copy of 'Indra Dhanush', a pictorial book based on the 14 concerts so far in the 'Indradhanush' series at the Rashtraparti Bhavan.

Written by Rashtrapati Bhavan's internal financial adviser Rasika Chaube, the book has a foreword by the President, who had conceptualised the concert series.

Hindustani vocalist Pandit Jasraj had performed the first concert at the Art Theatre of the Rashtrapati Bhavan in December 2002. Other renowned musicians like Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia and Ustad Zakir Hussain have also performed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

''Music brings bliss and can have therapeutic effect on the people,'' Dr Kalam said at the function adding he hoped classical music would become popular with the youth of the nation.

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan said the concerts of old masters should be broadcast by the electronic media to highlight the rich musical traditions of India.

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