Kalam receives first copy of Indra Dhanush, Celebrating Art

New Delhi, Sep 20 (UNI) President A P J Abdul Kalam today received the first copy of the book ''Indra Dhanush, Celebrating Art'' at a function at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The book with a foreword by the President is written and compiled by Mrs Rasika Chaube, the Internal Financial Adviser at Rashtrapati Bhavan. It is replete with colourful photographs and is a tribute to the rich performing art heritage of the country and highlights the various facets of Indian art styles, an official press note said.

The book captures the 14 performances given by various artistes at Rashtrapati Bhavan as part of the Indradhanush series of concerts conceptualised by the President with the purpose of popularising classical performing art forms. The series of concerts has been highly successful and is continuing.

Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Dr Kalam said music brings bliss and can have therapeutic effect on people and is very much needed in the present times. The President also hoped that classical music would become popular with the youth of the Nation.

The renowned Sarod Maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, who was also present on the occasion felt that the musical performances of old masters of yester years should be broadcast by the electronic media to highlight the rich musical traditions of India. The daughter of the legendry vocal classical singer Pandit Jasraj, Durga Jasraj speaking on behalf of her father, emphasised that music's greatest mission is to unite people. The Indradhanush series of concerts began with a performance by Pandit Jasraj on December 27, 2002 at the Art Theatre of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Besides Pandit Jasraj, the book documents the performances of Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, E. Gayathri, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, U Shrinivas and U Rajesh, Sonal Mansingh, Saroja Vaidyanathan, Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Swapnasundari, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Pandit Birju Maharaj, Pandit Debu Chaudhuri, Manjari Chaturvedi, Lata and Gita and L Subramanium and Kavita Krishnamurthy.

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