Sharan Rani laments neglect of classical music talents

Bhopal, Dec 11 (UNI) Bharat Ratna Sharan Rani, a sarod exponent, laments that Indian classical artists are now forced to organise programmes abroad for a living.

She said the art wins accolades abroad.

''It is imperative to conserve such talent through efforts at the government and non-government levels,'' the artist, who has earned the nickname 'Sarod Rani', told UNI here.

Urging industrial houses to come forward for encouraging instrumentalists and vocalists, she adds these groups should play the role of sponsors.

''It is ironical that despite modern-day talents receiving acclaim much faster than used to be the case earlier, dedication and concentration are lacking. Thus, they are unable to scale the heights in the art. A principal reason for this state of affairs is the near-extinction of the 'guru-shishya' tradition and commercialisation of music,'' feels Rani.

She points out that competition was preventing instrumentalists from focussing on practice.

Rani entered the arena of instrumental music in 1930, an era when it was no easy task for women. Women who adopted classical music as a profession were looked down upon. In the face of this challenge, Rani became a student of the Maihar Gharana's Ustad Alauddin Khan.

''Fusion and other such experimentation is wrong as it confuses the listener and finishes the essence. Classical music and dance are not entertainment but media for awakening the soul and worshipping the divine,'' she explains.

Responding to a question, Rani praises the singing skills of legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan and Sanjay Dutt.

''The sarod is mostly played by males on account of its heaviness and the fact that it is played while being held against the stomach,'' she explains.

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