Art, artists play big role to heal minds, further unity: Kalam

New Delhi, Mar 1 (UNI) President A P J Abdul Kalam today lauded the contribution made by exponents of various art forms in preserving performing arts in the country and promoting unity of minds among its multi religious, multi-cultural and multi-linguistic people.

Speaking after conferring the Sangeet Natak Akademi's ''Ratna'' (Fellows) awards to prominents artists of the country including legendary tabla player Kishan Maharaj, violin virtuoso T N Krishnan, Kathak danseuse Rohini Bhate and theatre personality Gursharan Singh, Dr Kalam also stressed on the need to nurture art forms given the tremendous role of arts in giving a healing touch to the human minds and body.

''Our dynamic art is a great integrator of minds of 22 million persons of Indian origin settled in various parts of the planet,'' he said on the occasion.

The President said artists had a crucial role to play in the development of a nation.

''Artists can play significant roles. Musicians can sing songs of development. Dramatists can give shape to the vision of the nation.

The choreographers and dance can portray development themes and educate rural population on many ideas such as on hygiene, health, literacy.

I am fully convinced that art, music, dance, drama gives connectivity to the multiple variants in the society,''Dr Kalam said.

Speaking about the healing powers of art, he said,''music can reduce the mental pressures and heaviness in the heart. Dramas can make people to forget their day to day worries and also to reflect.

Dancers can take you to a meditative world. Music indeed integrates minds, brings peace to the agitated minds and leads to positive thinking.

Social organisations, corporate houses, and government agencies have to evolve a methodology for using the classical art for bringing harmony and peace in the society,''he said.

To highlight the healing power of art, Dr Kalam recited a poem which read Angel is free because of his knowledge, the beast because of his ignorance, between the two remains the son of man to struggle.

In this context, he said a recent concert by Pandit Jasraj at the Alipore Correctional Home at Kolkata gave peace and cheered in the minds of the inmates and gave hope.

''Music has the power to cheer a person inspite of his/her physical or visual handicap. But most important aspect is the mission of the physically or visually challenged person is deriving happiness by singing for others,''the President said.

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