Srinagar, Mar 18 (KNS): Noted musician and Santoor maestro, Pandit Bhajan Sopori on Friday urged government to make a breakthrough in introducing ‘Cultural Policy’ for the State.
Addressing a press conference at Banquet Hall in summer capital Srinagar, Pt Sopori said that youth in Jammu and Kashmir were highly talented. However they hesitate to take up music or other art forms because of its employability crisis.
“We are working to bring cultural and musical scenario of the State at national and International level. We have seen we have a fertile land as far as the art and artists are concerned,” he told reporters here. “But unfortunately lack of employability is creating lot of crisis into this filed,” he said. Pt. Sopori was flanked by Additional Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Nissar Hussain Wani, Joint Director, Department of Information, Shafqat Iqbal, Santoor player and son Abhay Rustom Sopori among other officials.
Pt Sopori, who along with his son, Abhay Sopori, is camping in Srinagar to organize series of concerts as part of "SaMaPa Aalap Festival." The music festival is being organised by SaMaPa (Sopori Academy of Music and Performing Arts) in collaboration with Divisional/District Administration, Department of Information and Public Relations, Department of Tourism, Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Radio Kashmir and Doordarshan Srinagar and is being held across Kashmir from 16th to 26th March 2016.
Recalling his days as a producer at Radio Kashmir, Srinagar, Pt Sopori said that he along with some of the artists of that time had created a musical wave by experimenting with folk with other contemporary musical compositions. He said that there wasn’t any dearth of talent in Kashmir; however the official patronage would add to the quality.
“If you want to see your artists on national and international level performing the indigenous arts, you have to give them that platform, they shouldn’t feel choked. They should get the official and social patronage,” Pt Sopori said. “As far as the music festival goes, we are late in Kashmir but I am sure it would add to the quality of the music here,” he said, adding “There was a time when Kashmir witnessed the ‘Cultural Renaissance’.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelIt was a time when programmes were held everywhere. Holding musical concerts were order of the day. An artist would have no time to spend with his family because they would always be busy with rehearsals and performances.”He called for reviewing the culture of holding cultural programmes and Shame-Ghazal sessions at prominent places including Nishat, Shalimaar, Baadamwaer, among other Mugal gardens. He urged various government departments including Department of Informational and Department of Tourism to create an awareness regarding art and culture among masses. Refereeing to multi-stringed Santoor, who he said was simply a folk instrument played in Kashmir. However, he said when perception changed this instrument was accepted as part of the Indian classical repertoire of instruments.
“There is a need of changing the perceptions toward the music, art and culture,” he said. He said that the aim of the "SaMaPa Aalap Festival is to spot Kashmir's musical talent.
Santoor player and son of senior Pt Sopori, Abhay Sopori informed the concerts held across various places witnessed huge response from the students and art lovers. He informed that various artists have been part of the festival and were performing at various places. He said Classical Music maestros Ustad Mazhar Ali Khan and Ustad Jawad Ali Khan lightened the function by presenting soul touching raags and classical songs based on Sufiana Kalam, while as renowned artists Kaiser Nizami and Munir Ahmad Mir besides students also participate in the concerts and mesmerize the audience by their performances. Abhay said that the motive behind organising such concerts is to make students and youth aware about the heritage and culture of Kashmir and provide platform to the budding student artists.
Earlier Pt Bhajan Sopori along with several other artists performed at Delhi Public School, Srinagar and mesmerized the audience with his Santoor performance. (KNS)