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New Delhi 21st February, 2006:- NDMC is the first civic body in
the country that started promoting art & culture in its area
as part of its discretionary function provided under its Act. The
objective behind organizing such programmes is to upgrade urban
life, which is otherwise
deteriorating and also to bring art and culture out of the confines
of museums and auditoria to the open where general public could
participate in large. It believes the event – ‘Music in
the Park – Evening Ragas’ is
becoming synonymous with good music.
The initiative is a part of a public-private partnership said Smt.Sindhushree
Khullar, Chairperson, NDMC in a joint Press Conference organized
by NDMC, Star India Pvt. Ltd. and SPIC MACAY Foundation, here this
evening.
All the three organizations announced the achievements of their
public-private partnership for promoting Indian Classical Music
known as ‘Music in the Park’. This series of musical concerts
have enabled Delhiites to enjoy the best of Indian classical music
in the natural lush green environs of Nehru Park, Chanakyapuri.
This is a platform which has consistently attracted large number
of music lovers.
Outlining NDMC’s role as a municipality with a difference,Smt.
Khullar said that in fulfilling its mandate to bring culture to
the people, NDMC has put its spectacular greens to best use by making
them come alive with the sound of mind. Starting from early 1998
through the Morning Ragas series, NDMC brought all time greats like
Ustad Bismillah Khan, Pt. Jasraj, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Pt. Hariprasad
Chaurasia, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan up close and personal to the denizens
of Delhi amidst the sylvan surroundings of Nehru Park, Chanakyapuri.
There was hiatus but not for long. ‘Music in the Park –
Evening Ragas’ was the new avtar. The series resumed in June,
2004 with a star studded galaxy of music maestros who brought divine
music to soothe frayed nerves.
Addressing the media Shri Peter Mukerjea, CEO of STAR India Pvt.
Ltd. said that the objective behind this initiative is to break
the barriers that come between good classical music and genuine
music lovers. Ticketed concerts or those that are held for special
invitees pushes our rich cultural heritage to become a preserve
of the elite. Our concerts that are held in a public park is an
effort in bringing classical music within the easy reach of the
common man. No tickets, no invites. Just walk in, take your seats
and be enthralled by the performances of the maestros. We would
invite more
corporates to join us in this effort to turn public parks into cultural
hubs, he added.
Since the launch of this series jointly in September, 2004 Nehru
Park has
witnessed mystic performances by Ustad Bismillah Khan, Smt. Shubha
Mudgal, Pt. Rajan-Pt. Sajan Mishra, Dr. L. Subramanium, Pt. Hari
Prasad Chaurasia, Smt. Kishori Amonkar, Begum Parween Sultana, Pt.
Vishva Mohan Bhatt, Smt. Girija Devi and Pt. Kishan Maharaj.
To mark the celebration of this series, a very special concert
by Pandit
Shiv Kumar Sharma and Ustad Zakir Hussain is being organized on
Sunday the 26th February, 2006 at 6.30 p.m. at Nehru Park. This
concert is being dedicated to the memories of Tabla Maestro Ustad
Shafat Ahmed Khan. Three more concerts are scheduled to follow before
the conclusion of the third part of this series They are vocal recitals
by Smt. Shubha Mudgal on 4th March, 2006, Pt. Rajan-Pt. Sajan Mishra
on 11th March, 2006 and Dr. M. Balamurali Krishna on 18th March,
2006.
Dr. Kiran Seth, founder of SPIC MACAY said that Indian Classical
Music is nothing but ‘Naad Yog’. Naad Yog encompasses
some of the most beautiful things in our heritage – subtlety,
inspiration, abstraction and respect for the mystical. These elements
would slowly fill the lives of young people who would be the torch
bearers towards the creation of a world full of harmony and peace.
For the SPIC MACAY Foundation, the Music in the Park series is yet
another milestone in their efforts to do their bit for the cause
of protecting and promoting the Indian Classical Music and other
performing arts, he added.
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