GLOBALIZATION AND INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC

 It was not necessary for the river to flow “Surely to the Sea”, but still it did. It certainly did

after Presley’s heartful expression to mean that “Some things are meant to be”.

Let’s keep apart the critical point of view regarding how globalization has deeply affected

Indian music. Because, it is easier to explain music when you are more of a listener and less

of a critic. Since India happens to be one of the most diversified countries in the word, we,

the so called Indians have got a huge opportunity to utilize the several aspects of the

country in the process of truly understanding her depth of music.

It is said that, early men discovered the art of music by imitating the singing birds. From

there, various countries have got their own genre of music according to their geographical

location, weather conditions and lifestyle. Indian music has got its heritage in the Indian folk

and classical music. The country is privileged with her amazing geographical location which

enhances the variety in weather conditions. This in turn has given rise to variety in type of

music in the different states. The dry weather of Rajasthan ignites the high ranged voice of

Rajasthani singers, which creates the signature mood for their folk songs. Apart from the

location, the country happens to shelter twenty-two official languages which give birth to

folk songs of various languages and styles. For instance, Garba and Doha for Gujarat,

Sambalpuri for Odisha, Mahiya for Punjab and Baul, Bhatiyali for Bengal. All of them

represent the features and tales of their own state. Concentrating on the classical genre, the

two major traditions followed here, are North Indian classical or Hindustani music and South

Indian classical or the Carnatic music. Originated during the Vedic age, this vast ocean of

classical music defines Music from its very first brick of construction.

Leaving this great world of music inside the country, the trend has been like overlooking the

Indian genre and being biased for western. English as a medium of language in most of the

schools and colleges could act a little as a cause behind. But somewhere, the in-depth study

of the country’s heritage is getting less priority in the stream based higher studies. A

biography of Michael Jackson says that Joe Jackson used to tell his sons, “Eat pure and you’ll

sing pure”. Being the kids of sixties, the Jackson brothers could probably take the advice and

grow up to be purely pure musicians. But now, the craving for KFC and McDonalds plays a

great role as a distraction for the ‘wanna-be’ singers. Why a distraction? Come on! You

know what pure food means. And thanks to globalization for welcoming the distractions in

the country. Or else, which ‘cool’ teen listens to Rofi’s Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho in the place

of Sheeran’s Shape Of You?

Taste of music could be different for different persons. But the interest to exclusively

explore the ‘Indian music’ is so rare in the society. Today’s music, influenced by the world

music, modern techniques, somehow fails to create an everlasting impact. The emotion of

the song seems to be lost in the crowd of several ‘takes’, inside the enclosed studio,

technical sound of instruments and commercial mentality.

To be honest, it feels embarrassing to attend an Indian classical concert where majority of

the audience is from foreign countries. Sadly, Indian music is that immensely enriched mine

that is still undiscovered and overlooked by the Indians ourselves. If we stop being busy

running after copying others, it’s still not late to put this genre in the top of the world music.