Sameer Dublay

If we have a closer look at the social life in India, we can sense this fact that Music is still a very important and inseparable part of the social life. We have music associated with almost each and every happening in the society. It is a birth, there is music, if it is a Naming Ceremony, you have music. Marriage is a happening which has a load of music in it! There are so many regional and linguistic variations in the music in marriage.

Should the State be sensitive towards art and the artist? Had it been so anytime in the past? Should the Artist have a dialogue with the State? Will that benefit the art and the artist? Can this whole business of art and artist survive without the support of the state? In case of a conflict, what position should an artist take? In a political conflict should an Artist take a position at all? If one chooses to take one, does it lead to the internal conflict of artist’s loyalty to the Art? Do artists really have any position at all? So many questions!

As a Tradition, tradition of music is extremely accommodating. Principle of Individual liberty is practiced by every Artist at his or her level. Though the Artist generally belongs to a Gharana, his allegiance to that Gharana does not stop him from being receptive to other influences. In fact an artist tries to learn from every source and after a thoughtful internalization of such multiple influences, creates his or her unique style.