On the occasion of World Music Day on June 21 pioneering musician and Santoor maestro Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya appealed to Prime Minister N...
On the occasion of World Music Day on June 21 pioneering musician and Santoor maestro Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for greater financial support for independent musicians many of whom are facing starvation due to lack of programmes and opportunities.
“Senior performers like us are not
having problems but I appeal to the Prime Minister to come forward and support
a monthly monetary fund for independent musicians who are not getting
opportunities due to a complete shutdown of the live performing industry. I
plan to take it up personally and also request seniors in the industry to come
forward and raise the issue. At a rough estimate there are more than 1,00,000
such trained musicians who are unable to meet their daily needs. While many of
us are helping within our limited means it has to be the government that has
to come forward and support. I myself through my philanthropic NGO, Santoor
Ashram, have been providing support to some of the musicians and challenged
people but the need is immense.”
He further added, “I have spoken
about this with many of my colleagues and most of them are also of the same
opinion that the government must step in and help those who are verified and
bona fide artists and are solely dependent on the live industry to survive. Yes
I do believe that the certification should follow certain mandatory procedures
which the government should immediately follow and implement.”
Musicians and performers play
an important role in the society, they are ambassadors of peace and goodwill
and in this pandemic catastrophe, the State must stand in unison and support,
said Bhattacharya, the inventor of Ragas Ganga & Triveni.
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