Stressing that in trying times, music has always symbolised the collective strength of the people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that when the world is fighting an invisible enemy like the Covid-19 pandemic, writers, singers and music are playing their part to infuse confidence among the people.
"History and age-old tales are a witness to the fact that during wars, poets and writers would write literature that boosted the morale of the general population," he said.
Speaking via video-conference during his inaugural keynote message for SPIC MACAY's week-long special series 'Anubhav' that started on Monday, the Prime Minister added that just like music, which required a synchronisation of discipline and harmony, the same was needed for the fight against the pandemic.
"Every Indian is doing his bit in times of this crisis, and so are the artistes. We are witnessing classical artistes adopting newer technologies to reach the people, which is the need of the hour. With this, all barriers of region and language are being crossed, something which is empowering the idea of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat'," he said.
The Prime Minister also said that in the Indian civilisation, music has always gone beyond personal happiness and has been a means to serve others. "We have witnessed some major music who have devoted their entire lives to serve humanity," he said.
Lauding SPIC MACAYA for adding elements like literature, holistic food, nature walk and 'Naad Yoga' in its programmes for the 'Anubhav' series, Modi said that both Yoga and music boast of a power of motivation.
Recalling how during the initial days of the lockdown, the population came together to clap to motivate the country as one unit against the pandemic, the Prime Minister added, "As the population came together with similar emotions, what emerged was also music."
During the week-long series, the participants, while sitting at home, will experience performances and workshops through virtual online platforms by leading exponents of Indian classical music, Carnatic and Hindustani, classical dance performances, folk performances by prominent artistes, theatre performances, lectures and interactions, cinema screening with discussions, a virtual heritage walk, virtual workshops in classical music, dance, crafts, and online Yoga sessions.
On the concluding day, a classical overnight concert beginning at 8 p.m. and ending at 6 a.m. will be organised.
Artistes who will be part of the series include Karan Singh, Pandit Jasraj, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Vidwan Umayalpuram, K. Sivaraman, Vidushi Teejan Bai, Pandit Rajan and Pandit Sajan Mishra, Shyam Benegal, Ghulam Md. Sheikh, T.N. Krishnan, Prabha Atre, N. Rajam, L. Subramanium, Uma Sharma, Saroja Vaidyanathan, Padma Subramanyam, Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi.
( With inputs from IANS )