Make music part of school, college curriculum: Ratan Thiyam

Renowned playwright Ratan Thiyam today advocated the introduction of music in the curriculum of schools and colleges.

The Padma Shri winner said in order to "save" music and educate our younger generation, it should be presented in different ways.

"It is (introducing music in educational institutions as curriculum) very important but not happening everywhere," he told reporters here.

Thiyam, however, said he was not specifically referring to traditional or modern music, but music of different genres.

He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the three-day "root music" festival 'Sahaj Parav', in which over 100 artistes representing different genres of traditional music are participating.

"Music is music. One has to identify music within himself (in whatever genre that may be)... from South, Rajasthan or from any other place in the country," Thiyam said.

He said music has the power to make a person happy and cheerful.

"Pure music will penetrate the heart of a person... You listen to Rabindra Sangeet when you are in a very depressed mood, and then suddenly you see the song is washing way your depression. It is very important to love music, which can sink differences and unify the country," Thiyam, also a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, said.

About the festival, he said it is very important to realise the importance of roots.

"As the force of globalisation is really picking up and there is the dangerous phenomenon which one can see about one gradually losing his identity, your roots have to be very strong," he said.

West Bengal Minister of State for Cultural Affairs Indranil Sen, who also present on the occasion, said his department will extend all cooperation to the organisers of the 'Sahaj Parav' festival - Lopamudra Foundation and Dohar - in organising folk music festivals in 341 blocks, if they wanted it.

Sen said 1,94,000 folk artistes were now getting monthly stipend from the state government, as part of the initiative to promote folk music.

"Unlike the previous regime, we don't bring the folk musicians to hold a big rally once in a year and then forget all about them. We are committed in improving their economic conditions," he added.