THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF MUSIC UNDER ISLAMIC RULE

THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF MUSIC UNDER ISLAMIC RULE

Does any Hindustani classical musician have a clue as to why the Dhrupad '🕉 Ananta Hari Narayana 🕉' chant become 'Nom tom' suddenly, a trend continuing to this day? Read the history of North Indian music and see how Islamic invaders have defiled every aspect of our national life. They spared not even music.

As we study our past we see how it has seen a savage sacrilege in every fibre of its being. Aurangzeb even banned music in his empire. Funeral processions went out for the cremation of Hindu musical instruments, chanting, 'Ram naam satya hai'.

Ironically, it is the Muslims who in conjunction with the Hindus later led the resurgence and renaissance of Hindustani classical music. Many of such stalwarts were Hindu 🕉 converts to Islam ☪️, though. Nonetheless, Hindu 🕉-Muslim ☪️ syncretic culture was evident in the evolution of Indian music and dance. This was one area where cultural fusion did take place.

Glory unto the strength of Indian civilisation, wounded though it may be for over thousand years and threatened ever with Islamic rupture! The Hindu capacity to absorb and assimilate even adversarial cultures has been the hallmark of Hindu 🕉 history.

Written by Sugata Bose