ALAS, THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF GRAND TALENT!

ALAS, THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF GRAND TALENT!

We are no more producing such stalwarts in the realm of Hindustani classical music. Now it is less of sadhana and more of self-publicity with the aspiration to rise quickly in the competitive ranks irrespective of whether one merits the accolades that come with it from an undiscerning audience, remembering that the days of the kingly connoisseurs is gone for good. Now every Ram, Shyam, Jadu or Madhu on their own assume the epithets of Pandit and Ustad unlike the good old days when connoisseurs at kingly courts would assemble to listen to a musician before they passed their verdict in favour or against conferring the honorific of Pandit or Ustad. Now it is mediocrity that masquerades as being meritorious and the undeserving who by mutual consent appropriate titles of honour, though musically barren they remain lifelong. It is the age of discord.

Written by Sugata Bose