The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) on Monday underscored the urgent need to preserve not only India's musical traditions but also the artisans who sustain them. Speaking at an event, IGNCA Member Secretary Sachchidanand Joshi emphasized that safeguarding the centuries-old craft of tanpura making in Maharashtra's Miraj town is essential, calling for greater recognition of instrument makers.
Documentary and book launched
The occasion marked the launch of the documentary film 'Aarav: Miraj Ka Tanpura' and the release of a companion book in Hindi and English. The KalaKosa Division of IGNCA organized the programme in collaboration with the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal, Mumbai, to celebrate World Music Day and the birth anniversary of noted musicologist Prem Lata Sharma.
Artisans at risk of invisibility
Joshi recalled a conversation during a train journey with a passenger posted in Miraj, who told him that the town's globally renowned tanpura-making tradition was steadily declining. This observation inspired IGNCA's association with the project. “If traditional instruments are replaced entirely by electronic devices, the art of instrument making will disappear, and with it an important part of India’s musical heritage,” Joshi warned. He noted that while musicians and performers often receive recognition and public acclaim, instrument makers largely remain invisible despite their indispensable contribution to classical music traditions. Artisans deserve the same respect and acknowledgement accorded to vocalists and performers, he added.
Legacy of Miraj tanpura
The programme focused on the legacy of the Miraj tanpura, renowned for its fine craftsmanship and central role in Hindustani classical music. Renowned tanpura craftsmen Altaf Mulla and P Y Mulla were present on the occasion. Padma Shri awardee Bharat Gupt described the tanpura as the foundation of Indian classical music and one of the most enduring instruments in the world's musical traditions. He said a deeper understanding of music is possible only through an appreciation of the tanpura, whose continuous drone forms the basis of musical perception and artistic expression.
Musical demonstration
A musical demonstration by noted vocalist and music critic Pt Satyasheel Deshpande highlighted the instrument's role in establishing pitch, sustaining melody and shaping the aesthetic experience of both performers and listeners. Scholar and vocalist Subhadra Desai said it was impossible to imagine Indian classical music without the tanpura. Vishwas Jadhav of the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal said the event celebrated not just a film but also an enduring musical and cultural legacy.
