Planting seeds of change collectively

As a young District Development Officer, I had once met Arvindbhai Desai, of Gujarat Biradari.  I shared challenges that one often faced at not seeing a palpable response to some initiatives with good intentions and interventions. “Our job is to sow the seeds like a sincere gardener and leave the sprouting and growth to Existence”, he said.  This priceless, ‘Gitaesque’ nugget has kept me in good stead. 

Over time, one has come across numerous inspiring, heart-warming initiatives across dreary, desert patches of dead habits, crimes and conflicts. 

One such seed, Virasat, was sown 18 years ago. It presents a yearly cultural festival that showcases and promotes Indian heritage.  Eight lakh people, including 50,000 youth feel the rhythm of our culture in this very popular, signature event of Dehradun. The presence of so many young people in such a festival is rather rare.  Perceived as a city of retired people with an inherited colonial club culture, Dehradun has got a refreshing youthful facet due to Virasat. 

In October this year, after a lovely flute recital by our son, Mir Mukhtiar Ali treated us to some earthy, soul-stirring Sufiana Qalam music.  He could engage and hold the youth with a few popular songs too.

The crowded food stalls and craft shops in the compound enhanced the ‘orientation’ of the public towards our heritage. This was a refreshing contrast to the preference of western music.  But, the icing on the cake was yet to come!

Our driver, Shravan Joshi, a young boy from the hills of Uttarakhand ferried us back to the guesthouse, and shared his cherished dream.  A young singer, he heard of Virasat and relocated to Dehradun some years ago.  As a taxi driver, ferrying artists, he got a chance to completely immerse and soak in music and art. He would ravenously grab inputs and ideas as he drove .

During the year, he would learn and practice his music along with his driving, which sustained him. With modest confidence, he dreamt of performing on stage one day.  He crooned a popular number of Atif Aslam, ‘Mein Rang Sharbaton ka…tu meethe ghat ka pani’.  His passion, cultivated talent and velvety voice were our take away!

We retired for the night as the amazing flute, sufiana music and Shravan’s song did the rounds in our mind.  Waking up at half past four to catch the morning train, we had yet another treat. We once again listened to Shravan as he drove us to the station. His song warmed us against the cold, windy, wee hours of Dehradun.

A recent survey of young collegiate students recorded that around 95.6% students would like music and sports to be included in their curriculum. 

Through the train travel, the collage of the events, experiences and their many memories kept poking me. Can local communities in various towns and cities of India initiate festivals like Virasat? Some of the initiatives or seeds change into ‘happening’ nuclei with so many unexpected tangible and intangible spin-offs!

Saptak from Ahmedabad is a brilliant example of one such committed nucleus. It has consistently cultivated a taste for music and culture in what, perhaps, may have been a parched city, since 1980.  As the maestro, Pandit Ravi Shankar exclaimed, the only music that Amdavadis liked was the ‘Rupiya ki Jhankar’ or the tinkling of coins.  But, he added that Saptak could be credited with changing this. 

Thanks to the efforts and effect of the seed which has resulted in the living, breathing, nucleus of Saptak.  The city can today proudly boast of housing a very large number of appreciative lovers of classical music, including an increasing number of young people.

Jayanti S Ravi
The author is a Harvard educated civil servant and writer, now working in the education sector