Kerala gives Ustad Amjad Ali Khan land to build music academy

Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan had a dream of building an International Music Academy in Kerala. The New Indian Express reports that the Kerala government has now sanctioned two acres of land at Veli Tourist Village in the state. It reports that the District Collector has been asked to demarcate and allot the land.

The daily adds that the Kerala government has in principle sanctioned the two acres. This would be part of the 25 acre Veli Tourist Village which is being developed by the Tourism Department. The Revenue and Tourism Departments will now survey and demarcate the land for the proposed music academy. The final order will come through when the Revenue Department gets the formal land transfer proposal from the Land Revenue Commissioner.

Reportedly, the government had looked at Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Thrissur for the required land. The onus to raise funds and build the international music academy now lies with the sarod legend. 

In April 2015, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan had visited Kerala and stated that he would build the academy within two years of receiving the land. Students from all over the world are expected to study here. He wanted to make it a gurukul system with the motto -‘To practise and popularise music beyond all castes, religions and creeds’ and a space where students can learn Carnatic, Hindustani and western music as well as various instruments.