Virasat at Kolkatta

Virasat 2007, the annual cultural festival of Spicmacay — a movement that promotes Indian classical music among students — was inaugurated by flute maestro Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia at the Regency Convention Centre on December 3. Akshar, a school where differently-abled children are encouraged to interact and study with their peers, hosted the programme on behalf of Spicmacay.
“Sangeet itni badi shakti hai, jo har jagah gunjti hain (Music is such a powerful force that it can reach every corner),” said Panditji. “Every raag has its own specific time of the day. If one plays a raag in violation of the rules, the goddess Saraswati is displeased. This is why I’m going to play an evening raag. Guess the raag after I play it,” he told the students.
Following brief recital, the audience was quiet, except for one bright student who correctly guessed the raag to be Bhupali. “Raag Bhupali has a Carnatic classical equivalent too. What is it called?” quizzed the maestro. “Mohana,” answered another member of the audience.
With characteristic humour, Panditji then played a version of Jingle Bells: “All of you will know this tune,” he smiled. The maestro was at his warmest as he asked the students to sing along to his renditions of Om jai jagdish and Vaishnava janato.
The interactive session left students asking for more from the maestro, as everything from Om Shanti Om and Saawariya to Panditji’s childhood was discussed. Asked about what inspired him to take up the flute, he said: “I come from a very poor background and couldn’t afford to play the sitar or the sarod or even the tabla. The flute was the cheapest. Besides, it is such a beautiful instrument. Sri Krishna charmed all the gopis with his flute. I wanted to do the same,” he smiled.

SPIC MACAY SCHOOL INTENSIVE

SPIC MACAY SCHOOL INTENSIVE> > HARBALLABH SANGEET SAMMELAN> >> > We are very pleased to inform you that the 132 nd Shree Baba Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan - 2007 will be held between 28 Dec to 30 December 2007 for three days. The venue is Sree Devi Talab Mandir , Jalandhar . Very eminent artists like Rajan Sajan brothers,Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Ustad Nishat Kkhan, Us Sabri Khan, Pt Kartik Kumar, Pt Niladri Mumar, and Ustad Sattar Khan ( Tabla wizard from Pakistan) will participate in the Sammelan.
> > As part of this well known Sangeet Sammelan, we are also arranging a special School Intensive 2007 which will include a few workshops like yoga etc and also provide the children a great opportunity to attend the various music programmes . All arrangements relating to their stay , food , transportation etc are being taken care of by the organisers in close coordination with SPIC MACAY. This will be a special Intensive , as different from the previous programmes in the sense that the children will be part of the famous Sangeeth Sammelan and will know about Baba Harballabh and the rich traditions of Indian classical music. We are sure this will be a wonderful opportunity for the children to experience . You may consider sending about 15 school /college children for the Sammelan at Jalandhar. It must be ensured that the children chosen are properly selected keeping their discipline, enthusiasm to be part of Sangeeth Sammelan, desire to attend to various Hindustani Classical music/instrumental music programmes and ability to withstand the severe North Indian winter. The minimum age is 15 and maximum age is 25which should be strictly adhered to.The children can be accompanied by one teacher/guardian and should reach Jalandar positivey on the morning of 28 December. They can leave Jalandhar on 31st morning . Please carefully select the students and advise me their names, date of birth, gender, class studying, name of school, address and contact numbers . The list should reach me within a week to make all the arrangements for their inclusion in the final list at Jalandar by the organisers.

As part of this well known Sangeet Sammelan, we are also arranging a special School Intensive 2007 which will include a few workshops like yoga etc and also provide the children a great opportunity to attend the various music programmes . All arrangements relating to their stay , food , transportation etc are being taken care of by the organisers in close coordination with SPIC MACAY. This will be a special Intensive , as different from the previous programmes in the sense that the children will be part of the famous Sangeeth Sammelan and will know about Baba Harballabh and the rich traditions of Indian classical music. We are sure this will be a wonderful opportunity for the children to experience .> >> > You may consider sending about 15 school /college children for the Sammelan at Jalandhar. It must be ensured that the children chosen are properly selected keeping their discipline, enthusiasm to be part of Sangeeth Sammelan, desire to attend to various Hindustani Classical music/instrumental music programmes and ability to withstand the severe North Indian winter. The minimum age is 15 and maximum age is 25which should be strictly adhered to.> >> > The children can be accompanied by one teacher/guardian and should reach Jalandar positivey on the morning of 28 December. They can leave Jalandhar on 31st morning . Please carefully select the students and advise me their names, date of birth, gender, class studying, name of school, address and contact numbers . The list should reach me within a week to make all the arrangements for their inclusion in the final list at Jalandar by the organisers.> >> > Regards> >> State coordinator Central coordinator> Indira Srivastava
> mob.no.09896372353

The Tribune coverage

SPIC MACAY all set to expand in Haryana Aditi TandonTribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 15Twenty-nine years into the SPIC MACAY movement, Kiran Seth is beginning to feel apprehensive.
This time the worry is not so much about lack of money to see the programme through as about society’s reigning indifference to the intangible realm of our heritage.
“I think a lot these days about the tendency of the young to engage with the tangible. A student, for example, is more likely to spare time to teach a slum child than attend a SPIC MACAY meeting. I don’t blame them for that. It’s natural for people to make efforts that yield visible results. But as a professor of abstract mathematics, I can say this much with authority - one who understands the intangible, abstract domain understands everything in the world. Through SPIC MACAY, we strive to celebrate the abstract,” Kiran Seth said in an interview.
In Chandigarh for SPIC MACAY’s Haryana advisory board meeting, Seth spoke with urgency about the need to put children in touch with the lost heritage. With this in mind, SPIC MACAY recently launched two massive nationwide programmes for school students.
The first, National School Intensive, is designed to take children close to the masters.
“Twice a year, we select 300 students from India to attend a five-day spiritual camp in a chosen school. Here, they must lead humble lives, away from the spurious attractions of modernity. They stay in the company of inspired men and women and learn from it. We have people like Ustad Fahimuddin Dagar and Anjolie Ela Menon come over for such camps,” Seth said.
At another level, SPIC MACAY is running a programme for students of elementary level.
“This one was born out of the need for cultural grounding of children. Parents, these days, have literally outsourced the job of cultivation of “samskaras” to television and schools. We don’t want students to be deprived of the nuances of Indian culture, which they once learnt from grandparents,” Seth said, elaborating also on SPIC MACAY’s recent collaboration with the Riks Konsertene in Norway, which produces global classical music concerts for school students back home.
With the Konsertene, SPIC MACAY has produced “The Gateway of India”, featuring four legendary Indian artistes. Interesting it is that Norwegians pay in either case, when Indian musicians travel to Norway and when Norwegian troupes come to India. For Seth, the collaborations with western music and folk groups continue to be precious.
“Under this programme we have brought to India rare art forms like Noh theatre of Japan and Kun Chu opera of China. Shortly, a Hungarian group will be coming to India,” Seth said, after attending the Haryana advisory board meeting, which saw encouraging participation from top bureaucrats, educationists and industrialists.
With this meeting, SPIC MACAY is all set to expand base in Haryana, where the government has assured all possible help.
The plan is to hold SPIC MACAY’s next national school intensive in Haryana, besides constituting SPIC MACAY bodies in every district.
Earlier, Haryana Governor A.R. Kidwai had donated Rs 1 lakh to the movement, which may well get a portion of the publicity budget every department of Haryana government gets.
It is, in fact, the constitution of such advisory boards and their ensuing support that has salvaged SPIC MACAY from its worst-ever financial crisis.

SPIC MACAY VIRASAT 2007

SPIC MACAY VIRASAT 2007
INAUGURATION BY USTAD AMJAD ALI KHAN

In its 30th year now, SPIC MACAY is beginning its Virasat Series all over the country. The inauguration of Delhi Virasat will be with a recital by Us. Amjad Ali Khan on 29th August at the Vice Regal Lodge,Delhi Universty at 6 p.m. Some of the eminent artists who will perform in this series are Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma, Ustad Fahimuddin Dagar, Pt. Birju Maharaj, Guru Kalamandalam Gopi, Vidushi Sonal Mansingh, Smt. Shubha Mudgal, Su. Malavika Sarukkai, & Smt. Teejan Bai.

Virasat 2007 will comprise of various modules like Classical music and dance, Folk, Theatre, Film classics of directors like Satyajit Ray, Akira Kurosawa, Yoga and Meditation, Talks by eminent personalities like Smt. Anjolie Ela Menon, Heritage walks to historic sites, Foreign groups, Intensives and Holistic food. All the programmes in this series will be held in schools and colleges. In this Virasat series we plan to conduct over 1000 programmes in India & abroad.
This event is dedicated to Ustad Bismillah Khan and is a humble effort to create awareness of our composite heritage amongst the youth.

Free Dental Checkup Camp at Govt.Sr.Sec.School for Girls, old Subzi Mandi, Yamuna Nagar

SPIC MACAY Yamuna Nagar Chapter organized free Dental Checkup Camp at Government Sr.Sec School Yamuna Nagar for Human cause and awareness of Teeths and Gum problems amongst Students.

SPIC MACAY Yamuna Nagar Chapter has orgnized the Free Dental Checkup Camp for Human Cause. This camp was orgnised in Surindra public school Yamuna Nagar on 17th October 2007.

Ch.Randhir Singh ji, Director of School ensure the SPIC MACAY that in future more such programme of our society will be organised.

Human Cause Free Dental checkup camp at Surindra public school

SPIC MACAY Yamuna Nagar Chapter has orgnized the Free Dental Checkup Camp for Human Cause. Thsi camp was orgnised in Surindra public school Yamuna Nagar on 17th October 2007.

Free Dental Checkup Camp in Surindra Public School, Yamuna Nagar

SPIC MACAY Yamuna Nagar Chapter has orgnized Free Dental Checkup Camp for Human Cause. This camp was orgnised in Surindra public School Yamuna Nagar on 17th October 2007.

SPIC MACAY Yamuna Nagar Chapter Family.

Without Team Work we cannot move further. That is our strength. Spicmacay Family of Yamuna Nagar. Haryana

Students Interaction with Artist.

Students asked many question about Kalari Pattyu, ancient Kerela Martial art.

They were very happy to know our Indian Culutre and art.

Kalari Pattyu Kerela Martial art at Spring Fields Public School on 14 Sep 2007

KALARI PATTYU Kerela Martial Art of Ancient Indian Heritage. Stuents enjoyed lot of it and it was highly energetic one. About600 students watched this mixture of South and North Culture.

Seminar in DAV Girls College Yamuna Nagar

SPIC MACAY YAMUNA NAGAR organised semminar with students and made introduction of SPIC MACAY and its works to students. Disucssion topic included Art and Life and second one was Music and Meditation. Students showed their interest.

Ms.Ashwini Bhide, Classical Vocal at DAV Girls College on 13 August 2007

SPIC MACAY YAMUNA NAGAR CHAPTER

feels porud to organise such nice programme in this twin city yamuna naga-jagadhri.

Artist interacted with students and resolved their quries about Indian Culutre and Music. 800 students were there.

Pt.Vishwa Mohan Bhatt at DAV Girls College Yamuna Nagar on 13 August2007

Spicmacay circulars and orders

Spicmacay circulars and orders
The new circulars of spicmacay are as underDear Friends:The circular given below has been sent to all CBSE schools.Kiran SethDear Principal,CBSE has been advocating the imperative need for holistic education for the all-round development of the child. Besides scholastic areas schools should pay equal attention to co-scholastic activities such as music, dance and art. Providing opportunities for children to nurture and develop their innate creative talents is a responsibility of the school in particular and the society in general. Performing arts and fine arts help the children develop aesthetics, balance and self-fulfillment. In a fast changing social order that is characterized by global pressures and consumerism it is crucial to strengthen the cultural roots by preserving, promoting and popularizing national heritage. The ideal way to do it is by encouraging the youth to develop a taste and interest in classical music and classical dance.The Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Among Youth (SPIC MACAY) has been rendering yeomen service in this field for many years. It organizes musical concerts and dance events in different parts of the country, creating opportunities for the youth and children to enjoy the live performances of renowned artistes. Besides providing an exposure for the students to classical music and dance, such events also inspire children to appreciate the intrinsic value of our national heritage. These concerts also serve the purpose of refining and elevating the taste of children in music and dance.It is an opportunity that the affiliated schools should utilize to bring great artistes to the portals of their institutions. Clusters of schools in a locality or Sahodaya School Complexes wherever they are active may organize SPIC MACAY cultural events/workshops to benefit a large section of student population.Schools may get in touch with the following address for details :-Shri G. MehrotraCo-ordinator,SPIC MACAY41/42,Lucknow RoadDelhi – 110 054www.Spicmacay.comemail info@spicmacay.comYours sincerely(G. Balasubramanain)Director,AcademicCBSE

Logo!!!!!! SPIC MACAY

Friends of SPIC MACAY

SPIC MACAY Yamuna Nagar in new way to culutre.

SPIC MACAY Yamuna Nagar Chapter feels proud to promote Indian Culture Heritage.

SPIC MACAY YNR.

SPIC MACAY Yamuna Nagar Chapter

SPIC MACAY Yamuna Nagar Chapter is now working in twin cities of Yamuna Nagar and Jagadhri, Haryana. It started working in January 2007 . The Yamuna Nagar chapter organised its first programme on 23rd April 2007 in Guru Nanak Girls College, Yamuna Nagar. In this Programme Ms. Rama Vaidyanathan, the renowed Artist in Dance heritage in INDIA gave her performance. She gave training in BharatNatyam there and Students enjoyed and learned a lot of things from her.

Our second programme was held on 13th August2007 in DAV Girls College, Yamuna Nagar. Two renowned artists performed their art athey were Ms.Ashwini Bhide and Pt.Vishwa Mohan Bhatt. Its our proud and pride of this city that such renowed artists visted and preformed here to promote Indian Musical Heritage.

Our third Programme was held in Spring Feilds Public School, Yamuna Nagar, where Group of Vallabh Bhatt Shanker Naryan Memon performed Kalari Payattu the ancient Martial Art of INDIA. It was a very energetic performance and left a fine impression on Students. People of this city felt real combination of North and South culture. The presentation was a fantatstic one.