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(A
brief introduction)
The
year 1926 is a memorable year in the cultural history of
the Prayag Sangit Samiti, when it was founded. The Samiti
is an Organisation registered under the Indian Societies
Registration Act of 1860 and was founded with the sole aim
of propagating and popularising the cause of Indian Classical
Music in the country. Prayag Sangit Samiti is located in Uttar Pradesh, India.
The
founders of the Prayag Sangit Samiti had the vision and
most sensitive social consciousness. It was their awareness
as to the social aspects of music and the then prevailing
low social status of music and musicians that made tnem
determined to revolt against such social odds and evils
and to reform and give an honourable status to music and
musicians in the society. Since its very inception the Samiti
has Leon striving hard for the propagation and elevation
of the status of music, bringing about a new change in the
activities relating to music and giving it an identity and
feeling of self-realisation to musicians and students of
music. The establishment of Prayag Sangit Samiti was a valiant
attempt towards rescuing music from disrepute to which it
had come during the period from 15th to 17th century. Moreover
the trained musicians were till then the exclusive pre-
princes, noblemen and big landlords the common man had no
access except The vast change in the public attitude towards
music and musicians which we witness these days, when musicians
are honoured by Government and patrons of music, is in no
way small attainment due to the untiring efforts of the
Prayag Sangit Samiti.
On a
reviewing of and scanning the past stages of change in the
History of Indian music, patrons of music, considering the
dimensions and intensity of the change, will realize that
prominently Prayag Sangit Samiti helped and struggled throughout
its existence to bring about this renaissance. This was
really a major change and there are very few parallels to
it in the entire history of music.
The
growth and development of the Samiti in U. P. and other
States of the country has been a continuous process, like
other features of modern India, covering over 6 decades
and should be treated in terms of its emergence under various
stimulations. It was susceptible both to time and place.
No objective lover of music will deny, that like in several
other spheres, this development was a singular contribution
of the organisers of Prayag Sangit Samiti Since its inception
this premier institution has been rendering yeomen services
to the noble Art of music.
All
through its span of over 60 years of existence, the Samiti
has been playing the role of a torch bearer in the world
of classical music and it can legitimately pride itself
in having ,achieved high reputation for consistently upholding
the highest and richest traditions of this sublime art.
It can be rightly claimed that it has fulfilled its object
in popularising the great art and raising its status throughout
the length and breadth of the country. It was on account
of intensive enthusiastic efforts of the Sangit Samiti that
all old prejudices have died away and now every respectable
house has developed a rare 1ove and attachment for music.
The
Samiti is housed in two imposing buildings of its own, one
situated in the heart of the city in South Malaka and the
other in the sylvan surroundings of the Alfyed Park, The
Samiti has one of the biggest auditoriums in its new palatial
building built at a cost of rupees seven lakhs. The Central
Government and the general public contributed generously
to the cost of the new building. It is no exaggeration to
say that it has grandeur of its own.
Vishnu
Digamber Academy of Music
The
Samiti runs an Academy of Music for imparting instruction
to boys and girls of respectable families in vocal and instrumental
music and dance. It has its own courses of systematic coaching
ranging from two to eight years. The following degrees and
diplomas are awarded. The Academy imparts education and
conducts examinations in the following courses :-
A. Junior diploma - 2 years' course.
B. Senior diploma - 4 years' course.
C. Sangit Prabhakar - 6 years' course.
D. Sangit Pravin - 8 years' course.
E. Sangit Acharya - Research degree.
It stands
exclusively to the credit of the Samiti that music in the
country now stands recognised as a subject of study by the
U. P. Government and other State Governments of the country.
Its diplomas and degrees are recognised by a number of State
Governments, educational bodies and Universities.
The
Samiti besides imparting regular instruction in two imposing
buildings located at Allahabad to about 803 student-, on
its rolf, conducts examinations and awards diplomas and
degrees in the various branches of music through its affiliated
institutions which adopt its courses of systematic studies
and net examinations conducted at their respective contras.
Till now the Samiti has affiliated more then 1352 Examination
Centers scattered in all the States of the country and other
neighbouring countries. The Samiti awards Junior Diplomas,
Senior Diplomas and Sangit Prabhakar, Sangit Pravin and
Sangit acharya degrees. Samiti's attainment of responsible
working brought into this field a powerful factor adding
urgency to formulating clear, definite and comprehensive
rules regarding conditions and control of examinations with
a view to safeguarding the interest of the examinees.
The
work of the examinations of the Prayag Sangit Samiti is
watched and manned by qualified, efficient experts and advisers.
Last year the number of examinees who appeared in the various
examinations of the Samiti was about 95090 and this number
is gradually going up year after year. Its alumni are holding
responsible posts in various branches of music in the Universities
and Educational Institutions and other organizations and
concerns.
The
Academy has a strength of about 800 regular students with
a teaching staff of 40 qualified teachers.
Auditorium
The
new building in the Alfred Park has a grandeur of its own.
Recently dazzling improvements have been made in the hall
and adjoining foyers mainly due to the magnificent donation
of over six lacs of rupees by Sri G. L. Mehta, a patron
of Music and Art and an eminent industrialist of Calcutta.
The Management of the Samiti has expressed its gratitude
to Sri Mahta for his munificence and generosity by naming
the Auditorium as 'Mehta Hall.'
The
Auditorium has a seating capacity of 3000 spectators. Besides
Convocations, Music Competitions and Conferences of the
Samiti, several important functions of the city are held
in the Auditorium.
The
Muktangan
(Open Air Theatre)
Visions
have far fetched wings. The Samiti has constructed a beautiful
Muktangan, a cultural dream land, with its terraces, grassy
beds, flowers and innumerable water fountains in varied.
hues in the promises of Alfred Park Building.
The
'Muktangan' consists of a half moon shaped vast opera stage,
synchronising with the crescent moon, having cubistic cultural
designs on the front outer walls of the pulpit and the back
wall carved with stony uniform patterns, not providing gravert
images, but symbols of artistry. The Oren Air Theatre has
also anti-chambers as greenroom. There are a few other stage
doors as well. The platform is also fitted with lights,
Brilliant and mellow, and small fountains play around them,
casting a spell of tender soothing impact.
The
Muktangan occupying nearly half of an acre of land, neatly
turfed as a soft green carpet, colonnade in several expansive
galleries, with flower beds an all sides and having small
bridges over the watery tunnels,, is not only a beauty spot
where greenness of the earth merges into the infinite ethereal
blue canopy of the starlit night sky but also a sanctified
place, where people forget their worries, sorrows, sufferings
and the mundane humdrum living. The low railinged bridges
as it, bridge the gulf between the ancient and modern. The
foreigners proclaim the Muktangan as the first of its kind
in the East.
Competitions
and Conferences
Coming
to other important activities the Samiti has to its credit
the unique distinction of organising competitions and Conferences,
annually on an All India basis, wherein competitors and
artists from all corners of the country and other countries
are invited to give their inspiring performances.
The
main objective of the management of Prayag Sangit Samiti
in holding the Conferences is to create and maintain the
highest professional standards in performance and production
and to afford an opportunity to students of music to witness
and hear the practical demonstration of the art by great
masters of music. In order to save music from deteriorating
both in repute and creative development the Prayag Sang
t Samiti considered this step to be most essential and proper.
To rescue the art from this decline and to restore it to
its former classical and creative form is the aim and object
of the organisers of the conferee co. In the conferences
organised during the last decade, a break- through has been
made by the pioneer efforts of Prayag Sangit Samiti, other
dedicated individuals and music schools, in giving to the
technique of Indian classical music a new practical shape,
reflecting the needs of contemporary times. The experiment
of holding the conferences has considerably helped in further
enriching the repertoire of music broadening its scope and
revitalising the art. The music conferences of the Prayag
Sangit Samiti have a reputation of their own more for propagation
of music than any monetary gain.
The
Samiti after completing its fifty years of useful service,
celebrated its Golden Jubilee in November 1976. On this
happy occasion an All India music conference, an All India
Seminar of Musicologists and Art critics was also organised.
Library
& Museum
A unique
Musicological library has been established by the Samiti
in 1977 under the patronage of the State Govt. There are
1500 rare books on Vocal Music, String and percussion instruments,
dance and drama in the library collected from all over India
and abroad. The Library has also precious collection of
L. P. Records, tapes of top Musicians of the past and present.
The
Library hall has been fully equipped so as to provide adequate
facilities to the students and scholars to do research work
in the various branches of classical music.
Efforts
are being made to establish a Museum containing ancient
manuscripts on music, old instruments of music and garments
of historical interest.
Hostel
A hostel
for out-station and foreign students with 16 rooms has been
constructed providing all necessary facilities for their
comfortable stay and studies.
Since
its inception, the Samiti has been playing the role of a
torchbearer in the world of classical music. It can rightly
claim that it has fulfilled its objects of propagating the
art and popularising it throughout the length and breadth
of the country. The Samiti thus occupies the pride of place
in the Cultural and Educational organisations in India and
abroad advocating the cause of Indian Classical Music and
Dance.
Prayag
Sangit Samiti
20 Brunel Close
Southall, Middx UB5 6RW
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