Training in Indian music/culture for IAS officers

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 13 Feb 2009, 15:24

I was going through an article this morning about Amir Khan taking a session on Bollywood/its impact on culture etc. etc. for would-be IAS officers during their one year training program at Lal Nahadur Institute in Dehradun. I wonder whether there is also a course on appreciation of Indian fine arts.

In the past, IAS officers have been great patrons of culture, being natural successors to the nobiliity of yore. One can immediately recall names like CV Narasimhan in promoting Carnatic Music. Even if there have been accusations of bias/favouritism/officials sitting in judgement on matters they do not understand (the Padma Shree being a case in point), I do believe that the contribution of bureaucrats has been positive overall, as far as the arts are concerned.

The social composition of the bureaucratic community has changed significantly over the last few years. While the jury is still out on the desirability of this development, the breed of cultured bureaucrats seems to be on the wane. I do not wish this to be seen as a parochial comment. This is applicable to all sections of society - scions of the Gwalior dynasty, for instance, openly admit to their lack of interest in Hindustani Music, which owes much to the patronage of their ancestors. Rajiv Gandhi was a steep climb down from the high culture of his mother and grandfather. I think most of us can think of several examples in our own families..

Patronage of the ruling classes is important to sustain cultural activities, whatever may be the side effects. Incorporation of arts appreciation courses in the training program of IAS officers could be an important step towards this objective. One of the spin off benefits may even be a reduction of corruption levels in the country! I wonder whether this is already being done and what other members think.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 13 Feb 2009, 18:15

Would be nice, Vijay, and I agree entirely with the points you make, and the issues you raise. However, while I can see the multi-billion dollar Bollywood industry featuring in the training program (despite being couched in a gossamer veneer of 'cultural impact', I bet it is the monetary impact that ultimately rules the roost!), I have to 'fess-up that I have absolutely no illusions about a true art appreciation course being offered - all of these hypocrites will line up to pay tribute to the absolutely wonderful, and spot-on choices for international awards (to Indian artists), but will not even learn from those processes when it comes to choosing our very own 'padma' awards for the most part.

vainika · Post by **vainika** » 13 Feb 2009, 20:59

Coincidentally, I'm in the middle of preparing a two-hour training module on HIV/AIDS epidemiology to be delivered to the current batch at LBSNAA Mussoorie. *Wicked thought* maybe I should mix a few slides on the natural scale, shrutis, svaras and gamakas with the existing ones on (viral) natural history, disease progression and regional sub-epidemics...

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 13 Feb 2009, 21:22

You should! Is it merely a slide show which goes with the presentation? Otherwise, you could sneak in some music in too!

vainika · Post by **vainika** » 13 Feb 2009, 21:51

Arasi - great idea!

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 13 Feb 2009, 22:14

Sneaky, Ramki - but a great idea nevertheless:

How about having a musical score in the background of each slide - use appropriate rAgAs for different aspects - like sahAnA to highlight the compassion of the relief agencies and their work, kadanakutUhalam at the joy of delivering a negative baby, something to denote fear when you show the risk factors etc etc...(I know, I know, I know - I am going over board, but the macbook is so verstaile you can do almost anything! I can't help myself)

uday_shankar · Post by **uday_shankar** » 13 Feb 2009, 22:15

vijay
Like what you said but take strong exception to the phrase "ruling classes". Perhaps "governing/policy making classes" ?

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 13 Feb 2009, 22:41

Vainika, all the best...let's hope we have a few converts on our hands!

Uday, one occasionally needs a reminder that we are still a democracy! Point taken...

makham · Post by **makham** » 14 Feb 2009, 12:23

Vijay's idea of creating awareness among budding bureaucrats on Indian Art forms needs to be acted upon seriously - especially for those who take the Foreign Service route. Their training may have a Mission statement to produce well rounded personalities, but the ground reality is far from it. I have personal experience of the deterioration in the cadre. A bunch of trainees from the LB academy were supposed to visit our company as part of their Bharat Darshan. They were expected at 10.30 AM but turned up at 3.30 PM without any communication during the period (everyone has a cell phone) and without a trace of apology for being delayed. Not just arts, they need training on economy & business as well. I was appalled that a senior staff officer at one of our embassies was unaware of the status of India's IT industry and the SEZ concept !!

But little learning may lead to hilarious situations. One technocrat in a social gathering was heaping praise on MD for his non-envious and generous atttitude toward his contemporaries - that MD has composed krithis in praise of Thyagaraja !!!

vainika · Post by **vainika** » 15 Feb 2009, 11:18

makham wrote:They were expected at 10.30 AM but turned up at 3.30 PM without any communication during the period (everyone has a cell phone) and without a trace of apology for being delayed.

Well, at least one component of their training for induction into babu-dom has apparently been successful. Lol@ the MD-philic technocrat episode.

To rshankar, dear brother MacEvangelist - your vivid imagination is quite compelling! Upon completing the ppt which now stands significantly at 72 slides, I did briefly contemplate a Melakartas in Mussoorie audiotrack, before regretfully dismissing the idea

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 15 Feb 2009, 14:00

Why blame technocrats - not too long ago, the Hindu carried a story in which the same claim was made (MD composing on Thyagaraja).

I suppose a good grouding in Indian arts is even more important for IFS officers...sadly, for many of them Indian culture begins and ends with Bollywood. India's hard-sell at Davos 2006 - which was otherwise quite successful in raising the country's investment profile - was a major break from similar festivals/events in the past in replacing the usual classical fare with a Bollywood style dhamaka...

72 slide presentation? Then, even a chauka kala Deekshitar composition might come as a relief! I have many sorry tales to tell of PPTs that exceeded 30 slides the most embarrasing of which was when a senior person of the client team started babbling in his sleep!

vainika · Post by **vainika** » 15 Feb 2009, 21:39

Well, 72 slides run for 2 hours and include pop-quizzes, group discussion and energizers - guaranteed to keep 'em awake and on their toes. Slides with 6X6 content will cover only about 18 shuddha madhyamas and 18 prati madhyamas...