Declaring Carnatic musicians as National Heritage?

[Navaneedham]

Wouldnt it be great if the Govt declared the accomplished AIR artists as National Heritage? The Vidwans and Vidushis should be made eligible for certain travel privileges , more opportunities to represent India in International music platform,more research opportunities with the National Heritage status.It would also encourage the younger generation to achieve in this challenging field.Not only music,the National Heritage status could be given to endangered art forms ,sports personalities.Is it feasible? Or can it only be my dream?
If this is feasible,we can actually have a "Fine Arts council" to govern the Fine Arts activities in the country.

[cmlover]

Why don't we have them anointed and declare them Saints and
when they die have an annual Festival in their memory with glamorous other artistes
participating and telivize them....

[arasi]

CML,

Generally speaking, General Discussions at the moment is generating a lot of posts and lot of new topics and it looks like one of the congested roads in Chennai. We get lost in it. So, please don't add a procession to the celebrations #:-s

[VK RAMAN]

Carnatic Musicians and National Heritage : CM artists and rasikas do not represent even one tenth of 1% Indian population and the dream is possible if all Tamil brahmins control the power that may be. Take Kerala model where people from Hindus - all castes, Muslims and Chritians sing CM and let us see if Tamil Nadu/Andhra/Karnataka can model after Kerala.

[Nick H]

1. Let us seek funding for all arts. Let us also support ourselves where we can.

2. Let us not have "titles" that might make people feel like antiques or monuments.

[Sundara Rajan]

Post#4 VKR has opened another Pandora's Box. I remember writing on this subject several years ago, either here or in Sangeetham.com. Brahmins in Tamil Nadu are not preventing people of other denominations/faiths from learning or practicing Carnatic Music. There are Government music colleges in several cities in the state; but there are no takers from other castes or faiths. Dravidian party governments in the state tried to open priesthoods to all other castes including SC/ST . Even KarupaNNasami kovil patrons don't accept them as poojAries and the few trainees have moved on to other fields. So don't blame the poor brahmins for all the ills of the society.

[kvjayan]

The disgruntled folks perhaps missed a great opportunity. They could have petitioned to the Dravidian Chief (when he was all power and glory). He would have duly "nationalised" the Music Academy (and the leading city sabhas) and rendered "social justice" with guaranteed reservation, proportional secular representation etc.

[VK RAMAN]

kvjayan: this is precisely what happened in Kerala some 20+ year ago. Non brahmins were nominated as priests to do puja at Samabarimala and other important places of worship.

[kvjayan]

We have the "Hindustani Model" also, wherein there are as many ustads as there are pundits, but practically no christians (at least visibly). Wonder who should take the blame for this phenomenon.

[cmlover]

Instead of declaring National Heritage, if the Govt pays them a substantial monthly honorarium a lot of them irrespective of caste or creed will flock to CM. Even now in which profession even counting medicine can a person make upwards of $4000 for a two hour stint!