Create-A-Rasika

Carnatic music is facing a very serious issue today: Rasika catastrophe!

A system of classical music which is rooted in spirituality and steeped in intricate theory and practice, which has been passed down through generations is facing a serious concern of decline due to the diminishing number of audiences. The number of rasika-s coming to the sabha-s to attend concerts have significantly dropped. As the world becomes increasingly globalised and westernised, Carnatic music which once was a staple in the cultural scene of South India, is now struggling to maintain its relevance. The reason can be attributed to many including COVID which crippled the entire world.  

The rasika-s of Carnatic music, for some reason, have always been minimal. We have heard many senior exponents and experts justify this by saying, this system is exquisite like a precious gemstone which cannot be comprehended or appreciated by everyone and hence the small community of audience. Has something that was once said with pride now become a curse ? 

Indian Classical music is no longer considered as a financially viable profession. There are not many job opportunities for musicians, as institutions such as All India Radio and Govt. Educational Institutions, which have a Music Department, no longer appoint permanent job positions to artistes. There are only temporary postings with very insignificant pay scale.

Lack of audience has become a deterrent for many organisations and sabha-s, to conduct concerts as they are finding it financially difficult to sustain. This inturn has affected good performers to get a stage to perform against those who pay for slots. Naturally, at this rate, the quality of music will suffer in due course of time. 

Today, there is an upsurge in the number of artistes. There are very many young budding musicians who are truly talented and are very hardworking and determined in achieving great heights in the field of music. But what about rasika-s? Where have all the Carnatic music enthusiasts and connoisseurs gone? Where are the next generation of rasika-s? While we have a huge line up of musicians who are ready to enthrall the audiences, where did the audiences disappear? This is something that needs some serious thoughts and requires immediate attention. It has indeed become the need of the hour to take initiatives to ensure that Carnatic music doesn't fade off from the face of this earth. 

GCMA, The Global Carnatic Musicians Association, being an organisation which has been tirelessly working for the musicians community since 2019, has taken this into serious consideration and has decided to take steps towards not only retaining existing rasika-s but also in creating new rasika-s under the expert leadership of the Tamil Nadu State secretary of GCMA, Vidushi Smt. Nithyasree Mahadevan. The project is aptly titled as “CAR” which expands to Create-A-Rasika. The CAR project aims at igniting and rekindling the interest for Carnatic music amidst all classes of people. To begin with, as the famous quote says ‘Catch them young’, which signifies the importance of inculcating things in the young minds as it is believed that the seed that has been sown at that tender age will remain until a person dies. Aligning with this thought, GCMA decided to start the CAR project at the school level. The organisation has decided to take this project in phases starting from city schools. The project has so far covered about 30 schools in chennai city, addressing about 4500 students. This being just the first step of this initiative, the project aims at forming a community of student ambassadors who will further take this initiative to the masses. With the hope of bringing in fresh audiences, GCMA has embarked on this initiative which will help bring in new, young, vibrant audiences to the Carnatic scene.