Subject – Stopping of merger of All India Radio Amrutavarshini FM Classical music channel in Karnataka with RAGAM 24/7 national music channel (DTH and YouTube).

The merger of Amrutavarshini music channel with RAGAM 24/7 national music channel (DTH and YouTube), has debilitated our Music community in Karnataka by Shattering the career and dreams of thousands of Musicians. In this regard we would like to draw your kind attention to the following facts and there by request your kind intervention in stopping the merger of the one and only Radio classical music channel ‘AMRUTAVARSHINI’

Preamble

Music itself is the oldest means of communication. It is enjoyed by all masses as well as classes. Though everybody is free to choose for oneself the kind of music one likes most, whether Folk, Classical on Popular, yet a sense of appreciation for High Classical Art can be created too.

What is Popularisation? To popularise is to make popular. 'Popular' is that, which is adapted to the understanding or the taste of the people; that, which is liked and admired by the people. Popularity is that, which is prevalent among the people. Popularisation means - making popular, the cause or the principle, thus, making it generally known or liked, or presenting any technical subject in the popular form.

Popularisation is not propaganda. It is not thrusting upon anything, or creating pressure on the people's minds and emotions. On the contrary, it is making people adopt it happily, with keen interest, of their own, even without their knowledge, in a natural way; Popularisation means the Universal appeal of human beings towards music.

What is to be Popularised and why?

The question arises what is to be popularised? Definitely, Classical music, is the answer. And why? Because Classical music is our ancient and noble cultural heritage and a unique feature, a crucial component of its identity. Thus, with a view to preserve and foster it, steps towards the encouragement and popularisation are extremely necessary. The preservation of Classical music in all its rich and variegated authenticity, is an urgent task. To promote and maintain it, to keep its tradition alive to retain its quality and to make people familiar with it as well as to pass it down to the next generation, popularisation of Classical music amongst the masses as well as classes, is must. Ideals in Classical music cannot be attained till the 'true appreciation' is cultivated, which is necessary for the growth of Classical music. Whatever remains with us today, should not be neglected. Moreover, in the democratic age, no art or literature can be limited to a group or a class of people. It cannot survive like this. If it survives, it would not develop. Therefore, the traditional Indian music must be made available to the masses, to give them opportunity to understand and appreciate it. To continue the study and practice in music, active struggle and serious thinking is the need of the hour. The more one listens to Classical music, the better interest and understanding of Classical music can be created. As all other arts, Classical music is a creation of man, systematised with rules, refined with embellishments and cultivated with special efforts and attention. One who looks for this Wealth of sweet sound experience, will never question its immense capacity to afford the most pure and Divine joy. 'Ragas' have no end of musical value and ever freshness in them and appeal to the heart and soul of the listeners, may be lay or learned. Thus, the source, the origin, the basis of the world music, should not be forgotten; but must be preserved and popularised. Amrutavarshini FM was our hope

The popularisation of Indian Classical music can be achieved in two ways –

(I) to provide classical music to those, who have an ear for music, who are keenly sensitive, sensible and appreciative towards it and

(ii) to make the masses familiar with the rich cultural heritage, to raise the standard of listening of music of the people, who are used to lend ears to the hybrid type of music.

Thus, before a keen desire for a better understanding of classical music can be created, it is necessary to popularise it, to make it available for the masses and classes both, for everyone, for all strata and all walks of life.

Music is the most "broad castable" of all the arts. In other words, broadcasting is a natural vehicle for music. Music can be broadcast "per se" or intrinsically without conditioning of the material to broadcasting - techniques. It is natural therefore that music should be the staple food of broadcasting. Music broadcasting provides a sense of psychological freedom for the listeners and a sense of artistic freedom for the performer. The unique quality of radio is that the listener is left alone with sound and a deep relationship with the sound is formed. Radio is a creative art. Every artiste wants appreciation every artiste wants to perform and the Amrutavarshini FM radio has provided the artistes both - appreciation and performing platform.

One thing that is unique about radio is that listeners can work side by side with a musical background. So, on the one hand radio has promoted listenership' and on the other - 'musicianship’ Amrutavarshini FM Radio broadcasts have really inspired people and have made them adopt music as their career. By listening to serious classical broadcasts, listeners have been provided with a chance to be acquainted with the musical heritage to the greatest extent and by listening to it appreciating and understanding it, their cultural level has been raised and way of life has gradually changed. Thus, masses have been made familiar with the Cultural heritage of the country, with the richness of the Indian Scene, since each and every variety has been projected through Radio broadcasts.

The Amrutavarshini FM radio

Undoubtedly, the launch of Amrutavarshini FM Radio is an important milestone in the history of All India Radio in the path that had led towards a new "musical awakening" in Karnataka. Familiarity is the keynote of musical appreciation in the oral - tradition of Indian Classical Music, music can be appreciated only by listening to it. Masses are made familiar with Classical music by Amrutavarshini FM radio. People can appreciate that only, which they have been provided a chance to listen it. Since its inception Amrutavarshini FM Radio has been presenting the best talent before the audience. A country wide biggest platform has been provided for the artistes. Artistes have gained immense popularity and devoted following much more than before the days of radio broadcasting. For this Amrutavarshini FM has no other substitute. It is a means of artistic experience. Works of Masters of music penetrated into the homes of crores of people indiscriminately nationally and internationally (through Internet). The performers and the listeners, both find Amrutavarshini FM radio to be their own, an inseparable companion. The performers find the way to liberate their imagination and the listeners get one with the experiences of the writers, musicians and directors. Good musical broadcasts vibrate in the minds of the listeners for years. Never in the history of our Nation has such a tremendous stream of music been poured into the ears of the public as a whole.

Amrutavarshini FM Radio music broadcasts have really been very important as factor in our Musical Culture because the main concern of radio is to foster Indian Classical music, our cultural, heritage, to raise people's standard of Listening and to create a desire for better understanding of music. So, Amrutavarshini FM radio has played an enormous role in preserving, fostering and popularising Indian Classical Musical values most of all.

Listeners are of two types masses or the common folk and the classes, or the connoisseurs and cultured people. Elites are the cultured people, who are familiar with the knowledge of the creations of professional artistes and can appreciate and enjoy the works of art and can talk about them in a sophisticated manner. Such sophistication includes an intellectual rationalisation of the process of enjoyment, which in turn is dependent on the critical evaluation of the art object itself. Masses, on the other hand, are not sophisticated and intellectual enough to appreciate and evaluate critically, but intellectuality alone does not matter. If the listener is emotional, "Sa-hridaya", interested and has a zeal or enthusiasm to learn, to understand and a broad attitude, he is the best listener. Listeners vary a lot; the differences may be social, educational, religious, psychological, cultural, ethical, economic, political, physical or intellectual, but appreciation and keen sensitivity towards music implies not only a love for it, but enthusiasm in the pursuit, growth in understanding of its techniques and skills and of its historical and aesthetic backgrounds. The mass media suggest a mass audience, because mass implies a large aggregate; but for a variety of programmes there are minority audience, culturally diverse and small. Now the message of Indian Classical Musical values, through the channel, Amrutavarshini radio, was available to the destination - the listeners, whether masses or classes. 'The Classical music of India is popularised among the two types of listeners, cultured class who are real connoisseurs of music, as well as among the masses.

The purpose of mass communication is four-fold - to inform, to persuade, to educate and to Entertain and Amrutavarshini FM has done it all.

Last but not the least, The progress of the art we have to depend mainly, if not solely, on the labours of those who take to a study of music in a religious spirit, who love it more than they love aught else in this life, who dedicate their lives .and all that is best in them to development and who devote all their time to that sacred cause, and in short, follow it as their profession but at the same time, unlike many of our old time professionals regard it as their highest mission in, life to spread around them far and near a sound musical culture. Amrutavarshini is one such media which was helping in promoting Divine Karnataka Music (Carnatic Music) and Hindustani Music to the common man in its purest form and thereby giving a true experience of our music to the Connoisseurs of Music.

The Channel since its inception has taken strides in the Karnataka Music Arena with various educative programs like

1.      Ninada – Vainika Vaggeya Vahini covering the life and musical achievements of revered musicians – 21 Episodes

2.      Sadashiva Vaggeya Sampada – 13 Episodes

3.      Anandaparamananda –5 Episodes

4.      Gitarupini Sri Chamundeshwari – 50 Episodes

5.      Swara Shankara – 39 Episodes

6.      Samkruta Kavya Sangiita – 13 Episodes

7.      Haribakta Ganamruta – 13 Episodes

8.      Ugabhoga Darshana – 13 Episodes

9.      Aparoopa Raga Darshana -5 Episodes

10. Raagaantaranga – 13 Episodes

11. Agra Gharana – 13 Episodes

12. Samudaya Kriti Ratnavali – 20 Episodes

13. Raga Rasa Chintana – 13 Episodes

14. Dasha Vida and Panchadasha Gamakas and Presentation of Varities of Tana – 13 Epsodes

15. Swara Sindhu – 13 Episodes

16. Mayuri – based on compositions of kerala composers 

17. Naadarasottunga sri shyamakrishna based on compositions of sri shyamasastry 

18. Prasanna vrindavani based on the compositions of prasannavenkatadasaru,

19. Veeneya neralinalli,

20. Mahilaa haridasaru etc etc all  these were serial programmes, very well received by the listeners

21. Avarana Nivarana based on Deekshitars compositions

22. ರಾಗ ರಸ ನಿಷಕ, based on various compositions of Shri Tyagaraja and another 15 episodes on the life and contribution of Kaivara Narayana Yathindra also were very well received.

These lists are few programs lists from the lot which gives a clear picture of the involvement of our artists community in promoting our rich cultural music through Amrutavarshini

Amrutavarshini is not just a channel but it has become life and breath of our musicians
We can share with you 100 reasons why we need to retain Amrutavarshini FM Channel.

Though the Britishers have left the country their influence on the mindset of the people is clearly reflected even today and, with the advent influence of cable network and internet it has multimoded. This intern is indirectly or directly has started influencing the younger music generation and there is a need to preserve our classical music in its purest form. Amrutavarshini FM Music Channel was our hope in taking forward our tradition.

Our musicians in Karnataka were getting eight and half hours a Day which works out to be 255 hours a Month and 3060 hours a Year in Amrutavarshini FM channel which gets reduced to 2 hours a day – 60 hours a month and 720 hours a year in RAGAM (24/7 DTH and You Tube Classical Music Channel)

Taking cognizance of all our Musicians’ Karnataka Music Confederation Trust (KCMC) a representative body of Karnataka musicians to STOP the decision of Merging Amrutavarshini FM Music Channel with RAGAM (24/7 DTH and You Tube Classical Music Channel).

Vidwan Prashanth Iyengar

Trustee/Secretary

Karnataka Music Confederation Trust(KCMC)