So, who is celebrating the World Music Day today in true spirits?

Just a month ago, I received a call from a theatre critic K. Manjari Shrivastav. She is known for helping artistes and sari weavers through Kalaveethee, her initiative to promote art and culture of India. She asked me in confidence if I could contribute some amount to a musician. He is starving as the music programmes are not happening, due to covid-induced lockdowns.

She requested me to keep his name confidential except where the financial help was sure to come through. We requested some people to help beginning with Rs.1000. We shared his direct bank details.

The musician (name kept secret for reasons of self-respect), is known for playing as an accompanist with almost all big music stars of India - those who receive not only a fat amount to do shows nationally and internationally but are also well heeled.

K. Manjari Shrivastav

Few months passed and I followed it up with Manjari. She told me that help did come through, but too little to mention, no more than Rs.10,000 from known sources, only once. Tired of poor financial health, the musician finally let his friends’ group know about his conditions and some help sprinkled in again. But that too was not on sustainable basis.

Now the artist is back to his condition and is managing on charity from whosoever. His instrument is gathering dust.

This reminded me of Vusat Iqbal Khan, the daughter of Ustad Iqbal Ahmad Khan, the last Khalifa of the prestigious Dilli Garana of classical Music, who passed away suddenly just a few months ago. Vusat, herself a well-known musical dastango, the only one in India to write, perform and sing dastaans, had initiated “Save Our Artists” fund via the Dilli Gharana with the help of an NGO.

Vusat carries the legacy of a father who had never kept money he earned for himself but distributed it among the music families who needed them. Yet, unfortunately, as she recalls, “We could barely manage up to Rs.4 lakh and distributed it among the starving musicians who live in old Delhi bylanes and Laxmi Nagar.”

She says in a choked voice, “When we reached with ration kits and Rs.5000 to some artists having a large family, tears rolled down their eyes. They had gotten this help after months at stretch. Some of whom had even put off their stoves for lack of fuel”.

Ustad Iqbal Ahamd Khan (late) and Vusat Iqbal

But this was started almost two years ago, at the start of the pandemic. She says, “We also approached both the Central and the Delhi government for helping the artistes. The Central government asked us to make a list of to be beneficiaries by filling up certain specific forms. I filled up all the forms myself and submitted it. We also kept on following, but till date, we are awaiting a response.”

Though the Delhi government does fund lot of cultural/music projects but official help for the artistes is still to come by. Some officials though helped in a personal capacity once or twice.

The Kathak danseuse Manjari Chaturvedi had also taken an initiative to save the starving artistes through her Sufi Kathak Foundation and had been able to raise some amount. Her plea read that small cities like Kakori, Behraich, Badaun, Sitapur, Brakabanki, Even Lucknow, Fatehpur Sikri, Jhansi, Verka, Bhubaneshwar, etc., were worst affected and help has not reach them yet.

"Performing artistes are selling vegetables and random things, she informed me.

However, these initiatives were taken at individual levels. The help from the Central and/or State Governments are rare to come by.

As I finished my round of an old Delhi back alley sometime back, where many musicians live, I was surprised to find a musician, a qawwal, I have met at several shows many times over, selling tomatoes and bananas in a small basket, looked like one picked up from the home.

“I asked him, you have so less of these items, how will you manage’, He answered to jolt my conscience, “I didn’t buy these. Someone came home and gave it in charity. I may get some money to buy ration, if I sell them. I have a family of nine to run. All are into music and none of us are earning.”

After nearly two years, the status quo, remains.

Manjari Chaturvedi

So, are we still celebrating “World Music Day” today?

How?

By humming something on instagram, twitter, youtube, and posing with a victory sign?

The tablas have fallen silent thanks to no help from the government