Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan is reaching traditional music to young audiences around the city. The endeavour is being supported by a national endowment from Infosys Foundation to the organisation.

“We are giving a platform to upcoming artistes in Indian classical performing arts. We will organise at least one programme per month,” said G.V. Subramanian, director of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Calcutta. 

As part of the initiative, which was flagged off at National Library’s Bhasha Bhavan auditorium in March, the school building hosted a programme in association with Salt Lake Cultural Association under the banner of Outreach Cultural Programme in the auditorium in July.

The programme was attended by students of Sangeet Nritya Shikshan Kendra which runs on the school premises every Saturday morning and trains anyone interested in classical music. Maitreyee Sinha, who is one of the teachers at the Kendra, was one of the performers. “Scope for young performers in classical music is on the wane. This is a great initiative. We are also getting to listen to new talent,” said the 44-year-old, who presented raga Mian ki Malhar, a kajri and a bhajan. The other performers were 29-year-old Deepsankar, a fourth generation sitarist from his family, and Debanjan Bhattacharya, a sarod artiste who has trained under Ustad Aashish Khan among others. 
Bhavan’s Gangabux Kanoria Vidyamandir  principal Anindita Chatterjee admitted that interest in traditional cultural activities has dwindled. “If there is Bollywood dance, everyone is interested to attend. In school fests, we hardly see classical dance contests anymore. Popular demand is for events like fusion and Western dance. So even if some of our students start attending these programmes it will be a start,” she said. 

“In future we will collaborate with ICCR and Spic Macay and with EZCC, especially for folk dance,” Subramanian said.