Our museum, our music
20 May 2014 11:56 PM IST
It was in 1977 that The International Council of Museums (ICOM) established the International Museum day. It was done for the sole purpose of encouraging public awareness of the role of museums in the development of society. 18 May is the day when more than 35,000 museums from 143 countries on five continents get together to enlighten the masses. The theme for International Museum Day was : Museum collections make connections. It was put forward with an aim to tell the story of the cultural heritage of a community and its shared memory.
The theme fits the present scenario of the world perfectly. At the time of the mayhem called Globalisation, it has become very important for countries and its citizens to know of their own culture. The Sangeet Natak Akademi, over the past 50 years has played this role efficiently. It holds musical instruments, masks and puppets from India as well as Italy, Moscow, Athens, Egypt, Spain, Korea and many more. The Akademi's collection is the largest of its kind in India.
The Akademi celebrated the day by exhibiting the galleries which disseminate information about the development of music and other traditions of performing arts of India. It is sure to have generated fresh interests in these arts. To make the session interactive, Ustad Quasim Khan Niyazi, renowned Tabla maker and Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee was called. He spoke at length on the art of making Tabla while artists, scholars and students listened with keen ears.
For all those who are not as abreast with the world of Tabla and Tabla making, Ustad Quasim Khan Niyazi is one who has made Tablas for almost all great percussionists of the country. Among them also come great names like Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ustad Ameer Hussain, Ustad Thirkwa Khan Sahab and so many more. He has been honoured by Padamshree award in the year 1976.
You may have missed the celebrations of the International Museum Day, but you can always pay a visit to the nearest museum today!
Trust me, you won't regret it.
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