Padma Shri Dr. Soma Ghosh raises concern over the decline of classical music’s glory and relevance, ‘Koi bhi baccha aaj shastriya sangeet…’ | Exclusive
Padma Shri Dr. Soma Ghosh is a renowned Indian classical vocalist and the cultural ambassador of the Banaras Gharana. Known for her commitment to preserving India’s musical heritage, she recently organized the event Yaad-E-Bismillah in New Delhi on August 20, 2025. The event pays tribute to legendary shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan. Dr. Ghosh, also known as his adopted daughter in the music world, celebrates this event annually to honour his legacy and promote classical music among the youth.
What did Dr. Soma Ghosh say on diminishing significance of Indian classical music?
During a conversation with India.com, when Dr. Soma Ghosh was asked about the significance of Indian classical music disappearing day by day, as people are moving towards rap culture and hip-hop music and what her take on it is, she said, “Is par main yahi kehna chahungi, ki humare bacchon ke parents, wahi prerna hoti hai ek santaan ki, jo parents chahte hai wahi baccha banne ki koshish karta hai, kyunki aaj ke time mein maa-baap bhi chah rahe hai ki agar humare bacche mein thoda sa bhi talent ya pratibha hai toh wo reality shows mein chala jaye, Rs 5-6 lakh kama lega, bacche ka naam roshan ho jayega, ye jo dhaarna bani hai na ye sabse pehle humare shastriya sangeet ko duur kar rahi, kyunki aaj koi bhi baccha shastriya sangeet nahi seekhna chahta, wo sabse pehle bolta hai ki humein reality shows mein jana, humein iss laayak bana dijiye, isse sabse badi gadbad ye ho gayi hai ki, jin maharatiyon ki zindagi ko humein saamne laana hai, school, colleges mein, main samajhti hoon ki har school mein inko dikhana chahiye.” (On this I will like to say that the parents of our children have the same inspiration of having a child, the child tries to become what the parents want, because in today’s time even the parents want that if their child has even a little talent or ability then he should go to reality shows, he will earn Rs. 5-6 lakhs, the child will become famous, this belief that has been created is first of all keeping our classical music away, because today no child wants to seek classical music, he first of all says that We go to reality shows, make us worthy of this, the biggest problem with this is that we have to bring the lives of legends in front of us, in schools and colleges, I feel that these should be shown in every school.)
What did Dr. Soma Ghosh say on the contributions of Pandit Ravi Shankar’s art?
She further said, “Aaj Pandit Ravi Shankar ko hi dekh lijiye, unka contribution soch sakte hai, aaj jo kalakaar bhi bache hai wo sirf unki badaulat, unhone aaj se 50-60 saal pehle harmony music mein fusion kiya tha, wo ek vidvaan the aur unhone America ke vidvaanon ke sath kaam kiya, Yuni Manurung, George Harrison, inke sath fusion kiya aur wo bhi proper tarike se taaki humari wo buniyaadi cheez, ye apna classical music ko merge kiye that we are one because of sargam, unhone dikha diya ki hum kisi ke sath bhi merge ho skate hain, this is the real fusion, aur iske pehle bhi fusion tha, jab Akbar ka darbaar tuuta oh jitne bhi unke gaayak the, ya vaadak the sab koi nahi koi, kahin na kahin chala gaya, jaise Banaras ke log chale gaye Gwalior, Punjab ke log chale gaye Banaras, toh jo wahan ki tappa (art-form) tha wo yahan chala aaya, shabd punjabi hai par wo Banaras chala aaya, isse fusion ban gaya, Banaras ke shabd, punjab ki tappa ye milke fusion bana, lekin aaj ke time mein ye confusion ban gaya hai, kyunki aaj ke waqt mein ek bathroom singer bhi fusion kar raha hai, aap proper tarah se kare toh wo behtar hoga, aap sarod le lo, uske sath ek western chello le lo, kyunki jo jaankaar hoga wahi aur sirf wahi hi fusion kar sakta hai, toh hum unki zindagi ko dohraa nahi rahe, jaise bade bade raajnetaaon ko hum yaad rakhne ki koshish karte hain, waise hi sangeet sadhakon ki zindagiyon ko bhi zinda rakhna padega.” (Just look at Pandit Ravi Shankar today, we can imagine his contribution, the artists who are alive today are only because of him, 50-60 years ago he had done fusion in harmony music, he was a scholar and he worked with American scholars, Yuni Manurung, George Harrison, he did fusion with them and that too in a proper way so that our basic things, he merged his classical music so that we are one because of sargam, he showed that we can merge with anyone, this is the real fusion, and there was fusion before this as well, when Akbar’s court broke down oh all his singers were, these were the players, none of them, they went somewhere or the other, like the people from Banaras went to Gwalior, people from Punjab went to Banaras, so the tappa (art-form) of that place came here, the word is Punjabi but it went to Banaras, this created a fusion, the words of Banaras, the tappa of Punjab, this together formed a fusion, but in today’s time it has become confusing, because today a bathroom singer is also doing a fusion, if you do it properly it will be better, you take a Sarod, along with it take a western chello, because the information that will be there is that and only that. If we can do a fusion, then we should not repeat their lives. Just like we try to remember big politicians, similarly we will have to keep alive the lives of Sangeet Sadhaks.)
What did Dr. Soma Ghosh say about Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam?
While remembering missile man and former President of India, Late Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, Dr. Soma said, “Jab baba guzar gaye, tab Abdul Kalam humein phone kiye the, Soma ji, aap vachan dijiye ki aap Ustaad Bismillah Khan sahab ko zinda rakhengi, iss wajah se main ye 17 saal se kar rahi hoon, taki hum unke thoughts aur unki kalaa ko aaj sabke beech zinda rakh sakein.” (When Baba passed away, Abdul Kalam had called us. Soma ji, please give us a statement that you will keep Ustaad Bismillah Khan alive. That is why I have been doing this for the last 17 years, so that we can keep his thoughts and his art alive among everyone even today.)
Story Highlights
- Padma Shri Dr. Soma Ghosh voiced concern over the declining interest in Indian classical music in modern times.
- She recently organized Yaad-E-Bismillah in New Delhi on August 20 to honor Ustad Bismillah Khan.
- Known as his adopted daughter in the music world, she celebrates the event annually to preserve his legacy.
- She emphasized the urgent need to reconnect the youth with the rich traditions of classical Indian music.
Dr. Soma Ghosh, a celebrated classical vocalist, is deeply committed to reviving and preserving the fading art of Indian classical music. Through annual events like Yaad-E-Bismillah, she continues to pay tribute to her guru Ustad Bismillah Khan while urging the younger generation to embrace their cultural roots.
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