Using Music to Propagate Peace
“I am content as well as excited now,” says Hindustani classical vocalist Sumitra Guha. The reason is simple: her latest musical project, ‘Gondwana Daw’’, with the double Grammy Award winner Robin Hogarth, is getting good reviews all over the world.
The album combines an African youth choir with Indian classical music and South African choral music. “We wanted to use music for the betterment of mankind,” says Sumitra. “In this busy modern world we are depressed and unhappy. What we need is peace and spirituality. In a world of war and commotion we need to remember the concept of ‘Vasudeva Kudumbakam’ (The whole world is one single family.)"
The duo conducted auditions in the slums of Delhi, as well as in Africa. In the end, they selected nine children from India and 11 from Africa. The children received training for one month and then performed for the album. “The children propagating the idea of peace was exciting to me and Hogarth,” says Sumitra. “Now we are planning on sending a nomination for the Grammy for this endeavor.”
Sumithra said that if someone wants to learn music he or she should do it from a guru (master). She gratefully remembered her first guru, Rajalakshmi Raju, her own mother, Janaki Raman, and many others who helped her in achieving her dreams.
"Gurushishyaparampara is the best way to pass the knowledge from one generation to another,” says Sumitra. “There is no age limit for music. Many of my students in India and abroad are of various age groups and some are even middle aged.”
Even though she is a trained vocalist in the Carnatic and Hindustani tradition she loves to sing the latter. “Carnatic music is a mother to me because it was the music genre which I learnt first,” she says. “But ‘Khayal’ in Hindustani music is more enthralling. That is why Hindustani music is so dear to me.”
She said her family has been a constant pillar of support. “When I started my career it was not easy for a woman to come into the mainstream unless she got the support of her family and friends,” says Sumitra. “For me there has always been a man behind my success. At first it was my father, then it was my husband and now it is my two sons Prankumar Guha and Jitendra Guha. I consider myself lucky.”
She also has a high opinion of Kochi, the city as well as the people. “Kochi is mesmerising, with its exquisite nature and its music-loving people,” she says. “The people appreciate music and art. The respect and love Keralites show towards artists are adorable. I have not got an opportunity to share a stage with Kerala’s own Gandharvan K J Yesudas whom I respect a lot, but was lucky to meet him once. I am looking forward to sharing a stage with him in the near future in God’s Own Country.”