This thoughtful note is inspired by the ongoing COVID-19 times, ever since the wild beast pandemic shook everyone, unexpectedly. India stands out globally, for its deep-rooted culture and historic traditional and innovative skills. In today’s globalized set-up, we have been modernizing everything, from work to ‘smart’ work with especially the COVID-19 pandemic making everything go ‘online’ at a hectic pace. How can Art be left behind!
Art has magnanimous powers. Being a Kathak artist since 19+ years of continuing association with Kathak – I feel, what ‘saving environment’ is for existence of ‘Mother Earth’; ‘inculcating Art’ in life is for ‘sustainability of Human’s mind’. Art can transform a mind’s inhibitions, it can build not just an individual but a whole society, a nation into supreme ‘soft power’ globally; a distinct example to follow and reckon with.
Art, including Classical Dance, Painting, Music, Theatre – is preached at various levels in our Indian societies since age old times. One can pursue it as hobby, some take it as their professions. Every person can become an Artist! But a professional Artist, is a product of years of labour, lot of patience and perseverance and hardwork. Edgar Degas said, “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” Artists work not only for their self-satisfaction, but also for mass motivation, one’s enrichment of souls of the do-er as well as the viewer, and a sustainable belief flourishment of peace amidst chaos for one and all. We may call it ‘entertainment’, but a classical art-preacher feels the weight of historic culture, legacy, gratitude and so much more than just an external appeasement. More so, a classical artist gets opportunities to represent India through his/her artform globally.
The current Covid-19 pandemic has only highlighted the real importance and need of Art, right from childhood to old citizens, for one and all. It should be a part of one’s life, to feel the balance and not get pressurized with work or money. Need of the hour is to not get discouraged with new normal or changes; but engage in some art form, if not already engaged. For it is the art’s world, that lets us express the unsaid emotions and what best time than now, to word every emotion innovatively.
Sustainable living comes by believing in stability, pursuing routine as well as change! For if change is the only constant — let Covid-19 be the catalyst of the change! May we Indians realize our historical age-old magics of creating new music, new Ragas, new gharana in this lockdown induced COVID-19 times than giving up, worrying, performing fanatically, or forgetting art altogether. Let us persevere, create more and contribute to a history. Albert Einstein has rightly said: “In the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity!”
By Shobhna Jha
(Ph.D. Economics Research Scholar, at IIT Delhi and Kathak Artist)
