Media and Conservation of Art: With Special Reference to the Dying Legacy of Indore Gharana

Abstract

Indian classical music has its roots deeply embedded in the Gharana Culture. One such prominent gharana that stamped its authority through the stalwarts like Ustad Amir Khan Sahab was Indore Gharana. The gharana once reached the zenith of popularity with the singing style and the beautiful compositions amongst the listeners of all age. The unique aspect of this singing style was that it was aesthetically beautiful and easily adaptable and that made it a popular style amongst everyone. The gharana is however currently going through a dark phase and is at the brink of getting extinct. The gharana is today nothing more than a dying legacy. It is unfortunate to note that a tradition worth centuries is at the brink of death. The study therefore revolves around the factors that led to the downfall of this rich legacy. This study is relevant for mapping the causes that can probably lead to the downfall of other prominent gharana as well. The primary data is collected through interviews of the current Indore Gharana artists. The findings suggest that the lack of interest of academia and popular musicians and industry has been one of the cause of the downfall of this tradition. Lack of a popular figure within the gharana of the stature of Ustad Amir Khan Sahab also contributed to the fall of the gharana.