Bhubaneswar: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik Friday urged the union culture and tourism minister to accord classical status to Odissi music.
Patnaik, in a letter to the union ministed Prahalad Singh Patel, has requested to consider for conferment of classical status to Odissi vocal and instrumental music.
” Appreciate our heritage, the elegant and classical ments of Odishi Music and to consider to confer classical status to Odishi Music (Vocal and Instrumental) to fulfil the long cherished dream of the music lovers of Odisha and that of India.”
Lamenting that “It is a matter of concern that Odishi music, the tradition of which dates back almost to second century B.C.E. is yet to be recognized as a classical music by the government of India”, the chief minister has stated that,
“The Odishan music has, at least a tradition of 2000 years and is based on written Sastra and its own core Raga.”
“It has a distinctive rendition style based on codified grammar, the characteristic giti system of classical texts and having its own tala, different from Hindustani and Karnatak music” , he pointed out and asserted, “No doubt Odishi music has all the requisite and exclusive characteristics to be recognized as a classical music.”
The Government of Odisha have undertaken pioneering efforts to get classical status for Odishi music at an institutional level, i.e., establishment of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odishi Research Centre and Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi with the purpose of promotion of music, dance and drama in the State of Odisha.
Another milestone in the path of promotion of the culture, art, music and tradition of Odisha was the establishment of the Utkal University of Culture way back in the year 1999, by the Government of Odisha.
Odishi music has made significant impact on Indian cultural scenario. Several Odishan playwrights, sculptors, painters and choreographers have earned national and intemational fame. Odishi danc has been recognized as one of the classical forms and stands eminent because of its characteristic bhangi, thani, lalitya, mudra etc., but, ironically, Odishi music is yet to be recognized as a classical form of music at national level.
