1 of 26

OUR CLASSICAL ARTS - CURATIVE, CREATIVE, AND MORE…

An Initiative by

Sir C. V. Raman

Rabindranath Tagore

Meghnad Saha

Satyendra Nath Bose

Good evening, everyone. It's an honor to be here at the advisory Board meeting, speaking to such a visionary group.

Being here, you all are already aware of the profound impact of our classical arts, but I want to start by reminding us all about their curative, creative, and multifaceted benefits.

Classical arts have always been more than just a form of entertainment. They are a source of inspiration and a catalyst for intellectual and emotional growth. This is evident in the lives of some of the greatest minds in fields like physics, philosophy, astrophysics, and literature (some of whom you see here), who all shared a deep passion for classical music. All have professed the symbiotic relationship between their achievements and their involvement in classical music. Our volunteers have put together a wonderful compendium of such inspirational figures, which I don’t have time to present here, but we will be happy to send across.

Creative Boost:

Beyond its curative properties, classical music also fosters creativity. Engaging with music stimulates various parts of the brain, enhancing cognitive functions and encouraging creative thinking. Research from the American Psychological Association highlights that high school students who participate in music courses score significantly better in subjects like math, science, and English compared to their non-musical peers[2]. This suggests that integrating music into the curriculum can lead to overall academic improvement.

Symbiotic Relationship:

There is compelling evidence that classical music and intellectual achievements are intertwined. A study by the University of Helsinki found that musicians often exhibit enhanced cognitive abilities, including better memory and problem-solving skills[3]. Furthermore, many renowned scientists and writers, such as Albert Einstein and Rabindranath Tagore, credited their musical pursuits with providing them with unique insights and creative breakthroughs in their primary fields of work.

Holistic Development:

Moreover, music education contributes to holistic development. It nurtures emotional intelligence, improves memory, and enhances social skills. A comprehensive study involving over 100,000 students revealed that those engaged in music education exhibited higher levels of academic performance and motivation[3]. This underscores the importance of supporting and integrating music education within our academic institutions.

2 of 26

INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC FOR ALL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Suicide in our youth is a deep and grave concern! They need to develop coping skills towards all adversities. Anxiety, stress, depression, indiscipline, and other such problems which are rampant today are indicators of what lies ahead.

Our Classical Arts, Yoga, and other aspects of the heritage can help in reducing the problems mentioned above. It is therefore suggested that Classical Music, Carnatic and/or Hindustani be played on the sound system at key times.

At start and end of the day and during breaks. For residential institutions, it can be used in the hostel messes during meal times and in the common rooms.

3 of 26

A TIME- TESTED PREVENTIVE MEDICINE FOR STUDENTS

A pilot project can be tried out for a period of 6 months (but it must be done every day for it to have the desired effect - one day lost would put us 40 days behind - this is not my statement but that of the great masters), after which a decision can be made on whether it should be continued

Selecting the most inspirational pieces, by esteemed musicians. The names of the artistes, and the ragas being presented should be announced on the internal WhatsApp groups, notice boards and in the assembly.

4 of 26

A FEW SELECT RECORDINGS OF SOME OF THE GREATEST MASTERS ��OF OUR CLASSICAL ARTS, WHICH CAN BE USED,�ARE GIVEN

CARNATIC MUSIC FOR SCHOOLS & COLLEGES

HINDUSTANI MUSIC FOR SCHOOLS & COLLEGES

5 of 26

TIME CYCLE OF RAGAS IN HINDUSTANI MUSIC, AS PER THE TIME OF THE DAY IS GIVEN BELOW.��THE CORRECT RAGA FOR THE PARTICULAR TIME OF THE DAY, SHOULD BE PLAYED ALWAYS��

6 of 26

ADDITIONALLY, TO ANNOUNCE A CHANGE OF PERIOD IN SCHOOLS, ��ONE OF THE VERY SHORT PIECES GIVEN, COULD BE USED, INSTEAD OF THE BELL

SM SIGNATURE INVOCATION TUNE

PT JASRAJ INVOCATION TUNE

7 of 26

PLAYING INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

An Initiative by

Pt. Ravi Shankar

Pt. Bhimsen Joshi

Vid. MS Subbulakshmi

Us. Bismillah Khan

Bharat Ratna Awardees

8 of 26

REFERENCES

9 of 26

ADDITIONALLY, TO ANNOUNCE A CHANGE OF PERIOD IN SCHOOLS, ��ONE OF THE VERY SHORT PIECES GIVEN, COULD BE USED, INSTEAD OF THE BELL

S BALACHANDER VEENA TUNE

UST. DAGAR RUDRA VEENA TUNE

10 of 26

1. Albert Einstein (1879–1955)

Field: Theoretical Physics (Theory of Relativity)
Musical Passion: Violin
Details: Einstein began playing the violin at age six. He often said, "If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician." He found inspiration in music, especially in works by Mozart and Bach, and believed it helped him solve scientific problems.

11 of 26

2. C.V. Raman (1888–1970)

Field: Physics (Raman Effect)
Musical Passion: Veena
Details: C.V. Raman, a Nobel laureate, was deeply interested in the physics of musical instruments. His groundbreaking work on the Raman Effect stemmed from his curiosity about the scattering of light, but he also studied the acoustics of Indian musical instruments like the veena and mridangam.

12 of 26

3. Homi Bhabha (1909–1966)

Field: Nuclear Physics
Musical Passion: Western Classical Music
Details: Known as the father of India’s nuclear program, Bhabha was also an accomplished painter and had a deep appreciation for Western classical music. He believed that art and science are two sides of the same coin.

13 of 26

4. Meghnad Saha (1893–1956)

Field: Astrophysics (Saha Ionization Equation)
Musical Passion: Indian Classical Music
Details: Meghnad Saha, who revolutionized astrophysics, was known to enjoy classical Indian music. Though not a musician himself, he had a deep appreciation for the cultural arts.

14 of 26

5. Satyendra Nath Bose (1894–1974)

Field: Quantum Mechanics (Bose-Einstein Statistics)
Musical Passion: Indian Classical Music (Vocals and Esraj)
Details: Bose, after whom the "Boson" particle is named, was an accomplished musician. He played the esraj, a stringed instrument, and was a patron of Indian classical music.

15 of 26

6. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (1931–2015)

Field: Aerospace Engineering (Missile Technology)
Musical Passion: Veena
Details: Known as the Missile Man of India and a beloved former President, Kalam played the Veena and often spoke about how music brought him peace and inspiration for his scientific endeavors.

16 of 26

7. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (1894–1955)

Field: Chemistry (Colloidal Chemistry)
Artistic Passion: Urdu Poetry
Details: A pioneer of industrial research in India, Bhatnagar was also a talented poet who wrote under the pen name “Seemab.” He composed many poems in Urdu, blending science with literature.

17 of 26

8. Srinivasa Ramanujan (1887–1920)

Field: Mathematics (Infinite Series, Number Theory)
Connection to Classical Music: While Ramanujan was not directly involved in music, his Tamil Brahmin heritage exposed him to South Indian Carnatic music, which deeply values mathematical precision in rhythm (tala) and melody (raga). His mathematical work often mirrored this sense of rhythm and structure.

18 of 26

9. Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941)

Role: Poet, Philosopher, and Freedom Fighter
Musical Contribution: Tagore was a prolific composer of over 2,000 songs, collectively known as Rabindra Sangeet. His songs often drew from Indian classical music and folk traditions. Two of his compositions became national anthems—India's Jana Gana Mana and Bangladesh's Amar Shonar Bangla.

19 of 26

10. Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948)

Role: Leader of the Indian Independence Movement
Musical Connection: Gandhi loved devotional music, particularly bhajans (devotional songs). His favorite was Vaishnav Jan To, which reflects themes of compassion and selflessness. While not a musician himself, Gandhi used music as a tool for spiritual and communal awakening during the freedom movement.

20 of 26

11. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (1891–1956)

Role: Architect of the Indian Constitution, Social Reformer
Musical Connection:
While Dr. Ambedkar directly involved in music, he appreciated the cultural richness of India, including its classical music traditions.
He always likes to play his favourite violin.

21 of 26

12. Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902)

Role: Philosopher, Spiritual Leader, and Social Reformer
Musical Connection: He used to play Pakhwaj

22 of 26

REFERENCES

23 of 26

REPORTS WHICH HIGHLIGHT AND SUPPORT THE ACTIONS SUGGESTED ABOVE ( CLICK ON THE LINKS)

24 of 26

Therapeutic Effects of Indian Classical Raga

A Pilot study was conducted on Raga Ahir Bhairav and its effect on adults.
It was shown to significantly reduce depression, anxiety, and stress.
Participants in the intervention group showed a notable decrease in these conditions compared to the control group

Specific Ragas also help alleviate psychological and physiological conditions
Raga Yaman is notable for inducing peace and tranquility, ideal for stress reduction

Raga Research Centre in Chennai is studying the curative aspects of Indian Ragas
Documented improvements in happiness, peace, and health

Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan, Indian violinist launched Raga Research Centre in 2007

General Therapeutic Benefits

Historical texts mention using music, especially Vedic hymns and specific ragas, for mental and physical well-being.
Emphasize the profound healing properties embedded in classical music tradition.

25 of 26

REFERENCES

^{IJPP September 2022.cdr}

26 of 26

ASSOCIATE WITH SPIC MACAY�CONNECT WITH US

Email
info@spicmacay.com
Mobile
97606 89747, 81080 98246
Website
www.spicmacay.org