 India's independence on August 15,
1947, from the Colonial rule had brought forth rapid changes in Arts and Sciences. It may
be said that the changes that one finds in the area of Indian Music are influenced by the
social and cultural changes that have occurred during these fifty years.
The first major change is the
democratisation of Music. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister introduced
the socialistic policy, the people's Government which is turn made the patronage of Music
shift from the Rajas of the Princely states and wealthy Zamindars into the heads of
Government and non-governmental organisations. After independence, five hundred and fifty
two princely states ruled by the Rajas merged with the main stream of the National
Government. Before independence, the performances of Indian classical musicians were held
in "Mehfil", in the kings' courts, chamber music concerts and in wealthy
Zamindars' homes. The upper class society and connoisseurs enjoyed it. This practice was
shifted to the "Public" performances with a large number of male audiences who were lay
listeners of Music. When these changes in the audience and patronage came up for Indian
classical music performances, the performers were obligated to satisfy the common
audience. This in turn made the performers concentrate more on pleasing the audience
according to their taste than to show his/her technical expertise in the field of
classical music. The presentation of the performers began to be focussed more towards
variety in music compositions and ragas than on the aspect of the expertise in his/her
"Creativity" in Indian classical Music. This is a very special and unique
feature of the Indian classical Music that was aimed at and appreciated by the audience
before independence.
After the political independence, the Indian Government's
Nationalisation policy brought about many changes in the area of patronage by establishing
Governmental organisations such as, Sangeeth Natak Akademy (National Academy of Music
Dance & Drama). These were attached to the Ministry of Culture and the Indian Council
for Cultural Relations with the Ministry of External affairs. The Sangeeth Natak Akademy
is for promoting performing Arts - Classical Folk Devotional and other styles besides
awarding 
Fellowships for eminence in Music, Dance and Drama. Scholarships for outstanding persons
for further research, award of grants to Music, Dance and Drama Institutions in India and
funding for the publications on the performing Arts are given every year based on their
merit. The promotion scheme for young artistes and pension scheme for the aged artistes
have helped them enormously. It also honours the classical and non-classical performers of
Music, Dance and Drama, and Musicologists every year at the State level and National
level. Since the function of this organisation is decentralised, it enables the performing
artistes and musicologists in the different states to get due recognition.
A very noticeable change in the Indian music scenario after
independence is the prominent place occupied by Folk music of India without any
discrimination in the status from classical Music - the Hindustani and Carnatic systems.
The value of folk music that belongs to the people who live in rural areas, illiterate and
poor is recognised as a best medium of communication. This helps to understand the culture
of the different people in the different states in India as they reveal the complexities,
cultures to be displayed distinctly as "ONE" culture, that is 'Indian'.
Therefore in the "APNA UTSAV" and India Festivals organised by the Government of
India overseas, gave an opportunity to the folk artistes to perform in other countries to
communicate the message through the music that India is a country where Unity in Diversity
is achieved.
 When the culture of the different states and regional music began to take a
major role, the concept of national integration through music emerged. In the classical
tradition of Indian Music, there are two distinct systems, the North Indian Classical
Music - the Hindustani Sangeeth and the South Indian Classical music or Carnatic
Sangeetham. Indian classical music bifurcated into two different systems only from the
14th century after the Persian invasion, in the North. After independence, the national
integration concept gained importance. The All India Radio, in its National broadcast,
introduced a special type of concert where integration of the two different classical
systems were aimed at which won the public appreciation. "The Jugal Bandi"
concerts where the North Indian and South Indian Classical Music artistes interact with
each other on the creative aspects of Indian classical music - the raga, swara
improvisations taking up the melodies which have similar scales in both the systems
emerged after Independence. This type of performance has become popular throughout India
for it brings the spirit of national integration. In recent times Avant-garde music
performances are also encouraged to perform in cities such as Madras, Bombay Calcutta and
New Delhi where multicultural society is found.
The political freedom of India, no doubt, has brought out a number of
positive changes in the Indian music scenario by the governmental policies such as
socialisation, democratisation, nationalisation, globalisation, industrialisation, etc.
Besides the social and cultural changes in the area of patronage, audience, performers,
composers, musicologists, International cultural exchange activities, Institutionalised
music teaching and learning facilities and use of music as a powerful communication media
to spread important messages such as National Integration Unity in Diversity.
Dr.S.A.K.Durga
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