 The influence of one style of music
upon another style is known as intercultural and the concept of intercultural music is a
universal phenomenon. The interaction with people of different cultures resulted in
brining cultural influences upon their music. Musical instruments, musical concepts,
musical forms, musical style and other musical factors from different cultures are adopted
into the native culture when the country is either under the rule of another country or
through cultural influences that can be perceived in the performing as well as scholastic
traditions.
 In the classical music of India, the intercultural
aspects are due to the rulers of other nations before India's Independence. India was
under the Moghul rule before the colonial rule. It is interesting to note that
intercultural aspects in the classical music of India have been fused in such a way that
the other musical culture's idioms, concepts, form and styles have become unified with the
native music culture. The North Indian classical system - the Hindustani music, the
Sufyana Kalam, the classical music of Kashmir are more influenced by the music of the
Islamic countries than of the Western countries, whereas the South Indian classical system
- the Carnatic music is more influenced by the music of the West. The musical influence of
Persia and Arabia is found in the Hindustani music in the performing style of presentation
of the ragas' adaption of musical instruments such as Sitar, Sarod and Tabla; Music forms
such as Khyal, Thumri, Dadra and Tarana and the ragas such as Piloo Yaman, Zilaf-kafi and
many more ragas of the present day due to the contacts with Persia and Arabia.
 With reference to the classical music of South India, the impact of Western
music is found from 18th century onwards because of the British colonial rule. The Western
influence on the South Indian music is found in the adoption of the Western musical
instruments such as Violin, Viola, Clarinet, Mandolin, Saxophone and Guitar in which
Carnatic music is performed and the Western Brass Band is also used to perform Carnatic
music. There are also many new Ragas that are based on Western scales and tunes.
 Thus in the Pre independence period the influences of Persian, Arabian and
Western music styles are found because they were the rulers of India. After the political
freedom in 1947, the cultural exchange programmes and cultural contacts of Indian
performers and musicologists with the other parts of the world as cultural ambassadors of
free India. It can be said that the Indian music has also influenced other music cultures
after the independence.
Pandit Ravishankar said that, "I have enjoyed performing my own
compositions with some outstanding musicians particularly in the West and East." He
also remarked that, "We the musicians of different cultures had great joy in playing
together these special compositions". Thus after political freedom Indian musicians
and composers created the musical forms synthesizing the music of the cultures to be
performed with other great musicians of different music cultures and stand par with the
great composers and performers of the world music. Though a few British writers have
contributed to Musicology by their works,  there was no performer of Indian Music from the West or East before
independence. The performance of Indian classical Music by non-Indians has made Indian
music equal to the status of Western Music that is a globalised music.
Thus in free India, Indian performers, composers and musicologists are
respected and recognized through out the world and it may be said that Indian Music has
influenced many cultures after independence.
Dr.S.A.K.Durga
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