Skip to main content

Should we mourn the demise of folk music?

I am a city kid. Born, brought up in a city. Nowadays I get to hear a lot of positives of rapid urbanization of our lands. New, fancy buildings, cosmopolitan cultures, and heaps of aspirations.

But one thing that I feel is being let down is our music. And the style and uniqueness of our music. In earlier times, every region had it's own dialects and hence its own unique music. You had people holding whatever they could gather, and prepare songs and all, almost spontaneously. Someone would get a dholak,another one would get hold of a harmonium and just like that, a band would be formed. We now call it, folk music. And it is almost dead.

Now we have guitars in over priced coffee shops in large cities, and someone waiting to become center of attention would be singing an already popular song. All this, with little annoyance to the other clients of the same joint. Since we already have forgotten our own cultures and our own languages running so fast in this mega affair called life, our songs and their quality is now almost extinct.

True, we should praise, appreciate and enjoy music of the universe.
But does that also mean that we should do that at the cost of our own very music?
Richness of which, has been derived from our own soil and water?

Comments

Also read

Cutting people off isn’t strength—It is a trauma response

Your ability to cut people off and self-isolate is not a skill you should be proud of—It is a trauma response Cutting people off and self-isolating may feel like a protective shield, but it is often rooted in unresolved or unhealed trauma and an inability to depend on others. While these behaviors seem like self-preservation, they end up reinforcing isolation and blocking meaningful connections. Confronting these patterns, seeking therapy, and nurturing supportive relationships can help break this unhealthy cycle. Plus, a simple act like planting a jasmine plant can symbolise the start of your journey towards emotional healing. Why do we cut people off and isolate? If you’re someone who prides themselves on “cutting people off” or keeping a tight circle, you might believe it’s a skill—a way to protect yourself from betrayal, hurt, or unnecessary drama. I get it. I’ve been there, too. But here’s the thing: this ability to isolate yourself is not as empowering as it may seem. In fact, i...

Why money can be spiritual—A blog-post on wealth, silence, and manifestation

First published on 23/03/2009 15:15 Why money is spiritual: a blog-post on wealth, silence, and manifestation Explore the connection between money and spirituality in this engaging blog-post. Discover how viewing money as energy can transform your financial journey. Learn the power of silent wealth-building and the art of creating a Vastu-aligned vision board. This article offers practical steps to align your financial goals with spiritual growth, leading to a more fulfilling and abundant life. Real stories, deep reflections, and spiritual money hacks that could change your relationship with abundance forever. Why is money considered a form of spiritual energy? You know that feeling when a crisp note touches your palm? It’s not just paper. It’s possibility. Money is energy. I’m talking about the very real energetic current that flows when you give, receive, invest, or even hoard it. Money isn’t moral. It’s not good or evil. It doesn’t have a conscience. We do. Money simply amplifi...

Does India need communal parties?

I think, it was Tan's post on this blog itself, Republic Day Event, where this question was raised. My answer. YES. we need communal parties even in Independent, Secular India. Now let me take you, back to events before 1947. When India was a colony of the British Empire. The congress party, in its attempt to gain momentum for the independence movement, heavily used Hinduism, an example of which is the famous Ganesh Utsav held in Mumbai every year. Who complains? No one. But at that time, due to various policies of the congress, Muslims started feeling alienated. Jinnah, in these times, got stubborn over the need of Pakistan and he did find a lot of supporters. Congress, up till late 1940's never got bothered by it. And why should we? Who complains? No one. But there were repercussions. The way people were butchered and slaughtered during that brief time when India got partitioned, was even worse than a civil war scenario. All in the name of religion. And there indeed was cr...