About Kala Dalan

The Indian Classical music has roots in Vedas, a sacred texts of Ancient India in ancient language -Sanskrit. Vedas are called ‘ sruti’ meaning what is heard. Indeed , music is heard ,not texted.

Vedas originated in ambience and backdrop of nature. The two fundamental elements of Indian Classical Music are ‘Raga’ ( based on swara or notes) and Tala ( rhythm ) all of which are related to nature and even named after seasons, time, flora and fauna. Like Vedas, Indian classical music gives supernatural experience and takes listener to the meditation state of reflection , exudes joy and sorrow. There are four Vedas – the Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Vedas. It is the Sama Veda that is said to lay the basis for Indian classical music. The Sama Veda consists mainly of hymns, mantras and poetic texts, which were chanted during Vedic rituals using three to seven notes, sometimes with an instrumental accompaniment.
In the todays world, where nature , which was the inspiration for Indian Classical Music, is disappearing in modernity. The Indian Classical music , therefore , has acquired the status of elitism devoid of raga and tala. The rural India where more than 60 percent of people live and where 90 per cent of India’s nature resides with its raga and tala does not get opportunity to experience Indian Classical Music.

Idea of Kaladalan ( House of ART) memory of Madhavrao Shende ( my late father) emerged with above reflection in the mind. Rahimatpur, a town of over 20,000 population is bubbling with young students studying in the four educational institutes. There was no opportunity for them to learn Indian Classical Music, though they are closer to the nature and hence could grasp the music much faster. My father filled that gap. I continued his legacy. Kaladalan today is emerging as the incubation centre for Rural talents in Hindustani classical music.

Like Vedas, Indian music is almost never written down. It is transmitted orally from teacher (guru) to student. My father has number of disciples in the rural area around Rahimatpur. It was his modest contribution to keep heritage and legacy alive.

Ms. Sucheta Bhide-Chaphekar , renouned classical dancer in Bharatnatyam-style inaugurated ‘ Kaladalan’ in Rahimatpur August 2010, when I was still working in United Nations.

Kaladalan is in the memory of Late Madhavrao Gangadhar Shende , who was popular in and around rahimatpur as Indian Classical singer of Gwalior Gharana. The members of Late Madhavrao Shende Trust are Ms. Vinita Apte and Arun Mane and I .

The aim of Kaladalan is to train the youngsters of Rahimatpur and surrounding rural area in the art & music and cultivate their skill to perform and appreciate the same. The Kaladalan has presently 45 students being trainned by 4 teachers .

On the inauguration day , the students of Ms. Bhide-Chaphekar who came from the city of Pune, performed in the temple of Ram , a tradition of Indian Classical dancers.

She very much liked the Ram Mandir and its ambience filled with spiritual power and wished at the inauguration to perform herself in Ram Mandir.

She fulfilled her wish , when she was invited to perform at the the Rahimatpur Sangeet Mahotsav next year in 2011.