SPIC MACAY DEHRADUN CHAPTER: 7/27/08

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

BEGINNING OF SPICMACAY

An idea originates and finds someone through whom it can manifests itself. That fortunate someone, experiences during the birth process, a feeling which is beyond description. Imagine for a moment that you are witnessing the creation of the universe.The "big bang" of SPIC MACAY came in 1972 at a concert of Ustad Nasir Aminuddin Dagar and Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York. After a few sporadic concerts (notable amongst them was that of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan) at Columbia University, New York, under the aegis of the India Club of Columbia University during the period 1972-76, the idea took a more defined direction in 1977 in India. However in 1979, a two-day programme again at IIT Delhi of Ustad Bismillah Khan, Dagar Bandhu, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Ustad Sitahid Parvez turned out to be a marginal success. MEFYS( Mechanical Engineering Final Year Students) organized the programme. It was at this programme that the name SPIC MACAY was first launched and the aim expressed was not to fight Westernisation but the process of deculturisation.

Monday, July 28, 2008

National Convention at Kohima

The incessant monsoon rains, the mist rising from the valley, the mystical clouds looming over the hill’s virgin forest; in such an ambience of Kohima, witnessing the spiritually elevating performances of great maestros at the annual convention of SPIC MACAY, certainly left an inspiring and over-lasting imprint on the mind of everyone present.
Enthralling performances were then presented to the audience comprising of over 800 youth delegates from different schools and colleges across the country and more than 200 youth representatives from the North East. Various folk dance and music groups of North East participated in the programme including Thangta Pung Cholum of Manipur, Rikhampada of Arunachal Pradesh, Bihu and Conch of Assam, Bamboo dance of Mizoram, Wangala dance of Meghalaya, Hozagiri of Tripura, a children’s group from Naga Sumi tribe and concluded with a fusion dance of North East. The first day afternoon events included elevating vocal recital by Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar and Carnatic Violin recital by Mysore Brothers.

The next five days witnessed inspiring performances by various eminent artists including Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Us. Fahimuddin Dagar, Pt. Rajan and Sajan Mishra, Pt.Viswamohan Bhatt and Smt. Bombay Jayashree to name a few. In addition lecture demonstrations were conducted providing a platform for interaction with renowned personalities like by Smt. Anjolie Ela Menon, Sh. Dadi Pudumjee, and Sh. Raghu Rai. Delegates also got an opportunity to learn in the intensives (workshops) of leading exponents such as Us. Abdul Rashid Khan (Vocal), Sh. J. Gurappa Chetty (Kalamkari), Smt. Suryamukhi Devi (Manipuri) and Su. Kapila Venu (Kutiyattam).

Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth

SPIC MACAY seeks to conserve and promote an awareness of this rich and heterogeneous cultural tapestry amongst the youth of this country through focus on the classical arts, with their attendant legends, rituals, mythology and philosophy and to facilitate an awareness of their deeper and subtler values.

This convention will be a splendid opportunity

"The curriculum of the school did not neglect India's cultural, analytical and scientific heritage, but was very involved also with the rest of the world."
-Amartya Sen
For the past two years SPICMACAY has been an integral part of my life. It has moulded my personality and has educated me in a big way. The cultural enlightment that we undergo with the society has changed my perspective of life, and made me see the world more clearly.

I have always enjoyed interacting with people from different walks of life, and a state convention is a splendid opportunity to do so. I also find that the friends and memories made during the conventions are very long lasting. Moreover, interacting with the artiste during the intensives is a very humbling experience. Their down to earth attitude makes us understand that we have airs for frivolous nothings.

In my life, I like to do things that will benefit me and the humankind in a long run. The strength of our movement and the fact that more and more people are joining it every year is a proof that the future of the movement is even brighter than the present. As our chapter coordinator, Ms. Rupi Mahindroo says, all people who join the movement and choose to be an active part of it are very special people, because there are very few people who have the fortitude to be non-conformist and give culture a chance.

This convention will be a splendid opportunity for all the enthusiasts and volunteers to meet and interact in person and we are really looking forward to it.

April 6, 2009 2:08 PM

Tavishi

Join SPIC MACAY

SPIC MACAY movement.

The movement caught the imagination of the young and began to grow geographically and numerically. While on the one hand, the idea had to be painstakingly introduced in minor doses, on the other, there was a clamoring for the programmes in schools and colleges. A combination of both has resulted in network of over 200 centers in India and abroad. About 1000 events are conducted yearly.
The effectiveness of voluntary work in inculcating a spirit of service. This is, in fact, the hidden agenda of this movement. Volunteers come from all walks of life with varied aspirations and skills. They give some of their time to a cause which is for the larger good and outside of their immediate self interest. The emphasis is on participation without hierarchy and too much formalism.
For more details
Contact- 91 9412006708
spicmacaydoon@gmail.com
msrupi@gmail.com

Indian culture

Indian culture is rich and diverse and as a result unique in its very own way. Our manners, way of communicating with one another, etc are one of the important components of our culture. Even though we have accepted modern means of living, improved our lifestyle, our values and beliefs still remain unchanged. A person can change his way of clothing, way of eating and living but the rich values in a person always remains unchanged because they are deeply rooted within our hearts, mind, body and soul which we receive from our culture.

Gaurav