There was a time in India when music flourished under the care of patronage. In the courts of emperors and kings, music was not merely performed — it was nurtured, respected, and held as sacred. Musicians devoted their lives to their art without the fear of livelihood or obscurity. Their families were looked after, their dignity preserved. In turn, they passed on their knowledge, refining traditions that became our cultural identity.
Think of the grandeur of the Mughal court, where Tansen’s voice could calm storms, or the princely states of Patiala, Gwalior, Rampur, and Mysore, where entire gharanas were shaped by the vision and generosity of rulers who believed that music was an asset to the Kingdom. In fact rulers of yore, competed with each other to get the best talent and establish Gharana’s in their name.
Where have those patrons gone?
In the absence of royal courts, the responsibility of preserving India’s musical heritage must shift — to us. If we, as a society, do not step in to support our musicians, these traditions will quietly disappear. Many artistes today live with uncertainty. Younger generations, seeing the fragility of a musical life, often choose more stable careers. Without continuity, the lineages will break. What took centuries to build could vanish in a generation.
The question, then, is urgent and clear: Who will be the modern-day patrons?
Business leaders, cultural institutions, media houses, and government bodies all have a role to play. Supporting musicians doesn’t always mean grand endowments. It can mean offering performance opportunities, creating residencies, commissioning new work, or simply ensuring that artists are paid fairly and treated with respect.
While music comes under CSR, not much of that is diverted to preserve this national treasure.Families that invest in global art and fashion can invest in sustaining India’s classical forms. And audiences need to show up, care, pay and teach their children the art of listening. Schools too, must contribute in making the art of listening to our traditional music an essential part of learning.
Our musicians are not just performers. They are carriers of memory, of emotion, of centuries of spiritual and artistic wisdom. They deserve our attention and respect in letting them explore their creativity without anxiety of looking after their families. THere also much be incentive to pass on the art to their students and children, so as to make the tradition thrive and survive.