Presentation on SPIC MACAY - Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth - A non-profit voluntary movement to spread the awareness of our living heritage

1. SPIC MACAY: Raison d’etre
Reasons for its existence
( Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and
Culture Amongst Youth)
Education: Gateway to Information
Or
Knowledge & Wisdom?

2. A Macroscopic View
Non- formal Education
Schools
Colleges
University
“Making it at any cost.”
Uninspired
Self-centered
Practical products.
Information
Information
Information
Brightest take up other
jobs
Many
Jobless
Remaining join as
teachers ( barring
exceptions)

3. • DISCONTENTMENT.
• DISHONESTY. Eg. LARGE SCALE COPYING IN EXAM, CLASSES
NOT BEING TAUGHT.
• A GRAB FOR POWER. Eg. STUDENT UNIONS, ETC.
• UNIVERSITIES & COLLEGES CLOSED FOR A LARGE
PERCENTAGE OF THE TIME.
• A GENERAL APATHY.
RESULT

4. WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR BRIGHTEST STUDENTS?
PROFESSIONAL COURSES
BRIGHT
STUDENTS
ENGINEERING
MEDICINE
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
ETC.

5. ABSTRACT COURSES (requiring the finest minds)
OTHERS
PHILOSOPHY
LITERATURE
PURE SCIENCES
CLASSICAL ARTS
CLASSICAL LANGUAGES
ETC.

6. RESULTS
INCREASING GROSSNESS IN SOCIETY.
INABILITY TO GRASP SUBTLE & ABSTRACT CONCEPTS.
EXAMPLES:
• THE WAY OUR FESTIVALS ARE BEING CELEBRATED.
• CONFLICTS IN THE NAME OF RELIGION.
• ABSTRACT & MEDITATIVE ART FORMS LIKE DHRUPAD & KOODIYATTAM ON THE VERGE
OF EXTINCTION.
• BRIGHT COLOURS, GAUDY LIGHTS, BLARING MICROPHONES.
• RESEARCH WORK IN UNIVERSITIES: CURSORY & SHALLOW.

7. TWO MODELS WORTH EXAMINING
1. ‘MODERN’ MODEL: (where we are heading)
• PRIVATIZATION
• INCREASE IN THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF ALL PARTIES
• MONEY AND TIME PRESSURE
RESULT:
GREATER EFFICIENCY IN THE TRANSFER OF INFORMATION
2. ‘TRADITIONAL GURUKUL’ MODEL: ( not possible to use without modifications in the
contemporary context)
• NO MONETARY & TIME PRESSURE
• SUBTLETY, INSPIRATION, ABSTRACTION &
RESPECT FOR THE MYSTICAL FORM THE KEY
INPUTS.
RESULT:
OUTPUT OF THE HIGHEST ORDER

8. SUFI MYSTIC HAZARAT INAYAT KHAN’S DESCRIPTION OF THE
FOUR STAGES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ART:
1. IMITATIVE ART
SUGGESTIVE ART
CREATIVE ART
4. THE FOURTH ASPECT CAN ONLY BE DEVELOPED THROUGH MEDITATION, BECAUSE
IT COMES LIKE A MIRACLE. IT IS NO LONGER ONLY ART BUT IS A DIRECT
EXPRESSION OF THE SOUL…

9. A SIMILAR IDEA MAY BE APPLIED TO EDUCATION
1. IMITATIVE STAGE: Eg. 2+2=4
2. SUGGESTIVE STAGE: Eg. SOLVING SIMPLE PROBLEMS,THE SOLUTION
OF WHICH IS NOT TOLD TO US
3. CREATIVE STAGE: Eg. DEVELOPING NEW MODELS & SOLUTIONS USING
NEW IDEAS - ORIGINAL RESEARCH WORK
4. MEDITATIVE STAGE

10. REACHING THE FOURTH STAGE RESULTS IN
THE COMMONALITY OF EXPERIENCES AS EXPERIENCED BY:
• AN ARTIST
• A MATHEMATICIAN
• A PERSON IN LITERATURE
• AN ASTRONOMER
• ETC.
TO SUCH A PERSON WE GIVE A TITLE:
Ph.D. ( THE NAME OF THE SUBJECT)
i.e.
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY ( the road he took to reach that state)
TODAY THERE ARE VERY FEW TRUE Ph.Ds.

11. DISCRIMINATION BETWEEN STAGES 3 & 4 IS CRITICAL.
A CREATIVE GENIUS CAN REACH THE HIGHEST POINT OF STAGE 3,
BUT A QUALITATIVE STEP JUMP IS REQUIRED TO REACH STAGE 4.
THIS IS WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HITLER &
A LORD BUDDHA.
MODERN SYSTEM: AT BEST IN STAGE 3 .
PRESENT INDIAN SYSTEM: BARELY AT STAGE 2.

12. TEACHER TAUGHT
RELATIONSHIP VERY DELICATE
APPLICATION OF PRESSURE EFFICIENT TRANSFER OF
INFORMATION
(MODERN SYSTEM)
RAJSIK
NO PRESSURE INEFFICIENT TRANSFER OF INFORMATION
(PRESENT INDIAN SYSTEM)
TAMSIK
NO PRESSURE + INSPIRATION
& ABSTRACTION
HIGHEST ORDER OF EDUCATION
(TRADITIONAL SYSTEM)
SATVIK

13. WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS OF THE TRADITIONAL SYSTEM &
HOW CAN THEY BE USED TODAY?
1. GURUS - BRIGHT & INSPIRED: FORM THE CREAM OF THE SOCIETY IN
THE WEST. THE BRIGHTEST STILL JOIN EDUCATION THERE.
IN INDIA MOSTLY THE ‘OTHERS’.
A BIG RESPONSIBILTY LIES IN THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO HAVE JOINED IT
BY CHOICE.
• THE BRIGHT STUDENTS MUST BE WORKED AT.
• BEING SMALL IN NUMBER THEY MUST NETWORK.
IF DELHI UNIVERSITY TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION (DUTA) CAN BE FORMED,
WHY NOT A CREATIVE TEACHERS’ UNION (CTU)!.
EXPOSE BRIGHT STUDENTS TO HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONISTS
THROUGH INVITED LECTURES & VISITING FACULTY (to be carefully chosen).

14. 2. INSPIRATION- CANNOT NECESSARILY COME 8-9AM ON
MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS.
THE SHISHYA CANNOT LIVE WITH THE GURU IN THE EXISTING
FRAMEWORK, BRIGHT YOUNG PEOPLE MUST BE SENT TO LIVE WITH
INSPIRED HUMAN BEINGS PERIODICALLY.
SCHOOLS, COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES MUST INVITE SUCH PEOPLE
TO BE IN RESIDENCE FROM TIME TO TIME.
CARE MUST BE TAKEN TO ENCOURAGE THE REALLY BRIGHT &
PERCEPTIVE.

15. NUMBER OF TRUE GURUS IS SMALL.
HOW CAN WE REACH OUT TO THE LARGE MASS OF THE STUDENT
POPULATION?
ANSWER LIES IN OUR HERITAGE IT EMBODIES : SUBTLETY
ABSTRACTION
INSPIRATION
&
RESPECT FOR THE MYSTICAL
THE FOUR KEY ELEMENTS MISSING IN EDUCATION TODAY.
NO EFFORT BY SOCIETY OR HOME- EDUCATIONISTS MUST TAKE UP THE
MANTLE.

16. HOW ?

17. 1. IN SCHOOLS: WHILE CHILDREN ARE ASSEMBLING
DURING BREAKS IN DAY SCHOOLS &
DURING MEAL TIMES IN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS,
CLASSICAL MUSIC SHOULD BE PLAYED OVER
THE SOUND SYSTEM.
2. THE DAY MUST BEGIN WITH: YOGA & MEDITATION
TAUGHT BY A PROPER YOGA GURU.
NOT A MERE PHYSICAL EXERCISE OR A CURATIVE PRACTICE.

18. 3. ONCE A WEEK, AT LEAST, AN INSPIRATIONAL INPUT…
A CLASSICAL MUSIC OR DANCE LECTURE-DEMONSTRATION OR BAITHAK
A HIGH QUALITY PRESENTATION OF A FOLK FORM…
Eg. BAULS IN BENGAL
HARIKATHA EXPONENTS IN ANDHRA
PHAD EXPONENTS IN RAJASTHAN
THEY ARE CARRIERS OF NOT JUST AN ART FORM BUT OF A PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE…
iii) A TALK BY AN INSPIRED HUMAN BEING IN LITERATURE, PHILOSOPHY
OR ANY OTHER AREA OF HUMAN ENDEAVOUR.
THE VENUE FOR ALL SUCH EVENTS MUST BE A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS
WILL MOST NATURALLY COME & SHOULD BE DEVOID OF MUCH FORMALITY
[Eg. COMMON ROOMS OF THE STUDENTS].

19. CAN THE ELECTRONIC MEDIA HELP?

20. TWO PROBLEMS:
1. THE CONTROL OF THE ON-OFF KNOBS IS IN THE HANDS OF VIEWER
2. MTV, STAR TV, DD, ZEE TV INCREASED COMPETITION
MORE TITTILATING PROGRAMMES OF THE
TWO MINUTE MAGGIE NOODLE VARIETY
INEVITABLE DECREASE
IN PROGRAMMES OF DEPTH

21. HENCE THE KEY LIES NOT IN THE ELECTRONIC MEDIA BUT IN SCHOOLS,
COLLEGES, & IN UNIVERSITIES.
HERE WE HAVE CAPTIVE OR SEMI-CAPTIVE AUDIENCE WHOSE LEVEL CAN
BE RAISED BY REPEATED EXPOSURE TO THE BEST…

22. IT MUST BE MADE CLEAR THAT WHAT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED ARE POSSIBLE
LONG TERM SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS OF EDUCATION.
THE SHORT TERM SOLUTIONS HAVE NOT BEEN EXAMINED IN THIS
PRESENTATION…
ONE MIGHT ALSO COMMENT THAT ALL WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED SOUNDS
GOOD ON PAPER- BUT WE HAVE IN OUR OWN LITTLE WAY EXPERIMENTED
WITH THESE IDEAS FOR THE PAST 27 YEARS & HAVE ACHIEVED A MEASURE OF
SUCCESS…

23. … the quest continues

24. The vertical ‘EYE’…
the inner Eye, the Eye of perception & inquiry
ever alert in the pursuit of truth

25. Historically

26. Chronologically speaking …
1972 1977 1980
SPIC MACAY
BIG-BANG
l
Sporadic concerts
Columbia University
Defined Direction
In India
First programme
at IIT Delhi
First LEC-DEM
1972-76 1979 1979
First FEST
First Yoga Camp

27. Chronologically speaking …
1981 1988 1995
SPIC MACAY
In 6 cities
First LEC-DEM
in Schools
Folk Arts & Crafts
Films,Talks
Scholarship
Scheme
First Program
Abroad
EYE
Schools
Convention
Virasat
1982 1986 1991 1993

28. Chronologically speaking …
•1972 The "big bang" of SPIC MACAY at New York
•1972-76 Sporadic concerts at Columbia University, under the aegis
of the India Club of Columbia University
•1977 More defined direction in India
•1979 A two-day programme at IIT Delhi of Ustad Bismillah Khan,
Dagar Bandhu, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Ustad Shahid Parvez
•1979 First LEC-DEM series
•1980 First FEST in a number of educational institutions all over Delhi
•1981 First Yoga camp
•1981 SPIC MACAY in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bangalore, Calcutta, and
Kharagpur
•1982 First LEC-DEM in schools

29. Chronologically speaking …
•1986 Introduction of folk arts & crafts, films & talks
•1986 Scholarship scheme and the first annual convention
•1988 First programme conducted abroad
•1991 EYE Magazine
•1993 First schools convention
•1995 Virasat launched for the first time
•2001 World Virasat
•2002 Holistic Food
•2002 SPIC MACAY Foundation programme

30. Conceptually
aim is not to fight Westernisation
but the process of deculturisation.

31. SPIC MACAY is an affirmation of …
.. the need to conserve & promote
an awareness of
our rich cultural tapestry
among youth
through
focus on the
classical arts with its
Rituals, Mythology & Philosophy
and to facilitate
an appreciation of their deeper values

32. the need for a critical mass …
… an inspired perspective
a solid value based education
absorption of aesthetics & spirituality
… the movement is educational in spirit & character
and
locates itself in educational institutions
… in a world bombarded with information
… increasingly technical, mundane competitive world
it provides

33. Aspires to capture …
… the pulsating & dynamic vitality of youth
.. incorporates this vitality to cajole them
into being custodians of what is actually their birthright
namely their heritage, roots & identity …
… seeks to provoke thought & a genuine spirit of enquiry in the
young

34. The spirit of Voluntary work …
… effectiveness of voluntary work in inculcating
a spirit of service
… volunteers from all walks of life
… emphasis on participation
without hierarchy & formalism.

35. VIRASAT
• A festival with performances & workshops in
– folk and classical arts
– film classics
– crafts
– talks
– theatre
– yoga & meditation
– walks to monuments
– holistic food
– world heritage
• Held in different educational institutions
• Close interaction between students & artistes

36. FEST
• A chain of concerts featuring the exponents of
Indian Classical Music & Dance.
• Provide students opportunities to witness several
young & upcoming artistes perform in separate slots
with senior artistes.

37. LEC-DEMS
• Lecture demonstrations aim to create an
audience having a greater understanding of
different aspects of our heritage.
• They are informal & facilitate a closer interaction
between the students & the artistes.
• Artistes demonstrate their art forms with the
help of explanations.
• They help develop a wholesome understanding of
not only the art form but also the artiste as a
practitioner of a certain way of life.

38. TALK SERIES
• Inspiring talks by enlightened individuals
• Topics from various walks of life like
– The arts
– Environment
– Philosophy
– Development
– Spirituality
– Literature
– The folk arts

39. YOGA / HOLISTIC CAMPS
• Powerful facilitators for inner growth
• Holistic camps are live in camps
• Students and others stay for a given period of time away from their
normal routine
• Experience another way of living focused on simplicity, good health and
spiritual training
• Experience leaves one more centered - at peace with oneself and the
world at large
• Holistic development of the mind, body & spirit

40. Classical, Folk Arts & Craft Workshops
• Lays greater stress on participation
• Exposes students to the depth of the individual behind the
art form
• ‘Sangath’ with inspiring human beings

41. The Scholarship Scheme
• Opportunities to aspiring ‘shishyas' to live for a month in
the summer vacations with 'Gurus' who have dedicated their
lives to their respective fields
• Fields include classical music and dance, social work, art,
theatre and spirituality
• The time to apply is by February seventh each year

42. CONVENTIONS
• Conventions held in states twice a year
• National convention held every year in June
• Brings together country-wide members at a common platform
• Comprises organisational discussions, talks, films, crafts, yoga,
classical and folk performances by the maestros
• Brings in clarity of the organisational and conceptual framework of
SPIC MACAY

43. • Quarterly magazine of Indian
thought
• A written word movement
• Covers the arts, literature,
development & philosophy
THE EYE

44. SANDESH
• A newsletter brought out every two months
• An important tool for communication between thousands of
volunteers all over India & abroad
• A platform for meaningful interaction to take the message
of SPIC MACAY further

45. The World Heritage Group
• With the entire earth
becoming a global village,
the World Heritage Group
aims to bring the best of
heritage from different
countries to the youth in
educational institutions all
over the world

46. Organisation

47. Organisational details …
•Founded in 1977, as a non-profit, voluntary, non-political
and participatory student movement
•Registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860
•Gets the benefit of Sec 80 (G) tax exemption
•Central executive body in New Delhi
•Worldwide network of schools, colleges & educational
institutions

48. • The movement which started with one event in 1972 in New York
and another in 1977 in Delhi, caught the imagination of the youth
and began to grow geographically and content-wise
• While on the one hand, the idea had to be painstakingly introduced
in minor doses, on the other, there was a clamouring for programmes
in schools and colleges
• In the year 2003 – 04, 1600 events were conducted in about 200
cities all over India and abroad
Growth

49. The spread in India

50. The spread abroad
United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, United
Kingdom, Russia, Germany, Gulf, Pakistan, Norway…

51. Funding …
•Conducts its programmes by raising funds through :
•Universities, Colleges and Schools
•Central & State Governments
•Public & Private sectors
•Corporations
•Charitable trusts
•Individual donations

52. The future …
• As the SPIC MACAY movement spreads both geographically and in
content, great care must be taken that the direction and intensity
are not lost and that at least a glimmer of the original spark
remains

53. The future …RichnessRichness
New levels of richness and reach attainable
Reach
ENABLERS
Students as the River
Teachers and other Seniors
as the Banks…

54. How you can help

55. You can help …
•Direct funds for the activities
•Yearly financial support to constituent schools, colleges,
institutes for funding the programmes
•Provide support facilities like stay and travel
•Encourage activities by more involvement of teachers and
students
•Help in the setting up of SPIC MACAY chapters
•Adding such activities to the curriculum