Indian music is also part of Trini culture

THE EDITOR: It is difficult to keep emotions in check when the PRO of Pan Trinbago manifests his animosity for Indian culture. This politically opportunist organisation, Pan Trinbago, apparently not satisfied with receiving prodigious financial support from the NLCB and government, feels that other self-interest groups have no right to speak out against this transgression, and that Sat Maharaj should be stymied.

A musical instrument does not have to be invested in a country to become an inherent part of that country’s culture. Music, with its many variations and styles, is a universal language. The auspicious violin, for example, was not invented in India, but any ardent lover of Indian music knows of the dominant role this instrument plays in many a Bollywood movie song. The incomparable violinist, Anslem Walters, successfully participated in the 2002 Mastana Bahar series and received much acclaim. Is Felix Roach less of a Trini because he plays the piano and not the pan? Unique instruments as the dholak, dhantal, sitar and harmonium came to our blessed land 158 years ago and are not intrinsic to the musical tastes and talents of a significant portion of our population. They are deeply entrenched in the music of the entire Indian diaspora, which includes Trinidad and Tobago. Their mesmerising sounds have reverberated across this land for a century and a half, long before the steelpan was invented.

Trini culture is not homogenous! For Mr Austin to flippantly discredit these divine instruments and ostracise them from our Trini culture is blatant racism. The PRO of Pan Trinbago accused Sat Maharaj, who extols the excellence of these instruments, of creating racial inharmony. Yet, it is Austin, with typical arrogance, who hints at the annihilation of Indian music and culture. His zany, preposterous belief that racial harmony means that everyone must love and support only pan, calypso, and carnival, is bigoted. He is the one who perpetuates racial tension. The misconception that Indian music is not part of Trini culture must be debunked once and for all. The graceful rhythms of Indian music have blessed this land for decades since 1845, a century before the advent of the steelband. The mellifluous sounds of the dholak, dhantal, sitar and harmonium have warmed the heart of Indo-Trinis who love these beautiful instruments, and have adapted them to our unique style of music.

It is time that Austin and the executive of Pan Trinbago realise that the dholak, dhantal, sitar, and harmonium are here to stay, like Indian Arrival Day, the five Indian radio stations, Mastana Bahar, Pichakaree, and Miss Fem India. “You understand, breds?” As a taxpaying citizen, Sat Maharaj has every right to expose the immense disparity of monetary aid between certain cultural groups, and Indian organisations. He has every right to implore that this inequity be corrected so that Pan Trinbago and others will not be the only ones to receive colossal aid, while Indian culture has to make do with pittance. As taxpaying citizens Indians who love their culture and heritage are entitled to an equal share of the pie, as they are part of the cultural potpourri that is Trinidad and Tobago. It is time that the government and the NLCB learn to appreciate the psyche of the Indo-Trini. The NLCB and its administrators must assist their musical talents and skills to bring them within the parameters of the nation, for the good of the nation.

SHIVANNA DIPNARINE for
Women Against Racism and Dictatorship