The importance of musicology in the current context

Abstract

Life means human life, not animal or bird life and music does not mean only classical music but also Bhaav Sangeet, film music, folk music etc. Music is present in every step of Indian life. It remains with us from birth to death. The moment a child gets his first introduction to the world, he expresses his gratitude through music (in the form of crying) and when a person departs from this world, the glory of Ram's name is told to him through music. Not only this, in the history of humans, when language was not even born, at that time the exchange of feelings among each other was possible only through music. Max Muller has rightly said that music was born much before language.
16 Sanskars have been considered in Indian life like - Namkaran, Karnachedhan, Mundan Vidyarambh, Yajnopaveet (Janeu), Vivah etc. Each of these starts and ends with music. There is no festival where there is no music, rather the festival remains incomplete without music. Music is a must in any festival, whether small or big, even if it is limited to prayers. When the crops are ready in the village, its joy is expressed in the form of Holi. The happiness and intimacy with which they hug, sprinkle colors and apply abir-gulal is a sight to behold. Their joy reaches its peak when they go to every corner of the village with dholaks and are lost in their own tunes. It is as if they are removing all the tiredness of the whole year. Music is not just a matter of fun but is such a lasting joy in which we get inner happiness. Therefore music has been an integral part of devotion. All the good devotees were experts and practitioners of music. Which person in India would be there who has not heard the names of Sur, Tulsi, Meera etc. There is such a feeling in each of their verses that a person becomes overwhelmed with joy. In the words of India's first President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, it is the influence of the musical practice of saints on us that Kabir, Sur, Tulsi, Meera, Tukaram, Narsinh Mehta created such works that will always have a special place in our and the world's literature.