Volunteering to promote Art and Culture Geeta Chandran
It is crucial to involve volunteers in large numbers for the promotion of art and culture in the
country. Recognition and networking of volunteers in the field of culture will definitely contribute
to strengthening the cultural traditions of India.
O
n a warm mid-February evening in the remote mountains of the Himalayas, atop the Kailasa peak, Shiva was stirred by the joy of existence. It was the perfect evening when the fiery reds of the skies merged into an awesome glow, the birds were returning to their nests and even as the sun was setting, the moon was emerging right over his head. Shiva expressed the joy of the moment through his ananda tandavam dance – the dance of incredible joy. And as he began his dance, the other gods volunteered to get involved. Brahma took up the cymbals, Nandi played the percussion drum, Vishnu kept tala-time with his fingers, Saraswati played the veena, Lakshmi, goddess of aesthetics and plenty, micro-supervised setting up the space, the devas and devis in the heavens were the impromptu audience and Shiva’s spouse, Parvati, was inspired to join him in the dance. All these volunteers added incredible beauty to the dance of Shiva.
As inheritors of that wondrous cultural tradition, the dance in India has evolved over centuries. But, alas! Where are the cultural volunteers today? Why did that incredible resource fall away by the wayside? In all the discussions that we have had in this country about volunteering and volunteerism, the least space has been accorded to cultural volunteering which should be a natural act since culture belongs to the people and everyone is brushed by its golden touch. Yet, our protagonists of culture – our dancers, musicians, instrumentalists, and theatre artists – are seen as being different entities, who are somehow different from ordinary people. The popular misunderstanding is that they are all privileged enough not to need any volunteer assistance. Nothing could be further from the truth. The arts in India have survived not through moneyed patronage or systems of support, but through the passion and grit of the individual artists. Yes, the rajah-maharajahs of yore – and the systems of state patronage today – offer some oxygen. But in the main, the arts have survived through sheer dint and grit of the artists themselves, despite the dire economics that dogs their every step. And if volunteering is to be catalyzed by need, then believe me, the arts in India need the most number of volunteers! How can volunteers help the arts and artists?
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Since all the arts in India have developed from religious/spiritual roots, the support systems for their promotion did not develop at all, as they did, say in the West. There impresarios and artist management companies professionally manage the entire gamut of art support services. The artist is fortunate enough only to create and perform.