Before you argue against my claim, answer this—in which Bangladesh will a great artist be born or refined music flourish?
Do we genuinely want the music of our country to improve, or for great artists like Kaushiki Chakraborty or Rahat Fateh Ali Khan to emerge?
Everyone will say—of course we do, a thousand times over!!!
But think about it for a moment—countless multi-million-taka weddings, birthday parties, and celebratory inaugurations take place in the country today. Do any of them include a classical music session? Forget classical music—do they ever arrange modern songs or ghazals by professional artists? Or at least a clean, authentic folk music performance?
They do not.
We spend money on various sectors for inaugurations or happy occasions, but we do not give a musical artist the opportunity to earn a single penny.
Do we genuinely want our country’s music to improve?
An artist will not suddenly drop from the sky. Nor can the government manufacture them in a factory.
If we do not demonstrate a need for them in our lives, why should they be created in the first place?
It takes 10 to 15 years of rigorous practice (sadhana) to cultivate a refined musician.
That hard work is no less than the preparation required to become a doctor or an engineer; in fact, in many cases, it is far greater. Moreover, there is no guarantee that such dedication will bring 100% success. For an engineer, learning technical matters is sufficient. But for an artist, besides mastering the technicalities, they must also dedicate themselves to making the art surrender to them.
If we do not know how to value that, why would anyone take such a risk? Why would any parent allow their child to take that gamble?
And it is not just about financial security; art must also have a social necessity.
If an architect is paid a regular salary throughout their life but is never given the chance to design a building, or if people never even see the buildings they design—will a good architect ever emerge? No, they will not.
Similarly, if we do not evaluate or appreciate an artist’s craft, no artist will ever be born.
You will notice that even if someone organizes a musical event, we cannot listen with patience. The most “important” gossip in the world suddenly becomes urgent to share with the person sitting next to us. Highly crucial phone calls must be answered. Or we find ourselves unable to resist the overwhelming urge to get up and wander around.
As a result, not only does the artist feel disheartened, but the organizers also end up deeply frustrated.
If we truly want the standard of music in our country to improve, empty rhetoric will not do. We must make music a part of our daily lives, give proper value to an artist’s hard work, and behave attentively and respectfully at cultural gatherings.
An artist is forged through dedication, appreciation, and social support—not merely through the expression of a wish.\
See also: