NCIC
Issue 1
By Nirmala Sesnarayan
Local Classical singing has been a
part of our culture here in Trinidad
and Tobago since the time of Indentureship and many have managed to
keep this traditional type singing
close to their hearts. However, the
art form is slowly dying since the
popular art form of Chutney and
other musical genres such as Soca
Chutney, Soca, Latin, Alternative and
Bollywood Film Songs appeal to our
younger generations. Many find Local Classical Singing suitable for a
mature audience whilst others see it
as a corruption of Authentic Hindustani Classical Styles.
Local Classical Singing, as called in
Trinidad, and otherwise known as
Taan Singing, Tent Singing or Bhaitak
Gana is a vocal art form brought to
Trinidad by the Indentured Labourers from India around 1845.
The name “Tent Singing” originates
from the “Marwa” (Bhojpuri for tent
or canopy) or Mandap (Hindi) where
special events and ceremonies were
held.
The term “Taan Singing” refers to
the ‘taans” or variations in these
songs composed out of the main
notes of the raga on which the song
is based.
Baitaak Gana literally means to “sit
and sing” which is synonymous with
this art form.
Here, in Trinidad, the art form is
popularly known as Local Classical.
The word “Local” is used to differentiate between authentic Hindustani
Classical and these locally composed
songs of the West Indies.
As mentioned before, this singing
artform can be traced back to the
Indentureship period. The East
Indian Indentured Immigrants
left their land with memories
of customs, rituals, traditions
and most of all the songs of
their various villages. These
songs were their only form of
relaxation and expression in a
land afar.
The National Council of Indian
Culture (NCIC) of Trinidad and
Tobago incorporates Local Classical
Singing for Indian Arrival Day celebrations, their Annual dinners and
even on the stages of Divali Nagar. In
2009, the NCIC hosted an International Classical Singing Competition
in order to encourage artistes across
the globe to continue the artform.
The first prize was an attractive USD
$10,000 and was taken away by local
star now residing in Canada, Shri Dev
Bansraj Ramkissoon.
Although, the Local Classical Singing
art form has faced many challenges,
our country has proudly produced
many veterans over the past thirty
years. Some of these veterans include Haniff Mohammed, Jameer
Hosein, Sam Boodram, Arjoon Samlal, James Ramdas, Sohan Girdharie,
Hansraj Ranmkissoon, Rawle Ramjitsingh, Rakesh Yankarran and Anand Yankarran - just to name a few.
All of them rightly deserve the title
“Ustad” before their names for they
have significantly contributed to the
development of Local Classical Singing in Trinidad and Tobago.
Local Class