Support to Poor Musicians - "POOR MUSICIANS FUND"

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 20 Aug 2009, 20:16

I'd certainly agree about the need, although the execution, quite apart from the fund raising, would present many difficulties.

I think that Karaikudi Mani holds a concert series, annually, of which the proceeds are donated to needy senior artists.

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 20 Aug 2009, 21:36

7000+ members? How many are active and how many are silent? An individual approach to each rasika will bring atleast 50 to join this cause IMHO.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 20 Aug 2009, 21:42

I'd be surprised if there are not a few rasikas members who do some charity, privately, for needy individuals. I also don't doubt that they will continue to keep quiet about it --- but those that may not support a fund may yet be supporting in other ways.

MaheshS · Post by **MaheshS** » 21 Aug 2009, 00:47

Good thought, implementation might be a nightmare, but worth the cause. I can't promise Rs 20,000 or Rs XXX, but I will contribute as much as I can. I still feel a sense of tragedy when I think about Bharath Rathna Bismillah Khan's final couple of years.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 21 Aug 2009, 02:14

I'd be surprised if there are not a few rasikas members who do some charity, privately, for needy individuals.

My flute guru who is a Shishya of Mali is a case in point. He is quite old now and financially not doing well. I help him out as much as I can but I know it is not sufficient.
I see that there are several dimensions to this. He is definitely a musician, has given public concerts and comes under the 'poor musician' category but for the past 30+ years
he is more in the category of 'poor music teachers'. So such people need to be included as well.

Definitely a worthwhile cause.

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 21 Aug 2009, 02:36

A similar appeal was madfe a couple of years ago to help decendents of Shyama Sastry that resulted in providing some help. However, determining the criteria and the real need etc. and identifying the deserving ones.will be a problem, let alone the execution. The suggestion does deserve discusion.

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 21 Aug 2009, 07:07

knshashikiran · Post by **knshashikiran** » 21 Aug 2009, 09:42

Dear Haribabu
Your gesture is noble and is welcome by any passionate music lover. I at a personal level and as part of Carnatica team, thank you for the thought and will join hands with you and other like-minded forum members. I shall be happy to contribute another 30,000 Rs personally to make it Rs 50,000 which can be kept for this cause.
I am on tour but our team shall be happy to set this up and have a seperate account for the same.

gopalk · Post by **gopalk** » 21 Aug 2009, 09:55

I think this is a wonderful idea.

In this regard, we can probably take a leaf out of Udaiyalur Kalyanarama bhagavathar's work. He has established a trust from which elderly and needy bhagavthas are being supported by a monthly pension.

See this: http://www.bhagavathaseva.org/beneficiaries.html

The website is not updated and I think that currently 40 bhagavathas (or their spouse/children) being supported with a monthly pension of 1500/-. Interestingly most of the beneficiaries are the "pakka vadhyams". The trust also takes care of medical / education expenses in some cases.

It may be a good idea to rope in one of the eminent carnatic artistes to spearhead this venture.

munirao2001 · Post by **munirao2001** » 21 Aug 2009, 11:32

Late Maestro Maharajapuram Santhanam had started this project, as part of the activities of Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer Trust, Chennai. I disnticly remember the visit of the secretary/prominent member of the trust ( I do not remember his Name) to inform Late Sandhyavandanam Srinivasa Rao, my Father and Guru, about the trust desire to honor him with assistance. He did not accept the offer, as he was neither indegent or poor. Ananya, Bangalore also has a project for assistance to the poor and needy musicians-on medical expenses. I am sure many more such trusts/organizations/individuals must be doing this project.
Instead of hastles and worry over how to administer the fund efficiently etc, all the like minded individuals simply can offer their contributions to the trust worthy and efficient Trusts/Organizations existing already. We should enlarge the scope of eligibility to Poor and worthy Musicians/Music Teachers/Musicologists/Music students. As the eligible persons under all these categories are present in all the centres of CM, existing/formation of local trusts/organizations, in all the centres will serve the cause better.
I strongly urge the most successful and wealthy Musicians themselves organize, atleast once in six months, fund raising concerts by the Most popular musicians, with liberal funding by the sponsors. Smt.Sudha Raghunathan is already serving the cause, through her Trust, to my knowledge. There might be many more, serving the cuase, like Vasanthakokilam.
The need is REAL and Cause is eminently WORTHY and URGENT.

munirao2001

kmrasika · Post by **kmrasika** » 22 Aug 2009, 07:35

gopalk wrote:I think this is a wonderful idea.

In this regard, we can probably take a leaf out of Udaiyalur Kalyanarama bhagavathar's work. He has established a trust from which elderly and needy bhagavthas are being supported by a monthly pension.

See this: http://www.bhagavathaseva.org/beneficiaries.html

The website is not updated and I think that currently 40 bhagavathas (or their spouse/children) being supported with a monthly pension of 1500/-. Interestingly most of the beneficiaries are the "pakka vadhyams". The trust also takes care of medical / education expenses in some cases.

It may be a good idea to rope in one of the eminent carnatic artistes to spearhead this venture.

Yes, a noble endeavor. I have heard that his brother, a professional also donates to the cause of nAmasankIrtana as well as contributes to the activities of the bhagavannAma bOdhEndra adhishThAna at gOvindapuram.