Rock for the less fortunate children

Shobaraj Yumlembam *

Volunteers of 'A house and A Guitar' organised Awareness Programme at Mongsangei on 27 June 2013

Education is said to be the passport for a bright future, and many curriculums comes under it. Music education is one of them. Inclusion of music education in the State schools and colleges curriculum remains the main objective of 'A House And A Guitar', a not-for-profit Delhi based NGO speading the benefits of music in each and every corners of the country. The NGO promotes music lovers by providing them platform through YouTube and organises various projects from time to time.

As an active member of A House And A Guitar (AHAAG), a Delhi based progressive metal band called Dark Reign (DR), for the first time in Manipur and probably the first of its kind in the country, is organising a rock folk musical evening titled 'A home bound concert' under the very theme of AHAAG 'Give music a chance' at YAC Ground here on July 6.

The concert have objective to bring out hidden musical talents of orphans and mentally challenged children, and encourage them by imbibing the importance of music and the role it can play in a society.

Children of BB Paul Mental Development Home will present the opening part of the evening with their performances. Dark Reign has been giving them music classes. Subsequent to the opening part, the concert will showcase musical experiences of various falvours including a fusion music emphasizing on our own Manipuri folk music.

Here are the excerpts of what the event organisers said when interacted with this TSE journalist. Robin Seram, Founder Member AHAAG said, the NGO was formed under the theme 'Give music a chance' in 2011 by some music lovers with the motive to spread the message of harmony and the role music plays in it.

"We have in our minds since long to do something for the very talented youths of North East and especially Manipur. They are gifted ones.", he expressed.

He also said, most parents are proud to say that their wards are appearing in medical or engineering entrance exams. When the value of musical talents is undermined, many side effects like frustration, depression, substance abuse etc often haunts the youths. As we have observed this, we are trying to shorten the generation gap in the best possible ways we could.

Let this very concert send the message to the society. In other countries, music education has been included and studied in schools and colleges. A Delhi institute also teaches rock education. Through promoting music and giving platform to music lovers, AHAAG is fighting for the cause 'Give music a chance' to link the society and the music. The people and parents are to be convinced first of all, then the concern authorities can be approached, he continued.

Robin then said, our State has very rich folk culture however, when a folk guru dies, the folk music passes away with him. If we have a folk music transcription, it will be preserved, and can become a world standard one day. Rock bands association with drugs is not true all the time. Some of the youths are well educated ones. We should prove this taboo wrong through music, he concluded.

Robson Haorongbam, a BCA student and Drummer DR stressed, "We like rock music however we do not forget our own culture. This concert will prove to the people that we are the sons of this soil." In our every concerts in other states the opening parts were always started with a 'Yakairol'. We believe that by doing this the other State's people will come to know of our culture. We hope the Home bound concert would change the stereotype scenario of rock music in Manipur.

"Orphans and mentally challenged children could not indepentdently express their love for music like we fortunate ones do. Some of them have musical talents, we are going to help them at least in the musical field", Robson asserted.

Ajanta Ngangbam, a BA student and Vocals DR expressed that music comes through heart and soul and is an asset to heal worries. The concert is a project to remove the negative elements associated with rock music in the State. It is really hard to organise a concert here. However, with our selfless love for music and the urge to do something we could for the less fortunate children, gave us the strength to organise it. We are presenting them some special and memorable gifts during the concert.

Saman Asangbam, a BA Honours, Sound Engineering student and Keyboard DR said, drug and music are different entities and not related. Long hair, fancy clothes are not necessarily the costumes of rock musicians. Most of the families here do not encourage music as a career. "We beleive that it is far better to pursue music as a career if one loves it instead of becoming an unsuccessful doctor or engineer. We like C#m more than a2+b2", Saman said with a smile on his face.