I am delighted to participate in the inauguration of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Chowdaiah Memorial Hall today. My greetings to the organizers, music lovers, artists and distinguished guests. I appreciate the devotion and dedication of the people who had created this memorial hall and sustained its over the years. It has become a landmark in Bangalore.

On the 19th of November, 2005 I gave the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2004 to HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Her major and unique contribution is her approach to development of Thailand. She has been responsible for cultural preservation through revival of dying handicraft skills, shadow plays and classical works of music recorded for posterity. By singing and performing in public with Thais of all walks of life she has helped spur an unprecedented revival of traditional music. As a result this traditional heritage is available and approachable to every common man and woman of Thailand. More so, she used the propagation of classical works of music of Thailand as a major instrument to bring in peace in the minds of the people, using the peaceful minds to contribute to productivity and hence propel the national development.

Friends, some time ago a Professor visiting from a American University met me at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Professor asked me: ?Mr. President what is the core competence of India?? I said, India has a population of a billion people with multiple cultures, multiple languages and multiple religions. After our independence in 1947, we have been handling the challenge of caring and catering for masses from poverty and provide proven leadership to these people in a democratic way. Managing a billion people with their problems in a democracy is a unique effort.

How do we connect these billion people? It is a big task. Our civilizational heritage has given us certain unique binding and integration. Music, particularly, classical Hindustani music in the North and carnatic music in south have proved to be great integrators of people.

Similar lofty ideals inspire Chowdaiah memorial hall in contributing to the national development particularly, the development of Bangalore, by using music, drama and other art forms as instruments for creating a peaceful, harmonious and noble society.

Violin in carnatic music

I learn that Baluswami Dikshithar, brother of one of the trinity of carnatic music Muthuswamy Dikshithar, is the pioneer, who brought violin into the fold of Carnatic music and fused it into Indian classical music system. It showed the breadth of vision and elasticity of our traditions arts to surpass time and absorb the best of times. Chowdaiah continued this great tradition and made a unique contribution to violin through his seven string violin. I am told, this building also has seven strings. Well done. You have seized a glorious moment of time. Though the building is built like a violin, architects have ensured with extreme dedication that functional aspects of the auditorium are fully taken care of. I have been to this auditorium many times and have always wondered how something that looks extremely pleasing to the eyes can also deliver sweet melody to ears.

I heard an interesting anecdote from one of the disciples of Chowdaiah. When he was hospitalized, this disciple had gone to see him. He found, that he had committed six future musical engagements. Chowdaiah told his student ?Recommend to the doctor to discharge me. I want to leave for Bangalore to accompany Chambai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar? But before the preparations were made for that, fate snatched him away. But the dedication and optimism of Chowdaiah is a lesson for all of us.

Auditoriums which are built to commemorate such great souls can only be an ever glowing symbols of our culture. I am happy to see that the Chowdaiah Memorial Hall has been used effectively. Let the tradition lit by him continue and blossom for centuries to come.

Mission to Chowdaiah Memorial Hall

Like Saint Tyagaraja Utsav at Thiruvaiyaru, Chowdaiah Memorial Hall should organize a three day music festival every year, where young musicians and artists would be able to play alongside the veterans without any inhibition. I suggest that this can be your Silver Jubilee Mission.

Conclusion

I inaugurate the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Chowdaiah Memorial Hall and my best wishes to the lovers of fine arts in Bangalore in this mission of promoting peace and tranquility through their art forms.

May God bless you all.

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