Up and coming Avikar gives thanks

Madam – South Africa is our unique nation, we triumph as a nation in many facets of life. We’re the second largest exporter of fruit! Who knew… We provide the cheapest electricity in the world, are the largest producer of macadamia nuts and have the highest commercial bungee jump in the world (710 feet).

You gotta love our country!

As a nation we’ve put ourselves on the map in different ways. We have incredible accolades in many fields, and, when we imagine earth, now zoom into Africa, then into South Africa, then KZN, then Newcastle, here along Centre Street you’ll find a young lad who’s preparing for one of the biggest days in his entire life and now wishes to ask you and his local newspaper for a little help to say thank you to his mentor and open the eyes of his community in a big way.

Firstly, I would like to thank the newspaper and you personally alongside Mr. Randaree for always being so helpful in assisting my colleagues and me in the past through our many initiatives undertaken to jumpstart our careers and contribute to a few socio-economic programmes.

Over the past two years since I’ve relocated to Durban for my studies, I’ve given importance to my passions. I now have that “once in a lifetime, dream come true” break I’ve waited for as an aspiring Indian classical musician. What makes my story unique?

Well, firstly, it’s been brought to my attention that I possibly may be the only player of my particular instrument in Newcastle and one of the very few players in the entire country, secondly, with the opportunity and mentorship I have received under Shri Keeran Eshwarlall, my progression may soon lead me to put the “Santoor” (Indian classical instrument) on the South African and Continental map!

These are just a few of the expectations and dreams I have to launch this instrument, which contains almost 100 strings, on the map.

Being an Indian outside of India, having to pursue a career in a cut-throat industry here in SA, I’ve been challenged many a times in achieving my dreams. Coming from Newcastle where our close knit community could not provide opportunities, it was difficult to climb up the ladder of musical success.

After almost a decade of learning, loving and living Indian music, Keeran, whom I owe my all to has given me my first opportunity to debut as a performing artist for the first time in Durban at a music concert held at UDW on July 11.

Here I will take to the stage with great artists in the local industry, performing in a show said to be the first of its kind in South Africa. And the best part is that Keeran didn’t even put me on a trail run, it was almost like he recognized talent, giving me an opportunity with no questions asked.

Humbled at his gesture to take me under his wing and groom me to soon be the finest performing artist on Santoor the country has produced, I want to thank him and also open up the eyes of our community to follow me in support of achieving this musical ambition.

In Indian music (classical) it’s almost frightening that soon there may not be a next generation to peruse this art further. I wish to secure a future for our precious heritage, make music to an extent where other cultures infuse and together we promote Ubuntu far greater and more in depth than saying “we are a rainbow nation!”

Then turn parliament into a joke when a man of another tongue couldn’t pronounce Nkandla.

So let our president make jokes, sure we all will have a hearty laugh, but when reality strikes and we need peace, I want music and music as soothing as that emanates from my beloved Santoor, bring peace and tranquility to the hearts of many restless souls.

I really want to always be known for being born and bread a Newcastle boy who’s soon going to carry my city’s name with pride nationwide till I can lock horns with musical prodigies abroad.

 

Keeran Eshwarlall (pictured), is recognised to be one of the finest Indian performing artists and was even a semi-finalist on SA’s got talent. He’s a disciple of Padmashree Anup Jalota and has played with great legends such as Jagith Singh.

The santoor is a rare instrument of its kind and is associated to great names like Pundit Shiv Kumar Sharma. I too wish to follow in his footsteps and be a Pundit (highly learned man) of my art form.

God bless.

Avikar Singh