Founded in 1977 by Dr Kiran Seth, SPIC MACAY (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth) is a non-political, nationwide, voluntary movement with an intention is to enrich the quality of formal education by increasing awareness about different aspects of Indian heritage and inspiring the young mind to imbibe the values embedded in it.
Currently, SPIC MACAY is chaired by Arun Sahai, who was a contemporary to Kiran Seth in IIT- Kharagpur, where he was watching the progress of the Movement from the sidelines outside. He felt the urge to encourage this heritage and is now associated with SPPIC MACAY since many years.
In an exclusive Interview with Mr. Sahai, he drove us to the inside journey of a Revolutionary Movement, the SPIC MACAY.
With the thought process of making campuses culture sensitive, how was this entire journey of relating youth to the classical arts?
It’s not just about art necessarily, it’s the heritage and many benefits have come out from these benefits. When you do yoga, you inhale and exhale and in a way concentrate on your breath. When you sing, you concentrate on the note you are going to sing. When you dance, you concentrate on your posture. It is the concentration that you develop. And if you can take it to academics, you will be a better student. And you find many eminent are coincidently musicians in whatever way. Our president, used to play Veena, which helped him to concentrate in developing missiles.
I am not saying you need to be a musician necessarily, but it can help you discover that talent and you go on to be an artist.
What are your future plans for SPIC MACAY?
We have to reach every child with a hope to imbibing art in their daily curriculum. We have just touched the tip of the iceberg now. We would like to reach each child in the country. It’s a very tall order. It’s their birth right to know about this heritage. The world recognizes this heritage; it’s our identity. And as I had said earlier, the benefits are there.
Going a little further, when you talk about education, nobody knows what will be the situation 30 years from now. It’s that heritage which will prepare you the future and you will have the ability to concentrate, the ability to perceive and respond.
What are your views regarding Education 2025?
The ability to see a changing world and be able to respond to opportunities that you see is what we want people to be able to do. I can guarantee nobody in this world knows what it will be like 20 years from now.
