Challenges in Contemporary Hindustani Classical Music Performances

The tradition of Hindustani Classical Music is very old. Over time, different forms of this music developed from Indian Classical Music. The main part of Indian Classical Music is the Raga, which is also an important part of our cultural tradition. Many forms of Hindustani Classical Music, such as Dhrupad, Dhamar, Khyal, Tappa, Thumri, Tarana, etc., were performed by court musicians and famous maestros from different Gharanas (musical lineages) since the medieval period in North India. The Gharana system is a special feature of Hindustani Classical Music. It helps in maintaining both quality and variety in music. For a long time, musicians followed their Gharana traditions very strictly, especially up to the twentieth century. But in recent times, the quality and richness of Hindustani Classical Music seem to be declining. This is happening even though many music institutions have been set up by the Department of Higher Education, and students are learning both in institutions and privately. This paper aims to study the reasons behind this problem and also suggest possible solutions.