New Delhi, June 9: Arpan Foundation hosted a celebration of the iconic song, ‘Padharo Mhare Des,’ which was played to welcome Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi ji to the Netherlands, sung by the celebrated singer, Manesha A Agarwal. The event was graced by Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Government of India, Gajendra Singh ji Shekhawat as Chief Guest. He lauded Manesha A Agarwal’s dedication as a singer and her commitment to preserving the folk traditions, who is also a Founder Trustee of Arpan Foundation. Gajendra Singh ji Shekhawat said, “The Government can make policies but it is for the community to ensure their implementation and it is for this reason that I appreciate the efforts of Arpan Foundation, Smt. Manesha A Agarwal and the mentor of the Foundation, Dr. Lalit K Pawar. They are working on the social responsibility of keeping our cultural traditions, alive”. He concluded by appreciating the Foundation’s Bhakti Movement, he said “the efforts of Smt. Manesha A Agarwal towards preserving the devotional and spiritual traditions, are noteworthy.”
Speaking on the occasion, Manesha A Agarwal said,
“‘Padharo Mhare Des’ has always been much more than a song. It is a reflection of the soul of Rajasthan. Our Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji’s appreciation of the song is deeply inspiring for me. Through Arpan Foundation, we remain committed to training talented young folk musicians from the remotest parts of Rajasthan. The vision is to ensure that our living traditions of folk music continue to flourish for generations to come”.
A major highlight of the programme was captivating live performances by young artists from the Langa and Gair Nritya communities, nurtured through Arpan Music Lab, an initiative of Arpan Foundation.
Originally released in 2011, ‘Padharo Mhare Des’ was conceived and conceptualised by musicologist Gauri R. Yadwadkar. The song featured renowned musicians who have roots in Rajasthan – Jagjit Singh, Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Roop Kumar Rathod, Anwar Khan alongside Manesha A Agarwal and many more stalwarts with folk artists of the state.
Arpan Foundation’s Bhakti Movement has found it’s roots in Vrindavan and in Chhatangar village of Jaisalmer, where revered folk musician, Mahesha Ram is. The movement brings the poetry of Meera bai, Surdas and Kabir to children.
The event witnessed the presence of stellar personalities of art and culture – Padma Bhushan Grammy awardee maestro Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Padma Bhushan Pandit Sajan Mishra, renowned classical vocalist Padma Shri Dr. Soma Ghosh, Padma Shri Shovana Narayan among other leading artists, cultural patrons, diplomats and members of the media.
The evening also featured a special curation of photographs by artist-photographer Sudhir Kasliwal. With the music, photography and storytelling, Padharo Mhare Des: Revisiting the Song and the Slogan was symbolic of keeping alive Rajasthan’s cultural traditions, carrying it globally.