While knowledge and objective intelligence are valuable, it is equally essential to cultivate creativity and free expression. Creativity, though an unevenly distributed gift, is still something anyone can develop with effort. Even if success varies based on individual aptitude, it means little because the ultimate purpose should be self-contentment and joy rather than demonstration and competition. One key aspect of using creativity to attain Sujeevanam is that the pursuit should be purely for enjoyment, not for livelihood. Once an art becomes a profession, it is shaped by external demands—employers, audiences, or market forces—compromising its purity as a medium of unfettered self-expression. True artistic fulfillment comes when one engages in art voluntarily, without necessity.
Music, like other arts nurtures the emotional self, much as science and logic sharpen rational thinking. Engaging in music stimulates distinct psychological pathways, enriching the mind in ways different from analytical pursuits.
I chose music over other creative expressions such as dance or crafts because it requires minimal external validation or exhibition. Unlike demonstrative and performance-based arts, music can be practiced in solitude purely for personal fulfillment, avoiding the craving for external recognition. For me, music provided a deeply personal and liberating outlet, requiring minimal material resources. Once ingrained as second nature, it remains a lifelong companion, sustained by physical and mental well-being.
Why classical music rather than informal or popular music? Across cultures and over a long time, classical music evolved deeply rooted in a shared universal perception of sound among humans, starting with our ability to distinguish frequency variations, which we recognize as musical notes. Over centuries, classical traditions have systematized musical structures—such as scales and Raagas—into pedagogical frameworks that facilitate learning music, this making it accessible to all who wish to benefit from it. These structured methods of training, refined through generations, allow a novice to grasp abstract musical concepts efficiently under the guidance of a good teacher. Classical training offers both a roadmap and the necessary tools to explore creativity systematically, much like how learning to walk grants a child the freedom to navigate the world.
Furthermore, classical music instills an appreciation for the generations of knowledge that have transformed sound into an art form. With a strong foundation in classical techniques, a musician can confidently innovate, much like a martial artist who, trained in a formal style, can adapt and improvise in real-life situations. This stems from their confidence which is bolstered by the strength of their knowledge and practice of their native style. Formal training not only fosters technical proficiency but also enhances our ability to appreciate diverse musical traditions, providing a framework for comparison and admiration. This makes us global citizens proud of our shared legacy.
Music, however, should be studied in its entirety. Many musicians specialize narrowly—vocalists and instrumentalists often neglect rhythm, while percussionists rarely delve deeply into melody. For music to become a potent tool of Sujeevanam, it must be embraced in its multidimensional richness, not reduced to a merely a functional skill.
Beyond its artistic aspects, music has profound effects on human biology, fine-tuning the brain’s creative and analytical faculties. It fosters cultural evolution, a process as significant as biological evolution, and remains one of the most potent tools for this transformation.
Among India’s diverse musical traditions—classical, semi-classical, and folk—Hindustaani Classical music evolved in North India, particularly following the Sultanate period. While rooted in far older traditions, its current form is relatively recent within India’s vast cultural history. By absorbing a remarkable range of influences and remaining open to change, Hindustaani Classical music embodies a unique blend of tradition and adaptability. Through a lifelong study and practice of Hindustaani Classical vocal, instrumental, and rhythmic forms, I have gained immeasurable benefits—its structured framework has been a perpetual source of cross-cultural understanding, as well as meditative and spiritual transcendence.
For me, Hindustaani Classical music serves as an ideal path to achieving the goals of Sujeevanam. However, others people growing up in other traditions and environments may find similar fulfillment through different arts or crafts, as long as their chosen pursuit meets the same criteria of self-growth and creative enrichment.