Education can’t be Hindu or Muslim, need for rethink: Amjad Ali Khan

Nagpur: Accomplished sarod exponent Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is pained at the violence, radicalism, extremism that has posed a serious threat not just to India, but also to world peace. In an exclusive interview to TOI here on Wednesday, Amjad Ali said, some groups with vested interests are out to create turbulence in every country. “It is very unfortunate,” he added.According to him, radicals who drive a wedge among people and indulge in the sinful act of injecting hatred among children are actually destroying the future generation. “I appeal to them to think of the children and of the future generation. Priests fail to preach a common God solely because each one has his own agenda,” the Ustad said.
“Nobody has ever said that Ishwar understands only Sanskrit or Allah would answer to prayers in Arabic or Gurumukhi would be understood by only Shri Guru Granth Saheb or English by Christ,” he said adding, “it's high time every human being realised we all have a common god and we are a common race. Collectively we have to achieve peace and harmony.”
He said he was saddened that schools and colleges were termed “Hindu” or “Muslim” institutions. “How can education be Hindu or Muslim? Education has no religious hue. There is a need for a rethink on educational policy to make it more holistic and create better informed human beings,” said Amjad Ali.
He said there was something grossly amiss in the current education system which “has failed to create compassion and kindness among individuals, otherwise there would not have been a surge in violence not just in India but the world over.”
“It is painful to see scholars, educated and technical experts misuse and misdirect their knowledge for destructive purposes,” he said.
“Music unites the world, it is the universal language. The seven notes of music may be called differently in diverse cultures, but the inherent sound remains the same. Likewise, there is a common God in the world. Whenever anyone bows in reverence it is to that common God. We have many Hindu musicians with Muslim gurus and Muslim musicians with Hindu exponents. Musicians only understand the language of the seven notes,” Amjad Ali said.
While he appreciated the emerging young generation’s tilt towards music, the Ustad felt saddened at the dilution of sincerity among many. “The use-and-throw culture has diluted the value system. There is no generation gap, instead a weakening of thoughts and value system,” he said. Parents should bond strongly with their children, he felt. “They should help and educate the children to evolve as compassionate and kind human beings,” said Amjad Ali.
In over six decades of performing on stage both in India and the world over, he said he could vouch that music did not differentiate between people. “A musician essentially feels connected to the universal soul present in each of us. There are two types of music. First, that of sound, which touches every soul and has no words. Second, that of words, which may sometimes create a divide or be misconstrued. Words can be manipulated and wrongly presented but not sound. Unfortunately, the world is being governed by the spoken word which has the potential to mend or break fences,” Amjad Ali said.
Political interests and madness to attain power have created a void and are among the key reasons for the present day turbulence in the world, according to Amjad Ali. “Even the United Nations seems like a weakened body that has failed to contain such extremist elements. It is quite apparent the world body has been affected by political compulsions… and that’s sad,” he said adding that the UN should emerge a strong world force so it was able to contain divisive forces.