Kuldeep Singh graces Swara Sampada Annual Day

“In the Sufi tradition, while at the superficial level, the refrain seems to be singing of love at the temporal level, the other subtler refrain, which runs as an undercurrent, is love at the transcendental love, between the individual soul and the divine soul.”

This is how Dr Ajai Singh, Founder President of Swara Sampada, described the Sufi tradition of music and devotion. The occasion was a glittering function to mark the 11^th Annual Day of Swara Sampada held on 23 Feb 2014 at a prominent banquet hall in Thane.

Kuldeep Singhji, famous music director of soulful numbers like, ‘Tumko dekha to ye khayal ayaa’, ‘Ye tera ghar ye mera ghar’, and ‘Itni shakti hamen dena dataa’, was the Chief Guest. Elaborating from where Dr Singh left, Kuldip Singhji talked of the connection between Ishq-e-majazi and Ishq-e-haquiqui, the two central tenets of sufism.  Ishq-e-majazi was temporal love, love of human beings, and was a necessary step to Ishq-e-haquiqui, transcendental love, love of the Almighty. It was not possible to reach the love of God without being able to love human beings. In fact it was a necessary first step.

What is Swara Sampada?

Swara Sampada, with Chapters in Mulund, Thane, Lonavla and Pune, is a unique non-profit music organization founded in 2003 dedicated to the task of ‘converting bathroom singers into drawing room singers and drawing room singers into stage singers’. Its basic philosophy is that anyone can sing provided he/she is given ‘empathetic’ mentoring and a positive atmosphere of like minded others. Founder President Dr Ajai Singh established this group after having spent years studying music.

The 23^rd Feb programme

The Annual Day programme started with lamp lighting, prayer and national anthem at 5pm. It was followed by 4 rounds of melodious songs by members who prepared themselves to give their best performance on this very special day. There was a new element added this year in the form of medleys where all members took part enthusiastically. One of the members Mohana Joshi had meticulously designed the medleys and selected songs according to the member’s pitch and voice quality.

Swara Sampada President 2013-2014 Ajay Joshi conducted the proceedings for the day and expressed his gratitude to members on completion of a beautiful and successful year. He presented, ‘O duniya ke rakhwale,’ and left the audience spell bound by his performance.

Incoming President Meenakshi Khosla introduced her team for 2014-2015 with great enthusiasm. She said she considered herself fortunate to have Shri Kuldip Singhji, a veteran music director and her guru, as the Chief guest for the evening. She also introduced the Chief Guest. Shri Kuldip Singhji in his response said he was highly impressed with the concept of Swara Sampada and would like to attend programmes more often. Meenakshi then rendered the immortal song ‘ayega aanewala’. There was pin drop silence in the hall before it resonated with applause.

Three highlights

There were 3 highlights of the evening: 1^st  Dr Ajai Singh’s original sufiyana qawwalli composition “tu khwab hai mere pyar ka’ loved by one and all . 2^nd  release of a beautiful new Roster of members.  3^rd  A surprise gifting of new lapel pins to all members by Swara Sampadite Jatin Shah and family .

 Music and Compering

The sound and musical set up by Swara Sampada Honorary member and musician Raju Ganapathy, along with Mohan (Dholak) and musicians, was flawless.

The programme was efficiently compered by Swara Sampadites Satish Sharma and Mohana Joshi .

In closing

The dedication of members to music and improvement in the levels of singing was appreciated by one and all. For Swara Sampada members, the organisation has become an extended family and no one can imagine their existence without it. Members belong to well educated families—there are doctors, engineers, advocates, businessmen and other professionals who love to sing, and through music also relieve their stress, even while enjoying the company of like minded others. Monthly programmes of Swara Sampada happen on the 3^rd Sunday of every month with a theme given a month in advance. All members undergo rehearsal before they render their songs. Every month 4 star singers are selected to give their best performance.

Swara Sampada has also established an example in community living by setting up a cooperative housing society of music lovers in Lonavla.