Most of us are acquainted with the classic tale of Pied Piper who successfully rids the city of Hamlin from Rats, thanks to the mesmerising tune of his instrument that he kept playing while all the Rats merrily followed him. What was explicitly noticed was the wit of the young piper but what went completely unnoticed was the power of melody. Stories like this undoubtedly motivate us acutely, howev
er very few have the courage to personify a character like this in real lives. However, Patna Music Circle or PMC has laid the debut step of transforming the inspiration within into a revolution. The group is a direct evidence to the fact that anything that a human mind is capable of conceiving, can be achieved. But, why Music? Because Music is not just an art form, it is a form of universal expression in the sense that you don’t even need to be a human to fall for it. Tansen, the magical musician with stories equally magical was said to spellbind birds and animals who would simply gather around him. Such is the power of raga that it can either make you so happy that you would dance to the tune or multiply your sadness to the extent of bringing tears in your eyes. Science backs this fact too. Numerous surveys have been conducted which have successfully shown that even plants and animals respond to music in a positive manner. Unlike other art forms, music has the capacity to reach those who even lack the fundamental understanding of the art. Music is home to our most intimate of emotions, capable of saying what cannot be expressed and on which remaining silent is impossible and PMC is a group of Patnaites that realize this fact and they are out there making a difference, making it count. PMC does not aim to work in the confines of music only, rather it latently has a bigger aim. PMC intends to make people happy. The question that arises here is why do we need a separate organisation altogether to take up this responsibility? Aren’t we supposed to figure out what undeniably makes us happy and take measures for the same on our own? Are we not adept at handling our own emotions? Sadly, it would seem we are not and if we go by The World Happiness Report 2016 published by United Nations, India ranks 118 out of 156 countries in a global list of happiest nations, one slot down from the last year. PMC understands that being happy is as important as oxygen for a meaningful life and they believe that only the energy of music can touch the souls of literally every living being. PMC has headed off on its journey by keeping these aims in mind and ultimately making Patna a musical city one day. It is so uncanny that despite being the birth place of various music maestros, the city is still musically starving. Now this small circle consisting of individuals with starry eyes is determined in their aim. The administration of the group has been divided into 2 sections, first section is labelled as ‘horsemen’ and the second section ‘advisers’. The musicians of the group are tagged in the first section. These horsemen are trained musicians who are perpetually polishing their skill round-the-clock. They are the primary drivers of the group and certainly without them the progress of the group will come to a standstill. On the other hand, even the simplest of the gatherings require a certain level of planning and seeks advise to prevent delinquency and hence the second section, the ‘advisers’. They work on all the non-musical aspects concerning the group such as framing strategies, doing the clerical works etc. The group meets weekly at a pre-decided location to discuss the lacunas of the plan, share opinions, suggestions, and to prepare a work-plan to enable the group work in the most organised and sorted way. This is an imperative step as PMC is too big an idea and we believe that failing to plan is nothing but planning to fail. Music is not a new concept in Bihar. The classical form of music is already quite well-known; for example, Bihar has produced musicians like Ustad Bismillah Khan who was honoured with Bharat Ratna, dhrupad singers like the Malliks belonging to Darbhanga gharana and the Mishras belonging to Bettiah gharana. PMC not only wants people of Patna to remember this culture but also to contribute in expanding it. PMC does this by conducting weekend jamming sessions at various locations from time to time. The best part is that the location and timings of these sessions are flexible, in order to ensure maximum participation. With a musical past like this, it is only the logical next step for someone to take up the mantle to keep this culture alive and throbbing with energy, and PMC has decided to do just that. The vision with which PMC is formed is a grand one. There is neither certainty of time nor there’s any jacket formula to bring the group closer to their aim; but what we do have, is hope – a hope that this musical circle will one day become a musical city. Men may come and men may go because they are mortal, but PMC is an idea, and immortal, and it will never die.
-Smriti Ranjan (PMC)
