Concert celebrates two 50th anniversaries

The haunting sounds of the rudra veena filled the Harold Prince Auditorium Thursday night during a rare performance by the only living person playing the ancient Indian instrument. The concert by Ustad Asad Ali Khan -- whose ancestors had played the instrument in the royal courts of India -- was sponsored by the South Asian Regional Studies Department. The performance, kicking off a year-long celebration in the department, is in honor of 50 years of independence for India and Pakistan, as well as of the 50th anniversary of the University's South Asian Regional Studies program. "I've never heard of the rudra veena before, even though I'm from India," noted Philadelphia resident Anna Rao, adding that she liked the instrument's unique sound. SARS was founded in 1947 by then- University Professor Norman Brown, a scholar of India's classical language, Sanskrit, who wanted to pursue the study of classical India. Offering both major and minor programs and boasting several famous scholars, the department focuses on India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. At the same time, 1947 marked India's and Pakistan's freedom from British colonial rule, following uprisings led by Mohandas Gandhi and Muhammad Ali-Jinnah, respectively. Khan's performance, as well as many of the celebration's future events, have been organized by Allyn Miner, a lecturer in performing arts in the department. As Khan played the rudra veena in a rare dhrupad style which imitates vocal sounds and requires tremendous discipline, many listeners had their heads bent in meditation or their eyes fixated on the performer. He was accompanied by Mohan Shyam Sharma on the pakhawaj -- a classical Indian drum. The rudra veena, which looks like a guitar keyboard with two large spheres on each end, sounded alternately ancient and very modern -- at times almost resembling an electric guitar. "The veena is the bridge between classical antiquity and the present," College freshman Rishi Puri said. The concert was very different from typical American performances. Quiet and slow, it presented a unique portrait of Indian culture. "The music seemed like it slowed time," College sophomore Brook Martinez said. "I felt a mix of things from boredom to excitement." Martinez added that the music seemed to enchant him. "I don't think I understood it all," he said. "I would like to understand more, but I found it enjoyable." The SARS celebration will continue throughout the academic year, with concerts and workshops featuring various performing arts of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The next event -- a South Asian dance workshop and demonstration -- is scheduled for October 15.