Indian music in planes, airports not mandatory

The Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) had on December 23 requested Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to promote Indian music in flights operated by Indian carriers

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The Government was not planning to make it mandatory for airlines and airports to play Indian music in their flights and terminal premises, Minister of State for Civil Aviation V K Singh said on March 14.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) had on December 27 asked all airlines and airports to consider playing Indian music in their flights and terminals. The Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) had on December 23 requested Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to promote Indian music in flights operated by Indian carriers.

During the current Parliament session, when Congress Rajya Sabha MP Ambika Soni, asked, “whether government proposes to make it mandatory for Indian airlines and airports to play Indian classical or light vocal and instrumental music”, Singh replied in the negative in his written reply.

The ICCR, which works under the Ministry of External Affairs, had said on Twitter that various suggestions were made during the meeting, “including promotion of Indian music in flights operated by the Indian air companies.”

On December 27, the MoCA had written a letter to all airlines and airports stating that music played by most of the airlines across the globe was quintessential of the country to which the airline belonged. “But, Indian Airlines seldom play Indian music in the flight, whereas, our music has a rich heritage and culture and it has one of the many things every Indian has a reason for truly proud of it,” the Ministry noted. India has a rich diversity of traditional music, it noted. “Owing to India’s vastness and diversity, Indian music encompasses numerous genres in multiple varieties and forms, which include classical music, folk, light vocal, instrumental music, etc.,” it mentioned.

The Ministry said that it had received a request from ICCR for playing Indian music in the aircraft being operated in India and also at airports. “It is, therefore, requested to kindly consider playing Indian music in the aircraft being operated in India and at airports following the regulatory requisites,” the Ministry had stated.

Civil Aviation Minister Scindia had on December 23 visited the headquarters of the ICCR and met its president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe. The ICCR, which works under the Ministry of External Affairs, had said on Twitter that various suggestions were made during the meeting, “including promotion of Indian music in flights operated by the Indian air companies”.

Eminent artists and musicians, including Malini Awasthi, Anu Malik, Kaushal S Inamdar, Shounak Abhisheki, Manjusha Patil K, Sanjeev Abhyankar, Rita Ganguly and Wasifuddin Dagar were also present during the meeting, it added.

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