Pran at India Africa Summit 2015
The most prestigious celebration at Rashtrapati Bhawan on October 2015 where young Pran Saikia was lucky to witness 74 the Head of States...
The Third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-III) was held in New Delhi, India from 26–30 October 2015. The five-day summit started with consultations on an official level followed by the head of states/governments level summit on 29 October 2015 with scheduled bilateral meetings on 30 October 2015. The host country, India, had sent invitations to all 54 African heads of state/government and tried to ensure maximum participation at the highest level.
A Grand Show
A unique cultural programme - a tribute to Africa and India relations was presented on October 29th at the State Banquet hosted by the Hon'ble President of India at the Mughal Gardens. The evening was a collaborative effort of over 250 musicians and artistes from across Africa and various Indian states, symbolising the harmony of voices and ideas and celebrating the rich cultural heritage that abounds on both continents.
Artistes from 8 African regions hosted by ICCR collaborated with over 20 Indian dance, martial arts, and music artiste groups to create this special evening. This very event brought dreams in the eyes of Pran when he was chosen as one of the artistes to sing for the then President of India, late Shri Pranab Mukherjee, and 54 African head of state along with then newly established Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi at the famed Mughal Gardens against the backdrop of a beautifully illuminated Rashtrapati Bhawan. Being a vocal member of the Acapella Choir called Vocal Raasta, he and his teammates arranged and composed the closing song with music director Sharat Chandra Srivastava and conductor Antoine Redon. The evening witnessed a confluence of multiple vocal genres including traditional African melodies, Rajasthani folk, Sufi, and Bhakti as well as musical arrangements of unique instruments including the traditional Panchavadyam from Kerala, the Nagadas from Rajasthan, the Ethiopian drums (confirm name), the Malian Kora - a west African 21 string harp, and the Dollu - a percussion instrument from northern Karnataka.
Traditional dances in collaboration were showcased from the whirling dervishes of the Egyptian Tanoura interspersed with Rajasthani folk Kalbelia dancers, from the Kalaripayattu martial art of Kerala to the masked martial dancers of the Indian Chhau dance and the Makishi masked dancers from the Luvale, Mbunda and Chokwe Luchazi people of Zambia as well as traditional temple dances including the Gotipua from Konark, Churkala, Oddissi and Theyyam.
Designed by Sanjoy K Roy and Teamwork Arts, the music was scored by violin maestro Sharat Chandra Srivastava and choreography by Gilles Chuyen and has been presented by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
source: Teamwork Arts, EE News Desk
