PRESS RELEASE
Baithak – ‘Homage to the Mahatma’ To popularize Indian Classical Music & Dance amongst youth, the Consulate General of India, New York had launched a new initiative titled "Baithak@Consulate". Baithak is an occasional series that constantly strives to present Indian maestros.
2. In commemoration of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and continuing with Gandhi@150 celebrations, the eighth event in the series, titled ‘Homage To The Mahatma’ was dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. Held on October 01, 2019, in the Consulate’s ballroom, the musical concert featured acclaimed Sitar exponent, Pandit Shubhendra Rao. Pandit Rao was accompanied by Ms. Saskia Rao-de-Haas on Indian Cello and Mr. Aditya Kalyanpur on Tabla.
3. The event was attended by prominent members of the community, including Mr. Eric Leroy Adams, Borough President of Brooklyn. In his keynote address, Mr. Adams spoke about life and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. He emphasized on how we all are connected to each other and how we affect one- another and how by helping heal others, we end up healing ourselves too. Mr. Sandeep Chakravorty, Consul General of India in New York, in consonance with Mr. Adams also spoke about Gandhiji’s influence on leaders around the world and in the U.S.
4. A protégé of Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar, Pandit Shubhendra Rao and his team had the audience enthralled by beautiful medley of ragas. Remebering Gandhiji and in a tribute to him, the trio played prominent songs like Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye Je and Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram amongst others that reminded us of the ideals, deeds and teachings of the father of the nation.
New York
October 03, 2019
is an internationally acclaimed performer, composer, cultural entrepreneur and music educator. Disciple of Flute Maestro Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Saskia Rao-de Haas is a world-renowned virtuoso cellist from the Netherlands who is known as a master performer in Indian classical music and a creator of a new instrument: The Indian Cello.
Shubhendra Rao and Saskia Rao-de Haas had the audience enthralled by a beautiful medley of ragas. They also played prominent songs like Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye Je and Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram amongst others that reminded us of the ideals, deeds and teachings of the father of the nation.
Eric Leroy Adams, the Borough President of Brooklyn, New York City delivered the keynote address at the event. He had the audience in rapt attention when he spoke about how by following Mahatma Gandhi’s principles helped his family and him to heal physically and have a healthy mind and body. He emphasized on how we all are connected to each other and how we affect one- another and how by helping heal others, we end up healing ourselves too.
The Consulate General of India, Mr. Sandeep Chakravorty thanked the artists for the spell-bound performance. He thanked Mr. Eric Adams for delivering an inspiring keynote address on ‘Gandhi and Me’. He also thanked State bank of India and Shanti Fund, The Consulate’s partners in hosting this event which was a huge success.