The clamour for diversity and inclusion is louder than ever today in our society. Chennai’s Margazhi festival, too, is breaking boundaries, and moving to a more inclusive music and dance festival.
Testimony to that is Dr Ranjini Kaushik, who has organised Margazhi Matram, a music and dance festival, which will also include musicians who are differently abled. The festival, which kick-starts today, on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, will have a two-day live event, followed by three days of virtual events. Says Ranjini, “This festival focuses on performing artistes who are differently abled. We organised a similar event last year, too, albeit, online. Since things have slowly opened up, we decided to have a two-day live event, followed by the virtual ones.”
Ranjini says that this festival stemmed from Artabilities 4 All, a platform founded by a non-profit organisation, which provides a platform for differently abled artistes to showcase their talent. “We focus on inclusive opportunities and have featured over 200 artistes globally. The idea is to make art accessible to all. We have taken it as our mission to promote artistes with disabilities. In fact, that’s how Margazhi Matram was born.
This year’s event features almost 70 artistes across the globe, with over 40, just from India. We will be honouring veteran artistes and rising stars, who have made a mark in the field of arts despite their disabilities. We will also be honouring mentors, who have taken it upon themselves to teach many of them for free. This will be followed by concerts and performances. We were conscious about having both abled and disabled artistes perform together as we wanted it to be an inclusive festival. We’ve curated it in a manner such that we’re not focusing on their disability,” says Ranjini.
With performances by Sangita Kalanidhi M Chandrasekaran to senior artistes like Ghatam Suresh Vaidyanathan and dance performances by visually challenged students, the festival has an array of artistes. “The common perception is that disabled artistes don’t do as well as abled artistes. And when you have senior artistes like them performing, it is only proof that these are only perceptions,” says Ranjini, who travelled all the way from the USA to put together the event. Apart from featuring well-known artistes, the festival also features upcoming talents. “We found them through various NGOs and word-of-mouth.”
When quizzed about the fewer number of performances by these artistes, Ranjini says, “Well, there are a couple of challenges. These artistes need help to come to the venue. Many organisers might consider this as cumbersome. Also, there are a few extra requirements for these artistes. For instance, the dance performance by visually challenged dancers needs a different kind of stage. If organisers take that extra step, I am sure we can have more inclusive concerts.”

She adds, “The percentage of differently abled artistes is low. If every organisation includes them in their programmes, without making them feel bad about it, a sense of true inclusion and acceptance will be created. There is a notion that they don’t perform as well as others, but there are many impressive artistes. Organisers must intentionally include them every year.”
Festivals like this not only provide encouragement, but also feature exemplary talents who can challenge people professionally’
There have been exemplary performers in Carnatic music right from the 19th century. Flautist and vocalist Sarabha Satrigal, mridangam doyen Azhaga Nambi Pillai, violinist Dwaram Venkatasamy Naidu — they were visually impaired. But not many initiatives were taken to support them and talk about their achievements. When I was an up and coming musician decades ago, there was hardly any organisation like this to recognise the achievements of the differently abled. Even today, art promoters do not provide us any special treatment, talent recognition, and not even mobility support as a gesture of care and inclusiveness. I am happy that Ranjini Kaushik has started this. Many of the artistes featured here are mobility- dependent. Festivals like this not only provide encouragement, but also feature exemplary talents who can challenge normal people professionally. I have been a performer of eminence for four decades now, defying my impairment due to polio. I have also been creating music to involve special children and depressed youngsters.
Suresh Vaidyanathan, percussionist and composer

Only with inclusivity, people will recognise artistes with disabilities
I am happy and honoured to be part of the event. There can be exclusive events for us, so that there are more opportunities for people with hidden talents, and they can be included in regular events, too. Only with inclusivity, people will recognise artistes with disabilities and give them the much-needed security as artistes. Except for a few efforts by the state government, there are no other private organisations that recognise us. So, I am all for events like this
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/an-inclusive-margazhi-fest-with-differently-abled-performers/articleshow/88054257.cms?from=mdr