Culture binds countries together: Zila Khan

A firm believer that culture connects countries and people across continents, India's well-known Sufi singer Zila Khan wants to leave a legacy of 15-20 musicians of at least her calibre who will perform globally, showcasing India's soft power.

"Culture is such an important bridge for every kind of country to be tied together. We all feel that politics and economy can change, but culture is one thing that remains the same. It is built on a very, very solid foundation, which stays and sustains itself," she told PTI in a recent interview.

Daughter of sitar maestro Ustad Vilayat Khan, Kolkata-born Zila was in Washington DC this week to perform as part of the "India@70" celebrations organised by the Indian Embassy here. She also delivered mesmerising performances in Houston and New York.

As such, Zila passionately argues that "it is important to feel that (culture) in your music". This is the reason why, she explained, she set musicians from across the world -- the US, Egypt, Africa, and European nations -- to play with her, keeping the "fabric of Indian Sufi music intact".

"The weaving of the music comes in between, but keeping the celebration of the creator intactand to keep it very powerfully and beautifully Indian also," she said.

"She lives her music and she gives it all her heart. Music is in her blood," said Navtej Singh Sarna, the Indian Ambassador to the US.

Zila attributes her success to her father, late Ustad Vilayat Khan, for not only training her, but also changing the family tradition that did not allow women to perform.

"He (Ustad Vilayat Khan) honed my skills. He made me do riyaz for 12, 14, 16 hours a day sometimes.

"He changed with the times and realised that this kind of brilliance should not go waste because of the orthodoxy of a purana zamana (old times) of not letting girls perform outside," she said.

"I feel very privileged that I had a mentor and a guru who could show me my brilliance," said Zila, who is now known for her wide repertoire and command over various music styles, whether it is Indian classical, world music, Indo-jazz fusion, traditional ghazal, and Sufi.

"She has sort of made music her life," observed Ambassador Sarna. "It is not just the Sufi music which you hear, if you actually explore Zila Khan's repertoire, there is ghazal, fusion, jazz and experimental music," he said, adding that he had first heard the acclaimed Sufi singer at the Jahan-e-Khusrau festival at Humayun's Tomb in New Delhi.

Being a representative of Indian heritage and culture, Zila is one of the select artistes who was featured in the Incredible India advertisement campaign for the Tourism Ministry of India. She regularly performs at major Indian and international music festivals and venues such as the Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Symphony Space, Broadway and Trafalgar Square.

Having marked her presence at the world stage, Zila says she wants to leave a legacy of musicians like her, performing and spreading Indian cultural heritage globally.

"If I can leave 15-20 students, singers, performers, instrumentalists like me and better, I think my journey and my life would be quite complete," she told PTI.

Through her not-for-profit organisation, Ustadgah Foundation, Zila teaches children and adults, particularly those from the underprivileged section of the society.

"I teach them classical music. I also teach them how to implement the powerful tools of classical music. I teach them how to perform at today's concerts with western artistes also," she said.

One of the most important part of her training is to make her students adapt to the needs of the 21st century.

But Zila says, she is not seeking to compromise with the great Indian tradition. "Don't compromise, just learn to weave" -- is her message to her students and budding musicians.

"It is like maths. You should know maths very well to do science. If you don't know maths well, you can't do science, you can't do engineering, you can't do architecture. It is very important to know the basis of culture. Empower yourself with your degrees and learning of that kind of music and the shastras," she said.

Zila pointed out that post-Independence, the patronage to the big "gharanas" from kings and maharajas collapsed and the support from the government also did not come and hence, the musicians were left to fend for themselves.

Observing that the beauty of music is sound that leaves a residue in one's body, Zila has now started music therapy to treat people.

"Different kinds of songs impact people differently. Different sounds for different people," said Zila, who is a consultant with the Fortis Hospital on music therapy.

"I treat people with music individually. This is also like yoga. Music therapy is as big as yoga," she said. "The day we find another leader or the same leader like (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji, who beautifully brought yoga to the forefront and a huge thank you to him for that, music therapy needs that kind of leadership to bring it to the forefront," she said.