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Time of India
27-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
RRU helps set tune in martial music's Indian homecoming
1 2 3 Ahmedabad: The next time you see the armed forces on a parade ground, chances are high that you might hear 'Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja,' the anthem of the Indian National Army, instead of 'Colonel Bogey March' from 1914. Marking a cultural shift, the armed forces bands in 2022 embraced 'Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo' during the Beating Retreat ceremony at Kartavya Path instead of the traditional 'Abide with Me'. Aiming to take the initiative further is the newly inaugurated School of NCC and Police Martial Music Band (SNPMMB) at Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU). At the RRU school, officials aim to train the state police and central armed police forces (CAPFs) in newly created Indian tunes and compose new ones to 'Indianize martial music. ' This is the first such school in a university setting in the country. Until now, bands in uniformed services were traditionally trained at special colleges and training schools. Senior RRU officials say the inspiration is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to make the music of India 'not merely entertainment, but a vehicle for expression, connection, and identity'. The initiatives started in 2016 with the use of Indian tunes on major occasions, they added. Major (Retd) Ashok Kumar, principal of the school and former director of music at the Joint Services Training Institute, AEC Training College & Centre, Pachmarhi — which trains musicians for the armed forces — says that military bands are traditionally taught tunes that have been part of military tradition for over a century. "We have over 200 such tunes which are used for different functions and ceremonies. In the past decade or so, Indian experts have been creating several notations and tunes that are rooted in our culture. Our aim would be to both create new tunes for the bands of CAPF and police forces and to teach the newly created Indian tunes to these bands," says Major Kumar. Some examples of such tunes include 'Veer Bharat' and 'Amar Senani', composed by Indian military musicians. These are now played regularly at various state and armed forces events. 'INS Vikrant,' 'Veer Bharat,' 'Desh Pukare,' 'Vayu Shakti,' 'Hindustan,' and 'Priyadarshini' are some more examples that reflect a rich Indian voice. Renjith G, senior instructor at SNPMMB, says the school is attempting to go a step further and create Indian raga and taal-based music in a global musical language. "Our initiative is to create original Indian tunes rooted in the country's rich musical heritage and legacy," he adds. Dr Gaurav Singh Kushwah, in-charge director of the school, calls Indianizing martial music tradition in India a major initiative. "Our aim is to teach Indian tunes primarily to CAPF and state police bands. We aim to provide trained musicians to security forces who will learn the Indian tunes and notations," he says. The first batch of 40 musicians from Rajasthan Police Central Band is already being trained at the university. RRU officials say that the courses are designed both for in-service musicians and aspiring candidates at multiple levels – from diploma to PhD. Students will be taught Indian and Western musical systems, orchestration, band drill protocols, ceremonial etiquette, and theoretical training. The first initiative for the overhaul will be the formation of the National Music Classification Forum that will attempt to find Indian alternatives for Western bugle calls like Reveille, Last Post, and Retreat.
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
PAC band keeps beating strong with rhythm & legacy
Lucknow: The morning is thick with humidity. Clouds hang low, the air heavy and slow. But inside the 35th Battalion Band Headquarters in Lucknow's Mahanagar, the atmosphere crackles with energy — not from parade commands or marching boots, but from trumpets blaring, drums thundering, and saxophones singing in unison. This is no ordinary music hall. Here, khaki replaces concert black, and every beat is rooted in discipline. Awadhesh Yadav of Bareilly and Madhvendra Kumar of Ghaziabad aren't your typical musicians — they're constables with a call to serve both the nation and the note. "We're learning to command not just rifles, but rhythm," says Awadhesh, pausing between a precision-perfect snare sequence. They are among 10 PAC personnel undergoing intensive training in brass instruments — part of a broader revival drive to modernise PAC bands across battalions. At the heart of this effort is a proud legacy, one that marches back to the post-Independence years. The roots of the PAC band stretch back to Captain Ram Singh Thakuri — the legendary composer of the INA's rousing anthem Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja. Post-Independence, in 1948, he joined the Provincial Armed Constabulary as a Deputy SP with one task: to raise a ceremonial police band. What he built was a living symbol of nationalism. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thị trường có dấu hiệu suy thoái không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Declared the official State Police Band in 1965, it began performing at Raj Bhawan, Republic Day parades, state funerals, and cultural showcases. Even after retirement in 1974, Captain Ram Singh continued mentoring musicians. He was named Emeritus Musician by the UP govt and trained recruits till 2000. He died in 2002. Today, his legacy lives on in bandmaster Vishnu Pratap, who joined the PAC in 1987 and trained directly under the Captain. "We weren't just taught music — we were taught patriotism," says Vishnu, who has led the band at grand events including Prayagraj's Kumbh Mela and global expos in Noida. As part of chief minister Yogi Adityanath's directive, PAC bands are being overhauled — with upgraded instruments, improved training infrastructure, and dedicated performance spaces wherever they are deployed. "We've begun intensive 90-day training sessions for constables from different battalions," says Vishnu. "But mastery takes time — at least three years of consistent monitoring and hard work." A full-fledged brass band has 46 musicians, though compact units of 22 are also fielded. The ensemble features a powerful line-up: trumpets, cornets, clarinets, flugelhorns, saxophones, euphoniums, tubas, French horns, and more. "We have it all — from alto trumpet to baritone horn," Vishnu says. Among those training under him are constables like Sudhir Maurya from Gonda. "It's a privilege to be part of the tradition started by Captain Ram Singh," says Madhvendra. To honour this legacy, a dedicated PAC Band Museum has been set up on the 35th Battalion campus. Soon to be inaugurated, the museum showcases vintage instruments, historic uniforms, handwritten musical scores by Captain Ram Singh, and decades-spanning photographs of performances that stirred both hearts and parades. As Vishnu lifts his baton and the brass band comes alive once more, on Saturday they will perform at Raj Bhawan: "For our men in uniform, music is not just an art — it's a duty. And this duty does not fade," adds Vishnu.
