The uncertainty created by Covid-19 has had far and wide consequences. The artists are amongst those worst hit by the pandemic. Sanskar Bharati, an organisation that works to promote Indian art and culture, recently organised a virtual concert ‘Peer Parai Jaane Re’ to raise funds to support artists battling the rough tides during the pandemic.
Akshay Kumar, Anupam Kher, Kapil Sharma, Kailash Kher, Kumar Vishvaas, and several eminent artists from the field of art, literature, music, and dance such as the likes of Pandit Birju Maharaj, Amjad Ali Khan, Dr Sonal Mansingh, Hariharan, Shankar Mahadevan, Suresh Wadekar, Vasifuddin Dagar, and Anwar Khan, among others participated in the virtual event which was streamed live on Sanskar Bharati’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Famous lyricist Manoj Muntasir and Indian folk singer Malini Awasthi hosted the concert. The artists participating in the concert appealed to the people to donate whole-heartedly to the artists. Campaign president and MP Hans Raj Hans said, “‘Peer Parai Jaane Re’ is the biggest campaign in recent years to help the artists in this Covid crisis and we want to assist the far-flung artists. In this programme and even in future, Sanskar Bharti is committed to the advancement of the art and help the artists.”
The Sanskar Bharati event was watched live by thousands of people. Other artists also used the platform to inspire people to come forward and contribute to the cause. The donations can be made via the Sanskar Bharti website.
The patron board of the campaign includes the legendary Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj, dancer and art scholar and Rajya Sabha MP Dr Sonal Mansingh, eminent sarod player Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, well-known sculptor Ram V. Sutar, Pandit Sajan Mishra, senior journalist Rajat Sharma, Bharatnatyam dancer Dr Saroja Vaidyanathan, and drama writer and director and retired IAS officer D.P. Sinha. Retired IAS officers Shakti Sinha, Bhupendra Kaushik, and Mahendra Gupta have been nominated as treasurers. Advocates Bansuri Swaraj, daughter of former External Affairs Minister Late Sushma Swaraj, and Pragya Agrawal have been appointed as members.