Pune: In an initiative to nurture the musical talents of children from lower-income backgrounds , Adarsh Mitra Mandal has established a music library for students of Karamveer Bhaurao Patil Vidya Mandir and Junior College in Dhankawdi. “While many of these students have excelled in sports like kabaddi, participating in state and national competitions, the lack of infrastructure and equipment has hindered their pursuit of music. This initiative promises to open new avenues for artistic expression,” said Uday Jagtap, president of the mandal.
Since the inauguration of the music library on August 22, as many as 60 students have signed up for the classes taught by Samir Nikam, a music teacher hired by the mandal for a year. “These students come from families that are not well-off and cannot afford to buy musical instruments. They can barely manage the financial burden of paying for their education.
I bought my first guitar when I was in college. Getting such an early start with music, these students have an opportunity to excel,” said Nikam, who has a degree in Indian classical music from NaadBramha Academy in Pune. He said students have interests in varied aspects of music – from playing instruments like the guitar and tabla to vocal training.
“For many of them, music is like therapy. It helps them address their restlessness and improves their focus and attention span,” he said. The library conducts bi-weekly classes — on Wednesdays and Fridays between 3pm and 4 p.