Pune: Seeking to deepen the integration of art and culture into mainstream education, Spic Macay on Friday brought together leading industrialists, academicians and govt officials in Pune for its inaugural city-level advisory board meeting, aimed at expanding the movement’s footprint across schools and colleges.The meeting was chaired by eminent scientist Raghunath Mashelkar and attended by others such as Anand Deshpande, founder of Persistent Systems, former Rajya Sabha member Vandana Chavan, Suhas Diwase, DG Yashada and heads of various educational institutions and subject experts.Mashelkar said that while everybody talks about STEM — science, technology, engineering, and maths, people should be talking about STEAM – science, technology, engineering, art, and maths. “Art includes all kinds of art and culture…. STEM creates competence, whereas STEAM will create a complete human being. STEM will build skilled professionals, but it is STEAM that is going to build character, creativity and civilization,” he said.Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music And Culture Amongst Youth (Spic Macay), which works purely on volunteers, enters its golden jubilee year in 2027. Currently present in over 500 cities across India and chapters worldwide, it organises classical performances and craft workshops.Founder of Spic Macay Kiran Seth said, “We have been working in Pune for over 35 years, covering many schools and colleges. But to make a jump, we need the support of top educationists, industry leaders, govt officials and media. The idea is for universities and schools to institutionalise the activities rather than host a one-off performance,” Seth told TOI on the sidelines of the meeting.Distinguishing Spic Macay from cultural organisations that primarily present performances, Seth said its objective is educational rather than artistic. Seth also stressed that all Spic Macay programmes would continue to remain free, calling it an effort to instil the value of “nishkam seva” or selfless service among young people.He suggested that educational institutions set up Spic Macay heritage clubs and include activities during extracurricular periods. Seth said even the introduction of art as small interventions such as replacing school bells with short pieces of Indian classical music, or playing a raga when children walk into school would create awareness and appreciation of art from a young age.“We don’t require big changes. Even small interventions can create the right environment if school heads and educationists believe these are important,” he said.“Classical music, dance, art, cinema and yoga are only mediums. The aim is to help students become more creative, more sensitive and better at whatever they do, whether it is mathematics, physics or any other discipline,” he said, citing the example of physicist Albert Einstein’s belief that music nurtured creativity.Asked whether performing arts remain confined to more affluent sections because of access, Seth disagreed, saying inspiration matters more than infrastructure. “Once a child is inspired, they will find the opportunity,” he said.Meanwhile, different speakers spoke about helping Spic Macay in terms of funding, or giving platforms or their expertise and time. Suhas Diwase, director general of Yashada, suggested including modules from Spic Macay in the training of bureaucrats, sarpanches, and other policy makers, so that the state thinks about including classical art forms from school level onwards.
