Indian music should be played on planes and in airports, according to the aviation ministry

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), which filed a letter recommending the same a few days ago, has written to Indian airlines and airport operators encouraging them to play Indian music on planes and airports.

The ICCR asked Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on December 23 to encourage Indian music on Indian airlines' flights.

News service According to ANI, aviation ministry joint secretary Usha Padhee wrote a piece of advice to DGCA chief Arun Kumar and Airports Authority of India (AAI) chairman Sanjeev Kumar., "Music played by most airlines across the globe is quintessential of the country to which the airline belongs, for example, Jazz in American airline or Mozart in Austrian Airline and Arab music in an airline from the 

Middle East. But Indian airlines seldom play Indian music in flight, whereas, our music has a rich heritage and culture and it has one of the many things every Indian has a reason for truly proud of it," 

It said that India has a diverse range of traditional music, "Owing to India's vastness and diversity, Indian music encompasses numerous genres in multiple varieties and forms, which include classical music, folk, light vocal, instrumental music, etc."

According to the report, India has a long history that spans millennia and has developed across several geo-locations across the subcontinent. It was mentioned that music in India started as an intrinsic aspect of socio-religious life.

The letter reads, "(Union) aviation ministry is in receipt of a request from ICCR for playing Indian music in aircraft being operated in India and also at airports. It is therefore requested to kindly consider (doing so) following the regulatory requisites," the letter further read.

“It is, therefore, requested to kindly consider playing Indian music in the aircraft being operated in India and at airports following the requisites,” it added.

“...it is extremely unfortunate and even ironic that most airways in India however — both private and government-owned as well as both domestic and International -- seldom, if at all, play Indian music... We hereby ardently request you to look into this matter,” the ICC letter further says.

The ministry claimed it had received a request from the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) to play Indian music on Indian-flagged planes and at airports.

"It is, therefore, requested to kindly consider playing Indian music in the aircraft being operated in India and at airports following the regulatory requisites," the ministry stated.

AAI spokesperson said, "In this period, from September to today, we have paid out Rs 59 crore within the due dates as per the policy of the Airports Authority."

Anu Malik, Kaushal S Inamdar, Malini Awasthi, Shounak Abhisheki, Sanjeev Abhyankar, Manjusha Patil K, Rita Ganguly, and Wasifuddin Dagar were among the prominent artists and musicians who attended the gathering, according to the report.