Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar denounced moves to divorce music from religion
Movements that seek to drive music away from religion serve neither religion nor God and their purpose is to create barriers between human beings, according to Minister of State for External Affairs, M J Akbar.
"Music is celebrated as a universal language. You do not have to belong to a particular society in order to enjoy the experience of music. One always feels that there is a touch of the divine in music."
Mr Akbar was speaking at a function at the United Nations headquarters celebrating India's 70th Independence Day.
"Those movements which drive music away from religion serve neither religion nor God nor man because they turn religion into something that is arid and sectarian. Their purpose essentially is not to serve the Almighty but the purpose of anti-music people is to drive a wedge between human beings," he said.
Mr Akbar also said that there are "movements among Muslims which attempt this" and he has always opposed such thinking. He also extolled the virtues of music in breaking down barriers among people and religions at an exhibition honouring the life and works of India's Carnatic music legend MS Subbulakshmi.
Oscar-winner and music composer A R Rahman also paid his homage to the legacy of MS Subbulakshmi through his rendition of her songs and also some of his own compositions.
Mr Akbar said any prayer to the Almighty is the highest form of music, be it the azaan or the Islamic call to prayer, the shlokas in the temple, the recitations in the Gurudwara or hymns in the Church.
"The call to prayer in Islam is the azaan and what could be more beautifully musical (than that). Bhajan is music, Shlokas are music, and a hymn is music. M S Subbulakshmi's bhajans are the highest form of music," Mr Akbar said.