Even the words 'Silk Route' or 'Silk Road' call to mind a tactile experience like touching a Banarasi saree or sipping on a piping hot chai among nomadic shepherds in remote mountains." These words by Hans Utter, who holds a doctorate in Ethnomusicology from Ohio State University and is the winner of 16 national and international awards, take the audience on a nostalgic journey of a bygone era.
The Silk Route represents a journey through time and space interconnecting diverse cultures in an unimaginable fashion, resulting in a potpourri of exotic influences imprinted through permutations and combinations.
The route extended from East Asia all the way to England, from outer Mongolia to Java and Sumatra, from Samarkand to Istanbul, connecting not only East to West, but also urban and nomadic peoples. Utter's deep interest in the Silk Route has been prompted by his study of the language, culture and history of Hindustani music.
He learnt Persian in order to study manuscripts on music written from the 12th century onwards. Subsequently, he studied language in Tajikistan and became fascinated with the parallels between the music systems of Central Asia and those of the Indian sub-continent.
Beginning in 1993, Utter lived in India, studying with some of the great masters of Indian classical music, including Ustad Shujaat Khan, Pt Arvind Parikh, amongst other masters.
Talking about his experience in India, in connection with his lectures (in Delhi at the India International centre), he remarks that though he did not have any time for sight-seeing, his journey through the cities of Delhi, Guwahati and Mumbai were enriching, as he found the spaces interesting and dynamic.
His talks were received with keen interest so much that at times the number of questions led to extension of his lectures by almost an hour! Utter's explanation on the influence of the Silk Route is fascinating when he explains how it had a relatively large impact on Indian culture, especially in the fields of North Indian music and dance forms, as well as languages such as Urdu and the poetry of writers such as Amir Khusrau and Mirza Ghalib.
Did you know that the poetic form of the ghazal originally came from the Arabian Peninsula, but has become a central feature of Indian music and literary culture? There are many other examples, such as the sitar, which developed as a fusion between Indian instruments and the seetar (three strings) found in Central Asia and Turkey.
Vice versa, Indian culture has also influenced many parts of the world through the Silk Route, including the spread of Buddhism. Besides music, how does he feel this important route influenced world cultures ~for example, when applied to languages and costumes? Utter explains, "This route helped to develop various distinct language groups that have common features like Dari, Tajik as well as Urdu, along with various Turkic languages.
Many different styles of dress, fabrics, and types of jewellery became known throughout the world, the influence of which can be seen till today." Like many things in life, what, according to Utter, has been the lessons learnt from this important development in history? He concludes on a philosophical note: "The Silk Route shows us that it is possible to have interactions with various cultures, belief systems and social orders without the destruction of unique local traditions."