Ghazals echo through Safdarjung’s Tomb

In a first, a cultural evening titled Shaam-e-Ghazal was held recently at the Safdarjung Tomb. Singers Prithvi Gandharv and Pratibha Singh Baghel took the stage, performing classic pieces one after another.

The event, organised by the Sabhyata Foundation – a Smarak Sarathi under the ‘Adopt a Heritage 2.0’ initiative – in collaboration with Serendipity Arts, was curated by tabla maestro Bickram Ghosh. Explaining the thought behind Shaam-eGhazal, Ghosh said, “The new generation is showing real interest in ghazals. I wanted to showcase that. It started last year at the Serendipity Festival (Goa), which was a super success, so this time, we brought it to Delhi.

” He also spoke about ghazals getting a new-age feel with the addition of some musical instruments. “Listeners enjoy ragas which is our Indian heritage. We’re carrying that heritage forward with a few upgrades; now a keyboard and guitar are used alongside the harmonium,” noted Ghosh.Preserving a monument and bringing it alive is an act of nation-building: Puneet Dalmia“The idea is to celebrate our monuments and our heritage, and create really engaging experiences for visitors,” Puneet Dalmia, MD & CEO of Dalmia Bharat Ltd and patron of the Sabhyata Foundation, told us as he spoke about the ethos behind events like Shaam-e-Ghazal.

“We go abroad and we see the way they treasure their tiniest of heritage sites. The entire economy of Europe runs on tourism. They celebrate their heritage, their history, and it is something for us to learn too.

We have a 5,000-yearold civilisation, grand architecture, different traditions, different dances, music, art forms and food. We have to preserve our culture,” he emphasised. Dalmia believes that heritage preservation is also a tool for building human connections.

“They carry our stories, our struggles, and our pride,” he reflected. And it was this thought that led the Sabhyata Foundation to the adoption of five monuments, the creation of experiences at the Red Fort complex, the introduction of sound-and-light shows, and new initiatives to make historical sites more accessible to the public. “The quality is like a Broadway show. It’s a walking show, so you don’t just sit in one place, and you feel the fort come alive,” he told us.At the event, Dalmia emphasised the need to preserve our culture, “Our culture and heritage are our real virasat . Culture without care is fragile. Sabhyata and Serendipity Foundation were born from the belief that these treasures survive only if we, as citizens, take custody and invest time, effort, and resources to protect them. Preserving a monument and bringing it alive while celebrating our culture are not acts of nostalgia, but of nation-building.

That is why I believe that each one of us, particularly those who have benefitted most from the opportunities that India has provided, has a sacred responsibility to give back through cultural stewardship.” He urged corporate leaders to consider allocating a part of their CSR budgets towards celebrating the country’s culture and heritage.The Sabhyata Foundation, he said, will continue to partner with corporations and individuals to expand this effort.

“We’re launching Sabhyata memberships so corporates and individuals who are passionate can join in,” he informed. Dalmia also noted that the government has been keen on the revival of monuments. “They want more private participation in reviving cultural assets. It is a part of India’s soft power.

” Monuments are spaces that can inspire new forms of creativity and dialogue: Sunil Kant Munjal“As we progress and use more technology, it is important to stay rooted in our history, to learn from it even as we build our future.

So many of you play such a key role in India’s transformation that I think it is very important to pause every now and then, and remind ourselves where we are coming from and why is this important. We’ve had an absolutely stunning experience with ten years of the Serendipity Arts Festival, 12 years of the foundation, and 27 years since starting a similar performing arts foundation in Ludhiana – the Ludhiana Sanskritik Samagam.

Each time, we’ve tried to push the boundaries to ensure that we cover all art forms,” said Sunil Kant Munjal, founder and patron of Serendipity Arts.Calling Shaam-e-Ghazal “a reflection of that spirit where history meets contemporary practice, and where heritage transforms into a living stage for creativity,” he added, “This collaboration with Sabhyata Foundation demonstrates our belief that monuments are not just remnants of the past, but dynamic spaces that can inspire new forms of creativity and dialogue. In today’s world, culture has never been more important.

It builds empathy in an increasingly divided world, cultivates empathetic leadership, and teaches what education alone cannot – kindness, patience, and the ability to hold multiple perspectives.”