Carnatic Music and Hinduism...

Carnatic music being played in a temple

I must confess of being oblivious to the controversy surrounding some of the popular Carnatic singers singing compositions by Christian composers praising Christ recently.  It was brought to my notice by a good friend and musician I respect, he mentioned that if someone were to replace Rama with Jesus in the kritis of Sri Thyagaraja, would that be acceptable? I said that would be stupid and an insult to Thyagaraja, one of the greatest bhakthi singers of all times according to me. I couldn't get my friend to share the said songs though, later I realized that this is one of those imagined stretches of fake news circulated through social media. But when I spoke about it at home, better1/2 mentioned that there has been an audio clip being circulated, she found it and played it for me. I was shocked to find that a Hindutva outfit (whose existence I didn't know of) has called singer O.S. Arun and threatened him over phone to ensure that he is not permitted to sing anywhere in Tamilnadu every if he sang any Christian compositions and where the singer pleads that he had already cancelled the programme after the protests came about and that the called should instead try to help him with his charity work. It was unfortunate and abusive phone call and I was struck by how easy it is to call and threaten popular persona and also release a copy of the call in the open as a threat to others. I am writing the below piece as someone who has listened to and grew up with Carnatic music all his life and know and work with a few Carnatic singers. I am writing this in solidarity with their need to have freedom and never buckle before divisive forces.

Does Carnatic Music belong to Hindus? 

Hinduism as represented today is a collection of practices, rituals, beliefs, culture, tradition, etc., of people living in the land region between river Indus, the Himalayas and the Indian Ocean. In encompasses several faith systems, customs and rituals and draws its strength from its respect and acceptance of diversity and plurality. Being an 'Hindu' is recognizing this and living in accordance and respect of this.

morning chants, smells and songs are all part of Indian ritual life

Carnatic Music historically has emerged as a way of singing in the southern part of India that encompasses several composers and singers and who adhere to a certain syntax of composition  for over 350 years or so. 

Carnatic music belongs to this land, so, it perhaps can be said to belong to everyone who lives here. It definitely does not belong to any group representing 'hindutva' which is a political movement that starts with the controlled centralization of a version of the Hindu identity. 

Can other faith systems adopt Carnatic music?

This is akin to asking can people of non-Hindu faith do yoga-asanas. If it benefits humanity, then it should be shared with joy with anyone and everyone anywhere. afterall people from this land said, "shrunuvanti viswe amrutasya putrah!" (listen you world, you are all children of immortal bliss), in Tamil we educate the world, "yaadum oore, yaavarum kelir" (all places are similar to our native one, everyone can listen to our wisdom). Carnatic music technique does not belong to any faith system as such, it belongs to the land. And it didn't grow in a cultural isolation either, much of the solidification of the Carnatic system itself happened during the colonial era and with impact of the colonials.

People of other faith than Hindu tradition have practiced and mastered the technique as well, do they all become 'hindus' now because they can do carnatic music? it is unnecessary. Carnatic music in spirit represents sounds, feelings and sentiments of the people of this land, however, it does not take away anyone else mastering the technique and adopting it to their own faith at all.

But, the Christian faith followers are using Carnatic music to lure Hindus and convert them to their faith, is that acceptable?

Vedanayagam Pillai, one
of the early composers of
Christian music in Carnatic
style. Thanks: Wiki

Prosletysing has been practiced in India since long, this is not an issue to be discussed in this context and the fact that this issue is enjoined to that of a discussion on Carnatic music is the success of the divisive forces. 

But, does it mean conversion of faith is fine?

I would only cite the great and proud Hindu leaders whom I have learnt much about this religion from - Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi. "the message of Upanisads (India) should make a Mohemmden a better Mohameddden and a Christian a better Christian, it is not to convert anyone" exhorted Vivekananda even as he opposed anyone being lured away from the faith of their forefathers. It is the stupidity of faith leaders if they think they can "convert" anyone in India. 

Our social primary identity has always been jati. Most of the social reformers from Buddha, Ramanuja to Ambedkar have all tried to address the inequality and inequity of jati in their own way.  Religion has a never been intimate identity until aggregation of people for mass production took over and newer forms of inequalities were to be established in the country. 

But, is it fine if someone plagiarizes the songs of Saint Thyagaraja and replaces Rama with Jesus?

As someone who grew up listening to the compositions of Thyagaraja and as another Telugu speaking person (just like him) living and owning up to Tamilnadu, I would say that is wrong if it was a direct replacement. But, that doesn't seem to be the case and it is only an exaggeration, so, this question doesn't arise at all. 

On a personal note, I listened to this amazing song of Vedanayagampillai, tuned and rendered by Sanjay Subramaniam sung in Dec 2016 (post Jayalalitha demise period) where both the artist and the listeners enjoyed the wisdom of the words. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyJX4zoYRgg

Shouldn't Carnatic musicians refuse singing music for other faiths that may be used against their faith?

Again, this is where the divisive politics of the discourse seems to be overshadowing common sense. There is no guarantee how any performance or for that matter any transaction will be used by anyone in this day of secret and miniature recordings. An artist if he or she deliberately acts to engage and work with divisive forces, will have to be criticised.  Artists as a rule are creative people and should be given their margins to express their art creatively as long as it doesn't offend the sensibilities of the society. But, what is offensive and what is not is not determined by a bunch of threatening and hate-spewing people in any society. They are divisive and they are to be resisted, period.