PROJECT ON

ISR - INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

BUNTY ROHIRA
ADMISSION NO: HPGD/JL14/1841
SOCIAL CAUSE: BRINGING THE CULTURE OF STREET
PERFORMANCES TO INDIA AND SUPPORTING THE LIVELIHOODS OF
INDEPENDENT ARTISTS

NAME OF THE NGO: "NSPA"

PRIN. L. N. WELINGKAR INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT

DEVELOPMENT & RESEARCH

NOVEMBER 2015

INDEX

Sr. No.

Particulars

About NSPA

What NSPA Does

The NSPA Story

NSPA Philosophy

Articles

Outreach

Team NSPA

Artists

NSPA Sponsor

10

Supporters & Sponsored by

11

People Speak

12

Conclusion

13

Certificate of committee member

of NSPA

14

Bibliography
2

About NSPA
"Stuff your eyes with wonder, he said, live as if you'd drop dead in ten seconds. See the world.
It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories."
- Ray Bradbury
The Natural Streets for Performing Arts (NSPA Foundation) is a non-profit initiative dedicated to
bringing the culture of street performances to India, and supporting the livelihoods of
independent artists - and helping the common man rediscover public spaces and "stuff their
eyes with wonder".
The world of performing arts - music, dance, theatre - has always been about just two entities the performer and the audience. By re-imagining spaces like railway stations, park and gardens,
seaside promenades, street markets and bazaars, schools, libraries and cafes, the NSPA
attempts to give the street performer and the community a platform to express themselves and
celebrate one another. Treating the community to performances and to workshops (as part of
our Art Literacy mission) will result in an increased appreciation for the arts.
The organisation was founded in the October of 2012 in Mumbai, and did debut performance at
Churchgate Station with folk street musicians, who received the astonishment and accolades of
the commuters and pedestrians! They now perform at over a dozen public venues in Mumbai including the Carter Road Amphi theatre, Mumbai Metro stations, and several parks and organic
farmers' markets - for more than 50 hours a week!
Their mission is to discover new artists - may they be musicians, dancers, or theatre artists,
among others - and get their audiences to discover new performances. They're also able to
contribute to the livelihoods of their resident artists, and thus encourage their talents and future
artistic pursuits.
One can stay updated about upcoming street performances from their Facebook page, and one
can also check out their live performance videos on internet. They are soon starting NSPA
projects in Goa and Delhi as well.

What NSPA Does

Street Performances
Mumbais streets are as vibrant, chaotic and busy as the people that reside here. Teeming with
vehicles, pedestrians, hawkers and shops, these potholed pathways bustle with activity,
tirelessly, unendingly. The NSPA adds one more component to this lively mix Street
Performances. Performing on the streets, or busking, has been around for generations as the
streets make for excellent performance arenas. Not only do they offer lots of exposure to artists,
they also help bring art to the public.
The NSPA strives to infuse Mumbais streets with enriching and spirited performances by
encouraging independent artists to perform at public venues like promenades, parks, railway
stations, malls, etc. Eager to be a part of this program? Well, all you need to do is stop by and
give them a listen! Their artists perform frequently at Carter Road, Pushpa Narsee Park, Sai
Baba Park and in Metro Stations. So, if you happen to be in the area, gather round these artists
and enjoy their soothing, melodious performances.

Street Performance Venues

S.No.

Venue

Days

Time

Equal Streets

Sundays

8 - 10 pm

Carter Road

Tuesdays and Fridays

6 - 8 pm

Andheri Metro Station

Fridays

6 - 8 pm

Versova Metro Station

Saturdays

6 - 8 pm

Pushpa Narsee Park

Saturdays and Sundays

5:30 - 7:30 pm

Sai Baba Park

Saturdays and Sundays

6 - 8 pm

Farmers Market

Sundays

10 - 1 pm

Bhau Daji Lad Museum

First and Third Sundays

4 - 6 pm

Ghatkopar Metro Station

Sundays

6 - 8 pm

Art Literacy
NSPA hope to contribute towards a larger Art consciousness in society, fostering a greater
societal ownership and educated appreciation of our Arts heritage and diversity and the larger
Artist community. In line with this idea is NSPAs Art Literacy Mission. The program currently
consists of three primary interventions with its scope limited to children up to the age of 16 years
across public and private schools and city neighbourhoods. The basic methodology comprises
the use of interactive and experiential techniques to impart Art education complementary with
the prevalent school curriculum.
The interventions range from distribution of simple, portable and economical instruments
sourced from local artisans to students already undergoing some sort of musical training,
interactive performances by independent Artists to more in-depth workshops where Artists
initiate their audiences to the context and contours of their Art form and practice. Each artist
through his/her experience of teaching young children engages them in a conversation through
which diverse Art forms are taught, performed and an appreciation of Art gradually created and
nurtured.
They do Art Literacy at the following Venues
1> G K Municipal School
2> SNEHA Dharavi
3> Sundatta High School
4> S G Barve School
5> Kranti NGO, Marol Naka

Community Art Programme

NSPAs Community Art Programme is a COLLABORATIVE Art enterprise with the objective of
enhancing community-based engagement, expression and representation. Such engagement is
centered in the neighbourhood common/public spaces which facilitate a site of unrestricted,
open interaction and dissemination of renewed social norms. The programme was piloted in the
summer of 2014 in a neighbourhood in the Western Suburbs of Mumbai taking the form of a
collaborative Community Arts Camp. The camp held over a fortnight was curated to be an
entirely indigenous project roping in residents, enterprises and local associations of the
community to organise, conduct, contribute and participate in the Camp. Events were designed
to cater to all age groups and facilitate wholesome interaction across social divisions. The
consequent familiarities engendered in the neighbourhood then pave the way for deeper Art
engagements.
Modern cities today increasingly witness limited social interaction and mobility of individuals
beyond their primary vicinities of inhabitation and workspace, owing to limited leisure time and
stratification of spaces along socio-economic lines. Consequently, most local Arts and Cultural
expression occur within the limited social spaces of these segregations. NSPA seeks to
engender such Art-based engagement programmes within urban neighbourhoods that will foster
a Culture of Commons triggering an inclusivist discourse in the community. Centering such
engagement at the neighbourhood common spaces will facilitate a site of open interaction and
dissemination of renewed social norms. Community Art refers to Art of, by and for the
Community enhancing community-based collaboration, expression and representation. Thus,
we hope to work towards the building of an eclectic social fabric based on the celebration of
diversity, the commons, artistic traditions- both local and migrant, oral histories, Arts-based
learning and interactions.

Stage Performances
Nothing like performing in front of a large, appreciative and euphoric audience, right? The NSPA
helps propel independent artists into the limelight by setting up performances at popular cultural
festivals, concerts and award ceremonies. In the past, NSPA artists have performed at
Indikaleido, AmeriCares India Foundations Spirit of Humanity Awards, Kala Ghoda Arts
Festival as well as in several cafes that dot the city. This helps their artists gain the exposure
they require as well as expose people to talented and harmonious live performances. Their
artists light up the stage with their captivating compositions and well-rehearsed acts. If you
happen to attend an event our artists are performing at, hang around to witness firsthand their
scintillating, flawless performances.

Artist Trainings & Development

Talent can run through ones veins, but for it to result in greatness, it needs to be nurtured and
honed. After all, its the hands of an experienced potter that transform lumps of clay into
beautiful pots. NSPA understands this and hence, do their best to sharpen and refine the talents
of our gifted artists. After gauging their abilities, we pinpoint areas that need to be worked upon
and then rope in professional instructors to train and guide them. By availing of this training,
their artists are slowly, but surely, transformed into serious, seasoned professionals who strive
to deliver the best, and only the best, every time.
They are always on the lookout for professionals who are willing to share their knowledge with
upcoming artists.
7

Dont forget the old adage, Knowledge shared is knowledge gained!

The NSPA Story

In the beginning, Art was everywhere - on the streets, on stage, part of peoples homes and
lives. Street performers across diverse genres lit up many a by-lane and junction in Mumbais
bustling street life. However, over the decades, these dynamic performers gradually
disappeared off the street corners. One may relive this joy, if at all, selectively on trips abroad to
major cities of the world that continue to nurture such artists and thriving cultures of street art.
NSPA is an attempt at rekindling this vanishing culture across the frenzied roads of India. Born
out of the initiative of our founder Ajit Dayal, NSPA was first conceived when Ajit found no
buyers for his idea of taking Art to the Streets. Two young music aficionados joined hands
temporarily with Ajit and first pitched the idea to the Western Railways, Mumbai. Contrary to
popular perception, the Railways were most enthusiastic and suggested a pilot run to test the
idea.

Pilot and Launch

Accordingly, NSPA made a guest appearance at Churchgate Station, Mumbai on a cheery

weekday evening on June 27, 2012 between 5 and 6 pm hosting two brief musical
performances. Jishnu Short-round Guha, a passionate busker (street performer) since his
student days in England, opened with Alternative Folk-Rock followed by Suresh Kala presenting
rustic Uttaranchali Folk melodies. They were greeted by friendly and enthusiastic audiences
who lingered on post-performance to interact with the artists and organizers.
This reassuring response encouraged both the railways and the team to go back to the drawing
board and embark this time on a comprehensive performance plan to drive the initiative ahead.
In came a passionate new team who retreated into a cubby hole emerging two months later to
unveil NSPA on the buzzing streets of Mumbai in October 2012. Twelve enterprising artists

across musical genres took a leap of faith with us propelling NSPAs journey to soaring heights
since the very debut.
NSPA was inundated by the press and commuters in their generous appreciation. We began
with three stations on the Western Rail Network - Churchgate, Bandraand Borivali - performing
three days of music across a week. Within a month of their launch, NSPA artists began
receiving invitations to perform on prestigious stages across the city including Indikaliedo
Festival, BMW Guggenheim Lab, TedX Masala and Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, 2013 to name a
few.
With the arrival of spring, NSPA blossomed on the Central Rail Network introducing
performances at CST, Dadar and Vashi stations as well as Horniman Circle Gardens at Fort,
Mumbai. Nine months down the line, NSPA is twenty-two artists strong performing 23 hours of
music a week, Monday-Saturday across 5 locations in the city. As the monsoons beckon, NSPA
is challenged to renegotiate its performances with the public spaces of the city and continue its
flight into a new phase of our performance calendar.

NSPA Philosophy
Art for All
Public spaces are accessible, inclusive and secular platforms in the urban landscape. They
provide the Arts a direct interface with people facilitating an open and stimulating interaction,
creating a space of fulfilment and abandon, allowing one to stand still in time watching an art
unfold from its cocoon. It not only takes Art directly to the people, exposing them to different art
forms, it also expands the horizons of the artists' visibility and appreciation. The need of the
hour is to reclaim these public spaces for Art, for artists and for audiences, where each
interprets the space as they desire. Weaving Performing Arts into the daily life of a city
rejuvenates it, adding to its overall vibrancy and energy. A weary commuter and lone artist greet
each other at this crossroad, turning the street space into an eclectic and pulsating arena of
synergy.
9

All for Artists

The laborious process of creating and presenting one's Art requires constant reception and
reaction from the community the artist functions in. While a wide majority of artists are likely to
pursue their Art alongside a more viable source of income through a 'stable job', a wide variety
of independent artists consciously remain outside the domain of mainstream artistic production
and popular access. NSPA, as a non-profit initiative, seeks to support the livelihoods of
independent artists on behalf of the community. Performers with NSPA will receive a fixed
remuneration for their performances and a public platform that breaks down barriers between
artists and the community.
In a globalised world, a long gestation period of training for artists coupled with paucity of time
amongst audiences has pushed indigenous art forms onto the fringes and some even out of
existence. NSPA hopes to seek out, support and promote artists pursuing dying, traditional and
folk Arts and connecting them with new and eager audiences. The revivalist tone of NSPA hopes
to see artists embracing their Art and audiences embracing the artists. The dialogue ensuing
from this initiative will ensure that a public place becomes a melting pot for the artist and his
audience. These performances will see the sole of the commuter tap to the soul and rhythm of
the artists.

10

Articles

11

Flowers in filth: Capital's forgotten street performers

The Katputli Colony in West Delhi's Shadipur slums is one of the biggest hubs of street
performers in the country with street musicians, magicians, acrobats, puppeteers, folk singers,
dancers, jugglers and even tightrope walkers.Only that these impoverished communities lament
theirneglected and marginalized state in the face of generous patronage doled out to street
performers the world over.

Streets Performers' Reality show in Kerala

A Malayalam TV programme on street singers provides a counterpoint to mainstream reality
shows.The 100-episode VKC Street Light, produced by Sudheer's News Value agency, features
17 street singersall of whom will get a roof over their heads and an address- a necessary
component for a sense of belonging in the world. FOOTWEARmanufacturer VKC group,
founded by former Communist Party of India (Marxist) legislator V.K.C. MammedKoya, meets
the production cost of the programme and Calicut Landmark Builders has offered to construct
the houses. ..

Singing in borrowed spaces

Navin Thomas tells the tale of people singing in and around the local trains through a Sound
Show in a gallery.

Outreach
NSPA, in taking Art to the people and supporting the livelihoods of artists, hopes to contribute
towards a greater Art consciousness in our society; towards a greater societal ownership and
appreciation of our Arts heritage and diversity as well as the artist community on the whole.
In keeping with this view, NSPA contributed in its own little way towards the National Centre for
Performing Arts (NCPA)s Outreach effort, sponsored by Quantum Mutual fund, to extend Music
Education to three city schools in Mumbai. NSPA distributed 120 flutes to the students of two of
the schools under this programme - CASE School for differently-abled children, Haji Ali and
Balak Vrinda Education Society Sundatta High School, Grant Road- as part of the Outreach
effort
Mohd Juggan Ansari, a self-taught flautist and flute-maker, often seen rendering mellifluous
harmonies along the bylanes of Kala Ghoda, Mumbai, made and distributed the flutes to the
students. He gave the students a short demonstration on how to play a flute including the 7
basic notes of music and simple easy-to-learn tunes.

12

The students enjoyed themselves immensely and were soon showing off their comfort with the
flutes, some of them actually carrying an entire tune within no time at all! We must admit the
kids picked up on the mechanics of the flute much faster and better than some of us trained
musicians on the NSPA team who stood blowing into our flutes rather sheepishly.

Team NSPA
Ajit Dayal || Founder
NSPA has evolved out of the vision of our founder Ajit Dayal, best known as the founder of
Equity master, Personal FN and Quantum Mutual fund. Recalling his childhood days of watching
street performers in Mumbai city and noting how street performers continue to brighten the lives
of residents of cities like London and Paris, Ajit wished to "rekindle an atmosphere of street
performances in urban India (starting with Mumbai) that aims to bring some joy to the lives of
millions as they go about their daily commute".

13

Ajit has championed the need for India opening its capital markets to international investors
since 1984 eight years before the Foreign Institutional Investor (FII) rules were announced.
He is the founder of Quantum Asset Management Company and Equity master, Ajit spends
most of his time with Quantum AMC, convincing serious, long-term investors to invest in the
Quantum Long Term Equity Fund.
He has been writing articles on investing not only in Global markets, but also in the Indian
Markets and Indian Real Estate.
He is also a strong believer in the ease and simplicity of long term investments. Ajits views are
chronicled in a series of articles and columns that he has written over the years for Business
India, www.equitymaster.com and www.personalfn.com.

Jessica Noronha || Project Co-ordinator

If one didn't know her well, her outwardly strict and slightly-bossy behavior could easily make
the bravest of souls quake and quiver. But, once you get to know her, her better qualities begin
to shine through, and we must say, she has many of these. Highly organized, duty conscious
and goal-driven, she pushes, motivates (and sometimes scares) the team into producing good,
timely results. As Project Head of NSPA, she has much riding on her shoulders, yet manages to
deal with her laundry list of duties with poise and enthusiasm. Not one to desert a drowning
man, she resolutely stands by her team. On the other hand, being someone who would be the
first to scream at a man for voluntarily jumping in without a float, she tolerates no nonsense or
excuses from team members or artists. However, she should not be mistaken for a heartless
taskmaster, because beneath that tough exterior, one finds a patient, understanding,
encouraging and warm-hearted person who is always willing to lend a helping hand or a
listening ear to those in need.

Anthony Noronha || Performance Associate

The 'Amitabh Bachchan' of NSPA team, (only because of his height) on meeting him for the first
he might come across as being a reticent, stern person, devoid of any inclination to laugh at
jokes. Sit next to him for a week and this perspective will zapped to smithereens! He is, hands
down, the funniest person in the team. (And the best part is that he cracks the funniest jokes
with an almost poker straight face!) Thanks to his one-liners, the team is always in splits. He is
also one of the calmest people in the team and this one of the key reasons why he excels at his
job as Performance Associate. Where someone with a quicker temper would probably explode,
14

Anthony handles tiresome and painstaking tasks like scheduling artists, billing and spot checks
with an impressive amount of patience and calmness. Another person who has worked with the
NSPA right from the organization's early days, he has a great understanding of NSPA's past and
this helps him put in directed efforts towards building NSPA's future.

Anthony DCosta || Performance Associate

This 'Man with a Million Shoes' is one of the most comical members in the team. (We've almost
lost count of the number of shoes he actually possess) An honest and ardent worshiper of good
music, and a fairly good guitarist himself, his always-up-to-date playlist is what the team relies
on for its daily supply of good music. His innate liking for music motivated him to join the NSPA
as a Performance Associate. From spot checks, to artist management to pitching for venues, he
efficiently and tirelessly does his bit to help NSPA grow and achieve its key objectives. One of
his most striking qualities, however, remains his witty sense of humor and sunny personality.
Not only does he keep the team in splits with his witty (sometimes disgusting) quips, but this
also makes him an incredibly fun person to chat with. That's probably why managing people is
never a big deal for him and he effortlessly manages to make the most introverted artist feel at
ease and the most agitated clients re-think their anger!

Satish Chauhan || Software Developer

Watching this software developer at work can be a little scary. Gaping at the screen with almost
unseeing eyes, one hears muffled whispering escape from his lips. This might make you wonder
whether a particularly complex code has sent him into an irrevocable trance, but no, that is not
the case, for the truth is that he merely likes to chat with his software, computer and a host of
other inanimate things. Yes, that's why it's scary to watch him work. Jokes aside, Satish is one
of the most dedicated employees in NSPA. Motivated and hardworking, this solution-seeker is
always on the lookout for new ways to make the NSPA website user-friendly and attractive. A
15

punctual person himself, deadlines are sacred to him and he sees to it that some of this timeconsciousness rubs off onto team members as well. Having been with NSPA almost from its
inception, he possesses immense knowledge about NSPA activities. This makes him our go-to
guy for any NSPA-related information, and of course, undying fodder for our jokes!

Nirman Chowdhury || Cinematographer

Don't let his more casual than usual dressing sense and perpetually dreamy look fool you into
doubting his professional capabilities. Armed with a camera and his imagination, he will wow
you with his perceptive captures. However, his talent doesn't only lie in capturing aesthetically
pleasing photographs and videos, for gifted with an artistic eye and a creative hand, his self
thought-up sketches and designs are equally captivating, rife with intelligent cultural references
and a sly sense of humor. He also has a smart, bordering on cheeky, way with words that make
his written-on-a-whim pieces interesting to mull over. It can be difficult to spot him sometimes,
mostly because he's tucked away in a strategic corner, filming the best angles and also,
because he can be really quiet, but if you do spot him at one of our venues, go over and say hi,
especially if you're a girl.

Asheen Anoop || Cinematographer

Tall, dark and handsome, this man of few words makes the statement 'A man of few words' an
understatement. The youngest member on the team, Asheen works part-time with the NSPA as
a Photographer & Cinematographer. Having reached that confusing crossroad that confronts
almost every creative soul - whether to study for love or for money he decided to take time off
to mull over this weighty question, and in the meantime, busy himself in doing things he loves.

16

Artists
Abhishek Chapke
Pop and Fusion
Gifted with a striking and exuberant demeanor, this musician is a multifaceted personality.
Trained under Ustaad Maqbool Hussain Khan of the Rampur Sahaswan Gharana, he performs
now as a soloist. This Vocalist-Composer-Lyricist-Guitarist is a regular performer at several
music events across the city.
A winner of innumerable awards at festivals and competitions, Abhisshek feels immense
passion for composition and is constantly seen in his reverie lost in the world of musical notes
and melodies. Constantly reinventing himself, the idea of interacting with his audiences at public
spaces thrills him. He is seen at the NSPA performances charming the audiences with his
original compositions in multiple genres like Fusion and Indie-Pop.

Achchhai Pandey
Uttarbartiya Folk
His diminutive stature notwithstanding, Achchhai Pandey is a powerhouse performer adored by
street audiences of Mumbai city. He performs traditional Uttar Pradeshi and Bhojpuri folk festive
classics seamlessly juxtaposed with original compositions, inspired by contemporary subjects.
Accompanied by Folk rhythmist Avinash S. Lamba on the Dholak, this duo sets a rustic
atmosphere to any stage.

17

Ankit Rathore
Blues & Free Style Music
Ankit Rathore is a musician from Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. Having graduated from IIT Bombay in
2015 and then, taking up a job as a physics entrance exam coach in an institute, his
professional path seems strangely at odds with his passion. Ankit enjoys playing the harmonica
and has been playing it for more than 6 years. He discovered this instrument by accident, but
fell in love with it instantly. Most people couldn't understand his interest in the harmonica and
would often advise him to pick another, more popular instrument. But, his interest in the
harmonica never wayned. His quest for honing his skills led him to Mr. Dinesh Sharma and then,
Mr. Harish Verma, a maestro of harmonica, to master various playing techniques. After moving
to Bombay, he received training from Mr. Amrit Kapoor, guitarist of Agnya band. His run-in with
Floyd Fernandes sparked his interest in jazz and blues music and since then, he has become
an avid fan of this genre. It also opened his eyes to a new, improvisational style of playing,
which involves going on stage and playing whatever rhythms seems right instead of performing
a pre-prepared piece. He calls this 'music of the moment.'

Avinash S. Lamba
Dholak Player
Music, for Avinash Lamba, is the compass that guides him through life. Born into a family of
musicians through the generations, it was no surprise that a young prodigy was in the making.
Dabbling in multi percussion instruments like the Tabla, Dholak and Side rhythm under the
tutelage of his father, Satish Lamba , Eknath Pimple,Vivek Kulkarni and Sadanand Nanipali,
Avinash had a well-received debut . Currently, a full time accompanying artist, Avinash has to
his credit several students who he has single handedly trained and prepared for competitive
music forums, which according to him is the best satisfaction a music practitioner and teacher
can experience.

18

Dhammrakshit Randive
Marathi Folk
Dhammrakshit, better known as Dhamma, hails from Satara, Maharashtra. Dhamma grew up in
a musical atmosphere, his father Shaahir Srirang Randive a well-known exponent of the Marathi
folk form Shaahiri (a form of lyrical story-telling performed in verse). Dhamma excelled in the art
form under his father's tutelage making his debut at the young age of ten on All India Radio
(AIR)'s Aakashwani, winning State-level Shaahiri competitions and most recently having
performed at Mumbai Doordarshan's Lok Rang show. Dhamma imbibed the progressive social
values that his father championed in his Shaahiri renditions talking about the issues of
inequality, exploitation and citizenship among others. Holding a Bachelors in Social Work and
Diploma in Performing Folk Art from the Maharashtra Lok Kala Akademi, Dhamma seeks to
bring about Social Change through Art'.
His gentle and tranquil disposition notwithstanding, Dhamma can energise the most weary of
audiences with his powerhouse vocals. His music carries the scent of the soil of his land and his
message, the stark reality of that land's struggles. Currently volunteering with Shramik
Muktiwadi Yuva Sanghatna and composing music independently, Dhamma sings not as much to
enthrall or entertain but to engage with his listeners and with society at large.

19

Folk Masti
Folk Fusion
Folk Masti is a 4 piece folk/fusion band from Mumbai. A Fusion quartet combining folk music
with western elements and influenced by folk rock bands like The Raghu Dixit Project, Indian
Ocean & similar artists.
The band's compositions convey positive messages to people and also breathe life into the
culture of folk music. Recently, this band was ranked 28th in the 'Sennheiser Top 50 emerging
bands of India' contest, a contest that was judged by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy & Salim-Sulaiman.
Folk Masti's first official music video "Aamchi Mumbai" released on Pepsi Mtv Indies in Dec'14.
This song pays tribute to the city the band members live in Mumbai- and also speaks about
coping with everyday life. It recently got featured on the web radio channel of
Planetradiocity.com.
The four musicians that make up this band are:
Mayur (vocals) - Hails from Srinagar, Rajasthan. Although an IT engineer by qualification, his
passion for music motivated him to pursue a career in music. He has always had a passion for
singing and this led him to taking part in and winning several singing competitions at the state
and national level. Having been a part of a rock band during his college days, he felt the urge to
create, once again, the magic of music by joining another band this time it was Folk Masti!
Vipul Panchal (Vocals & Guitar) - By profession, an Engineer, but by choice, a musician, he
writes and composes songs for the band. He is also the founder of the band. He is a Grade 3
holder in acoustic guitar from Trinity College, London & is preparing for higher grades. He draws
inspiration from musicians like Sushmit Sen, Raghu Dixit and A.R. Rahman.
Sachin Guldagde (Keys) - He is Grade 5 holder in Piano from Trinity College, London. He
arranges song compositions in the band. Inspired by Bollywood's legendary musicians, he took
to learning the keyboard in 2007 and has since, never looked back. After joining the band Folk
Masti, he began to appreciate folk music and today, he enjoys playing it.
Roshan Aade (Rhythms & Percussion) - He is a grade 4 holder in Tabla playing and is studying
for further grades. Having been gifted a tabla at the age of 9, his quest to master this instrument
begun back then, as a child. A multi-percussionist, he plays several instruments like the Dholak,
Dholaki, Djembe, Octopad, Duff, Congo & many others. Since he plays several instruments
simultaneously, he draws a lot of attention and applause during live shows. He inspired by the
legendary musician Ustad Zakir Hussain.

20

Gladson Peter
Singer-Songwriter/Multi-Instrumentalist
Gladson Peter is a multi-instrumentalist from Mumbai. He started playing music by the age of 3
and today he plays the Drums, Piano and Ukulele with effortless ease. Not one to confine his
talents to a particular genre, he enjoys experimenting with his music and has hence, tried his
hand and talents at various genres. He is also a singer/songwriter, composer, arranger and
music programmer. He has trained choirs and worked as a music conductor as well.
Additionally, he has trained a capella groups. His a capella team is known as 'AKHAYPELLA.'
He has played with multiple bands, 'Zion Alive' and 'Cross Bred' being among them. One of his
most memorable COLLABORATIONS was 'UKE-BOX' which featured a Ukulele-Beatboxing
duet.

Heloise Saldanha
Goan Folk
This young vivacious Vocalist brings with her the folk sounds from Goa. Known for her upbeat
renditions and soulful melodies, Heloise can bring life to any performance. She remembers a
childhood of waking up to Goan folk songs in her fathers voice every morning. In her growing
years, she picked up Manglorian folk songs from her grandmother. Her folk songs are an
eclectic mix of songs of celebration as well as songs dotting the countryside of Mangalore.
Heloise thus carries a legacy of folk music with her each time she performs.
21

Jazba_old
Street Play, Theater
This 9-member strong group is a passionate bunch, dedicated to bringing about a change in
society with their insightful and moving street plays. To get their message across, they combine
strong scripts with passionate enactments. Dedicated to making their plays relatable and easy
to understand, they keep their plots straight, simple and lively. They also pick topical themes like
violence against women, corruption, domestic violence and discrimination to impart social
messages that inspire change. Their dedication to theatre played a big role in deciding upon the
name Jazba which means to put your all into something.

K K Singh
Dholak Player
Born to a family of eight in Samastipur, Bihar, Krishna Kant Singh's tryst with the Tabla and
music itself seems almost like an accident of fate. Enchanted by his elder brother's mastery of
the Dholak, he would keep himself occupied creating beats on modest tabletops. However, it
wasn't until the final year of school in 1984 when an urge to leave a mark by performing
something' at the school annual function found him at the doorstep of tabla guru Pandit
Ramnaresh Roy in search of a Dholak to borrow. He, thus, started training at the age of 17 and
went on to achieve Tabla Prabhakar from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad.

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A decade later in 1995, KK Singh stormed out of his house in fury on receiving a severe
dressing down from his family for having failed the State Police Services entrance exam.
Thereafter, his arrival in Mumbai would also mark his commitment to music as a full time career
option. Singh has now been an accompanying artist with Bharti Vidya Bhavan for nearly a
decade and half.

Kailas Jadhav
Hindustani Percussion
Kailash Jadhav is a masterful percussionist and has received training for over 20 years. He
started learning music under Pandit Gurunath Jaripatke at the age of 10 and started playing the
drums in orchestras from 2000. He is a multi-percussionist and can play the Dholak, Tabla,
Djembe and Drums. His talent and dedication has taken him all over the world where he has
performed in several shows and concerts. Kailash believes in the concept and vision of NSPA
because he believes that performing at public places and on streets helps you get to know your
strengths and weakness and also helps you derive honest feedback.

Kaustubh Vajpayee
Sufi Rock
A family who sings together stays together. Music has always been a part of Kaustubhs life. He
comes from a family of musicians, his prime mentor being his father, a professional vocalist from
Gwalior.
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Kaustubh has never been the type to flaunt it but his talent has always been unmistakable to
those who have heard him perform. It was only until he debuted at a local theatre as a
freelancing artist that he realized his full potential.
Juggling a full-time corporate career, Kaustubh finds the perfect artistic release in NSPAs
performances. He was inspired to pursue his talent and introduced to NSPA by his good friend
and now accompanist on the Dholak, Avinash Lamba.
The duo can be found mesmerizing crowds at Farmers MARKET on the weekends and Virar
railway station during the week.

Keni Joseph Sebastian

Pop, Rock, Light Fusion & Beatboxing
Hailing from Dombivli, this engineering student does a lot more than solve complex equations
and mathematical problems. Bursting with talent and energy, he regales people with his
beatboxing as well as guitar, harmonica and flute-playing skills. Fluent in many languages, he
can sing Hindi, Punjabi and English songs with as much ease as he sings Malyalam and Tamil
songs. A jolly mallu himself, he has taken upon his shoulders the mission of bringing South
Indian music into mainstream listening, because, he believes that If Mumbaikars can fall madly
in love with the very South Indian Appam, Masal Dosa, Mendu Vada and Idli Sambhar, it wont
be long before they find themselves enraptured by thumbing, jumbing South Indian melodies!
Yenna Rascala, Mind it!

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Manoj Pandya
All Percussion
Hailing from Ludhiana district of Punjab, Manoj Pandya is Manoj Sharmas childhood friend and
colleague. Along with his friend Manoj Sharma, they were the first people to introduce Saurabh
to Music and have accompanied him ever since. Manoj Pandya is a dholak player who has
trained under the famous percussionist Ramakant Mapsekar. Both veterans in the field of Music,
Manoj Sharma and Manoj Pandya are multi percussionists who form the backbone of their
band and are the foundation upon which Saurabhs melodious vocals emerges and flourishes.

Manoj Sharma
Dholak Player
Manoj Sharma is Saurabh Sharmas uncle, mentor and guide . Along with his friend Manoj
Pandya, they were the first people to introduce Saurabh to Music and have accompanied him
ever since. Manoj Sharma is a Tabla player who has trained under the famous Tabla Maestro Pt.
Ramakant Mapsekar. Alongwith Manoj Pandya and Saurabh Sharma , he performs on the
NSPA stage with the desire to bring their music to people and through their music they wish to
bring a smile to the commuters face.

MH01 (Mayur & Harsh)

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Sufi & Pop Fusion

MH01 is a two-piece acoustic band formed by the coming together of two talented musicians
Mayur & Harsh. Mayur, the vocalist, hails from Srinagar, Rajasthan. Although an IT engineer by
qualification, his passion for music motivated him to pursue a career in music. He has always
had a passion for singing and this led him to take part in and win several singing competitions at
the state and national level. Having been a part of a rock band during his college days, he felt
the urge to create, once again, the magic of music by forming another band. This time he
teamed up with Harrshvardhan Pathak, a talented guitarist, to create the band MH01. MH01
likes to experiment with various genres and hence, perform Sufi, fusion, folk and even classical
songs. These musicians are obsessive about creating good music and are always on the
lookout for COLLABORATION opportunities and gigs.

Naatakwaale
Street Play, Theater
Founded by the alumnus of University of Delhi, an aspiring actor who received training in
Dramatic Arts at the Bhartendu Natya Academy (Lucknow), this group came into existence on
the 1st of November, 2013. Debanshu Shekhar, Ashwani Kumar, Suranjeet Kumar, Shashank
Shankhdhar and Maya are the five talented youngsters who make up this group. Naatakwaale,
as the name suggests, is what they are and where they belong. A group of young and vibrant
theatre artists, their dream is to make theatre a part of everyones life, in whichever way
possible. Primarily into street plays, this group also explores other theatre formats like supper
theatre, theatre in celebrations, stage plays, etc and conducts workshops in schools and
colleges.

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Natya Kiran Manch

Mime, Theater
Set up in 2007, this theatre group has performed extensively in various regions of India,
especially in Mumbai and Delhi. This has helped them gain immense experience and this is
reflected in the quality of their work. The troop performs under the guidance of Padamshree
Niranjan Goswami, NSD professor and Asian Women Theatre director, Shri Suresh Bhardwaj.
They perform street plays, stage plays and mime acts.

Nikhil Nair
Base Guitarist
Nikhil Nair is the bass guitarist and bongo player in the band, Promiseland comprising of Nazar
Bukhari and Kevin Sissoko. What started off not more than a year ago, as three friends coming
together to experiment with their favourite songs, is now an Alternative (acoustic) rock project.
Nikhil is a shy and reticent young musician who comes alive on stage when he is playing with
his band. The bands playlist includes a few originals and covers of songs by various artists.
Promiseland now COLLABORATES with eclectic musicians and bands across the city to
explore different genres and expand the boundaries of their creativity. Their past collaborations
have resulted in a Hard Rock band called After Promised Land and Time Travel which
performs at festivals in Mumbai and Pune and recently debuted at Blue Frog, Mumbai.

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Rahul Bakshi
Hindustani Classical Percussionist
Born in Belgaum and raised in Goa, Rahul is somewhat of a music prodigy. Rahul was all of one
year old when his musical talent spilled onto kitchen pots and pans creating a pandemonium in
his house. If only to manage the sound levels at home, Rahul's father handed him a dholki.
Within six months, at the age of just one and a half years, he was already playing the first basic
taal of any Hindustani Classical student- Teental' taught to him by his cousin. Soon his parents
registered him for Tabla classes recognizing his talent for music. Rahul started training under
Shri Mahesh Shetye, disciple of Talyogi Pt. Shri Suresh Talwalkar in Goa. He has since shifted
base to Mumbai and has been training under the renowned Pt. Shri Satyajit Talwalkar.
Rahul remains the solitary soldier of his family that continues the legacy of his musician
grandfather late Pt. Shri Vasant Manerikar who was a well-known Marathi folk exponent in Goa.
At present, Rahul performs as a freelance Tabla player in Mumbai city and is particularly
recognized as one of the best of his league in Vasai Taluka. His genres include Hindustani
Classical style, Sugam Sangeet as well as Fusion. Off late, Rahul has also started jamming with
metal rock and jazz bands as well as folk musicians.

Rahul Vinod Solanki

Sufi Rock
Blessed with a powerful, rich voice, Rahul infuses a soulful Sufi touch to every song he sings.
Lead singer of the Sufi rock band RAM-Trio, he enjoys singing both Sufi and Fusion songs. The
band was formed in May 2014 and has since been making a name for itself in the indie music
scene. The objective of the band is a noble one, to unite people coming from different
backgrounds. They find a metaphor for their message in Fusion music, which mixes two or more
styles to create something unique and inspiring.

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Ram Trio
Sufi Rock
RAM-Trio is a versatile band from Mumbai. It was formed in May 2014 with three members:
Rahul Solanki, Aarush Purabiya, Mujeeb Shaikh and five months later they welcomed their
guitarist Tushar Verma into the band. The band is named after the first three members of the
band; the initials of their first names make up the first half of the band name. The logo,
conceptualized by Mujeeb Shaikh, includes an (a Sanskrit alphabet,) A (an English
alphabet) and ( found in the Urdu language) and stands for the unity that exists between
people despite the difference in cultures and beliefs.
The band has two vocalists, Rahul who sings at a low octave and Aarush, who sings at a higher
octave and together they create magic on stage. Rahul and Aarush have been singing together
since childhood and hence, their duets are always harmonious and in sync.
RAM-Trios other member are Mujeeb, who handles percussion and Tushar, who plays the
guitar.

Ritwik Mukherjee
Ritwik is a talented tabla player, who has trained under the tutelage of his father Shri Pranab
Mukherjee. His instructions began at an early age and he received his first tabla lesson when he
was nine years old. He is a student of the Banaras Gharana and has always been interested in

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performing with fusion bands, accompanying Ghazal singers and pure Hindustani classical
musicians.

Roger Mendonca
Western Violinist
Roger Mendonca plays the western classical violin. Roger can work wonders on the stage
making the most unsuspecting of audiences sit up and take note. He sees NSPA as a better
platform than most others to perform on for its transformative capacity of widening the arena
open to artists and audiences alike.

Samir Singh
Singer-Songwriter, Hindi Pop
Samir Singh is a talented musician who likes going by his stage name 'Parinda.' His quest to
find his calling in life has taken him on a meandering journey of experimentation and discovery.
He spent a couple of years training himself as a dancer, but didn't experience the contentment
he was seeking and so tried his hand at acting. Still experiencing a spiritual vacuum, he turned
towards writing. He began to pen down his thoughts and experiences and this process gradually
led him to music. In music, he says, he finally found what he was searching for. Today, he writes
and composes his own songs and performs them at several places. He feels that his journey as
a musician has just began and that he still has a long way to go. He looks forward to this
journey with much enthusiasm and hope.
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Saurabh Sharma
Punjabi and Rajasthani Folk
Soulful and earthy, Saurabh captivate audiences with his other worldly renditions of Punjabi Folk
and Sufi compositions. Hailing from Ludhiana district of Punjab, Saurabh is a vocalist trained
initially in the Patiala Gharana and now the Jaipur Gharana of Hindustani Classical Music under
Smt. Sohini Mishra. An electrical engineer by training, Saurabh soon realized that his true
calling was that of a musician and moved to Mumbai to pursue a career in music after a brief
stint in Nashik. He was mentored and guided on this path by Manoj Sharma and Manoj Pandya,
who nurtured his unquenchable thirst for music with constant encouragement and training. They
were the first people to introduce Saurabh to Music and have accompanied him ever since.

Shruthi Vishwanath
Marathi Abhang
Shruthi Vishwanath has trained for over 20 years in Carnatic classical music, choral music, and
abhangs. She brings together her training in these diverse genres through classically interpreted
renditions of Kabir and abhangs. Shruthi COLLABORATES with several musicians to bring rich
musical interpretations of bhakti poetry. She loves the work that the NSPA does because she
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believes that no-frills performances on the street bring out the best in a singer and is the most
honest feedback that one can get!

Sunit Borkar
Multi-Percussionist
Sunit is a professional drummer who has been diligently honing his drumming skills for the past
13 years. Having performed alongside several Bollywood personalities like Harshdeep Kapur,
Sajid Wajid Band, Rashid Ali, Roopkumar Rathod, Prajakta Shukhre, Geet Sagar, Rahul
Saxsena, Sugandha Mishra, Keerthi Sagathia, Anusha Mani, Supriya Joshi, Pratibha Baghel
and many more, he is extremely comfortable with putting up live performances and playing for
live shows. He draws inspiration from drumming geniuses like Denis Chamber, Ranjit Barot and
Gino Banks.

Suresh Kala
Uttarakhandi Folk
His voice evokes memories of the mountains and resonates faintly like a faraway echo. Hailing
from the hills of Uttaranchal, Suresh Kala sings the tunes of his land to render soulful pahadi
music. Question him about his music and Suresh takes a trip down memory lane when his
mother would wake him up every morning to folk tunes narrating stories of his ancestors and
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their lives in the mountains. Suresh moved to Mumbai as a young man in 1987 with his
memories and a treasure house of folk music as companions. Settled in Navi Mumbai, Suresh
made his debut on the Folk Arts stage in 1991 at the Marathi Sahitya Samiti, Mumbai.
Trained in Hindustani Classical Music under Late Shri Vasantrao Kulkarni in Mumbai, Suresh
has been a regular performer on the Uttarakhandi associations in Mumbai. Suresh also has the
distinction of being NSPA's debutant performer having performed alongside Jishnu Guha at our
pilot performance at Churchgate station to a packed and captivated audience in June, 2012.

Tejas Datta
Advertising Consultant on weekdays and a self-taught musician on weekends. Play the Guitar,
some Keyboards, Melodica, Harmonica, Didgeridoo. No Formal Training in Music. Play Retro
English songs, fuses with flamenco guitar style, and sings (to the best of his ability).

Thomas Albert
Pop and Rock
This young musician is a Singer-Songwriter and Performer all rolled into one. The reason he is
known as a Performer is because is there is seldom a quiet observing audience with Thomas
around. Always on the move, Thomas urges and sometimes even pulls in his audience to
engage and sing along to his music.
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Known for his soulful lyrics and high energy vocals, Thomas charms audiences both young and
old. A Pop Rock musician ,he currently composes for theatre music and film productions when
not seen at your favourite NSPA location being his Pied Piper self.

Tushar Maithani
Singer-Songwriter/Multi-Instrumentalist
Tushar is one busker you can't help but notice and that's because his getup is so attractive. He
mostly plays 2-3 instruments at a time and those bright red ghungroos strapped to his ankle
ensure you cast a second glance his way. He is a Hindi singer-songwriter who enjoy composing
his own songs as well. These self-written pieces act as a personal commentary on everyday life
situations and are peppered with a hint of sarcasm and a generous dose of humor. He hails
from Uttarakhand and remembers being introduced to music for the first time here. Since then,
he has always been enthusiastic about music and musical instruments. His quest to explore
opportunities in the field of music led him to join the NSPA as an artist. He continues to receive
training in music from Mr. Pramod Prabhune from the Gwalior Gharana and is also pursuing
music direction. He wishes to forge a path for himself in the film industry and as an independent
artist in the future.

Yash Rajiv Barse

Gospel & Alternative Rock

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With a voice that can melt hearts and dance moves that can turn heads, Yash Barse is a true
performer in the making. His keen interest in music led to him learning the guitar and the piano,
however, enamored by the rock star appeal of his guitar, it remains his favorite instrument. He
has received 4 years of training under Ashley Quincy and has cleared 4 grades in music study
from Trinity College of Music. His many years of involvement in his church choir has helped
strengthen and perfect his singing. Gospel Rock and Alternative Rock are genres that interest
him.

NSPA Sponsor
Most people who encounter NSPA are intrigued by the economics of running an initiative like
this:
Person X: So whats your revenue model?
NSPA Team: We dont have a revenue model!

Theyve lost count of how many people have been baffled by the above response. However, in
plain speak, busking/ street performances is not top priority even altogether unnecessary to
premier Art institutions/ artists. Public spaces in modern cities are scarce and performances
therein, if any, are either experimentations, publicity ploys or a desperate means for
marginalized artists to earn a livelihood. There have been few buyers for the idea of
democratizing spaces for the Arts in the recent past.
NSPA was seeded as a project under the aegis of parent company HelpYourNGO.com India
Private Limited. All their funds for the first financial year were invested by their founder Mr. Ajit
Dayal.

Quantum Asset Management Company

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Two months into performances and they found their first Sponsor in Quantum Asset
Management Company (or Quantum AMC)- an institution that is distinguished in the Indian
financial market for its scrupulous credibility and transparent functioning.
Quantum AMC, a 7 year old organization, is known for its radical thinking and foresight in the
countrys financial sector. Passionately committing itself to doing only what is best for the
investor ethically and transparently; Quantum AMC has always stood for what they believe is
the right thing. Quantum Mutual fund is Indias first dedicated, direct-to-investor mutual fund.
They refused to be a part of a system that encouraged an opaque distribution channel and till
date does not pay any commissions that eat into investors savings but instead developed and
directly sold simple financial products that are beneficial to small and big savers.
Quantum AMC has also been a keen supporter of the Arts, always setting aside a portion of its
earnings to sponsor diverse Arts initiatives in the country. NSPA and QAMC found common
ground in their shared zeal to take the path less trodden and break new ground in developing a
body of work that was built on the power of ideas and commitment to the larger welfare of
society. Quantum AMC, today, is not just a source of funds for NSPA but more so a great source
of encouragement and faith in what they do.
Quantum AMC therefore takes great pride in sponsoring NSPA and helping it achieve its noble
goal of taking Art to the people.

Supporters and Sponsored by

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People Speak
Shri Shashi Vyas,
Director, Pancham-Nishad

"I am extremely happy to know about the NSPA project. The objective of NSPA is indeed unique
in its format and would for sure establish a direct connect between the listener and the
performer and that too at an affordable cost for both the artiste and the listener. It will, in my
humble opinion, create a listener with no preconceived notion about the genre of music heard
by him/her which as a consequence would create more listeners of art than the artistes. It will
also help the artiste to not only showcase his talent but also to create his/her own identity with
the common man.

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Being an ardent lover of Indian Classical Music, I sincerely feel that the young classical
musicians should take the optimum benefit of NSPA to reach themselves and their music to the
masses in a most listener friendly manner. It is high time they come out of the self-built ivory
castle of unwanted ritualistic discipline around them and dissolve the divine sweetness of their
music in to the hearts of music lovers akin to sugar dissolved in milk.
My best wishes to the NSPA project."

Smt. Muthulakshmi Vedanarayan

MuthulakshmiMami, a senior Carnatic Classical guru and vocalist in Mumbai city, imparts
lessons of life through her music. A doyen in the field, Mami has travelled around the world and
has been an avid audience to street performances and busking through her travels.
Ask her about the idea of NSPA and Mami animatedly asks if it is possible to re-create a once
forgotten era of public performances in today's bustling Mumbai city? She strongly advocates
the need for the city to re-acquaint itself with art and for artists to open themselves up to diverse
audiences. However, she points out that the pre requisite for such a movement is the city and its
government to orient itself to making public spaces accessible to art. She stresses the need for
city spaces to become more hygienic and artist friendly so as to maintain the dignity of the
artists as well as the rasikas.
The youth, she believes can successfully participate and appreciate an endeavour such as the
NSPA platform. However, is it enough for an artist to perform for a live audience, bask in its
glory and satisfy his soul? What if the art could be envisioned as a tool for something greater,
for something bigger than the artist and even the art itself?
She reminisces how the poet-composer SubramanyaBhartiyar from Tamil Nadu, made music
and poetry his medium of activism. How his powerful words and call to the citizens to rise up for
change, rise for freedom and independence inspired the national movement. The Bhakti saints
of Maharashtra Tukaram, Namdev and the saint Kabir impressed upon people the need for
communal harmony through their compositions.

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The genre does not matter, she says. A rock concert, an Abhang, a Bhajan, or a Carnatic
composition can all be equally presented to bring about social change. If we are able to do our
bit for the country as musicians, then our artistic pursuits would have found their place in
society. In the end, Mami says that just as Mahatma Gandhi posed Ahimsa as a solution to
empower the nation, the need of the day today is for Music and Art to do the same.

Conclusion
To conclude in my view there is music that soothe, there is music that inspires, and there
is music that is for the people by the people. No better way to encourage talent than to
gift performers the greatest of joy of bringing joy to people. Passionate performers are
busy entertaining one of the busiest cities in the world Mumbai. Slowly but steadily this
noble initiative is thriving and making its mark felt in the field of performing arts. I hope
very soon they spread their wings and reach out to other parts of India, eventually world!

Certificate of committee member of NSPA

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Bibliography
https://www.nspa.in/

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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
http://www.hindustantimes.com/
https://nspa.in/blog
https://www.facebook.com/nspa.streets

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