1947-1950s
As India gained Independence, the original patrons of classical music, the rajas and maharajas, wound up their princely states, leaving musicians to fend for themselves. Musicians realised they had to build their own ecosystem, from creating
gharanas to cultivating students and creating new public spaces for performances. For many, the government became the new patron, through employment with the All India Radio (AIR). Radio Sangeet Sammelan, which started in 1952, was a pathbreaking programme that helped musicians reach out to audiences across India. Lata Mangeshkar had started playback singing in 1947, for the film Aapki Sewa Mein, and continued to regale audiences until she passed away in 2022.