New Delhi: The Art For Life 2 Event was inaugurated on the 18th October,2013 by His Excellence Dr Aziz Qureshi, the Governor of Uttarakhand. His words about the event, “I am really grateful to DLF & Aapsa arts for organizing this event and helping Uttarakhand people, as we need support from all of you. Those who gave up their life in floods are gone, but those who are living, they are still suffering from hunger and disease. I would request everyone to come forward and to restore the char dhams of the country. I am thankful to Ustad Amjad Ali Khan ji that he came forward for this event to show his support. In his music we hear the voice of God. I would like to invite him to Uttarakhand to visit the char dhams.”

Dharmendra Rathore, Aapsa Arts shared his views about this event, “When it comes to support the society, no caste, no creed, no religion matters. I want to give this message to people to come and support the victims. There are artists from about 30 different states participating in this event who have the same mind set about helping people. Aapsa art is working for the betterment of the society for the last 20 years and this is their second initiative for Uttarakhand.” About Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, “I would like to say that Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is an outstanding artist and I would like to thank him for the support that he has given to Aapsa Art and me in this cause.”

The music concert was a huge success with an enthusiastic crowd who enjoyed the sarod music thoroughly. The concert was divided into 3 segments and the 1st segment was started by Ayaan Ali Khan and Amaan Ali Khan with their team. Ayaan Ali Khan’s words about the event “We are really sad for Uttarakhand people who lost their lives in the floods, may their soul rest in peace. We dedicate this performance to Uttarakhand survivors and to the people who lost their lives during the floods. We present our 1st segment and a beautiful composition which is Rag-Rageshwari.” And further Ustad Amjad Ali Khan joined them in 2nd segment and enthralled the audience with his composition.

The first day of the event was a mix of music and art as various eminent artists put their artworks on display with the help of Aapsa Art- An initiative by Dharmendra Rathore to bring all the artworks under one roof.

The eminent artists whose art works was and will be on display during the Art for Life Festival will include renowned names like M F Hussain, Dharmendra Rathore, S H Raza, Arpana Caur, KR Santhana, Manu Parekh, Paresh Maity, Chintan Upandhyay, Roy Thomas, Manish Pushkale, Prashant Sahu, Rajendra Kapse, Sanjeev Sonpimpare, Sidharth, Vijendra Sharme.

This year’s Art for Life is a charitable fund-raising art event for the victims of the holocaust which hit Uttarakhand in the form of ravaging floods. Part of the proceeds of the event organized by Aapsa Art and sponsored by DLF5 and DLF Foundation from 18 to 20 October at DLF Club 5, Phase V in Gurgaon, will go towards the relief and rehabilitation of the victims of the floods.

The second day will see Ghazal maestro and singer Jaswinder Singh and Aalok Shrivastav who will recite special poetry for Uttarakhand.

In addition, there will be works of art by Dharmendra Rathore, who created Aapsa Arts with a vision for creating a platform for new media art. Clearly believing in the philosophy of being humanitarian and not just human, Aapsa has organized blood donation camps in association with Red Cross, taken the initiative to remove social evils like casteism from villages and rural areas, provided medicines and funds to pregnant poor women during the last month of pregnancy, and given funds to provide the mother and the child proper food and care in addition to providing scholarship to poor and hardworking students in the rural areas, especially girls.

Aapsa Art has also provided a platform to the folk artists in rural areas by exhibiting their works along with modern contemporary artists.

Source : Manisha Sharma