Creating a musical atmosphere to aid several mental health conditions, Dr. Shambhavi Das has been creating much awareness about music therapy in Hyderabad. This week, The Pioneer connects with her as she shares her association with and love for the city.
Subodhini Purohit
Dr. Shambhavi Das, an Indian classical singer and music therapist, has dedicated her career to helping individuals with ADHD, autism, bipolar disorder, and other mental health conditions.
Hailing from Allahabad (now Prayagraj), Hyderabad marks the second chapter of her journey, where she embarked on the path of music therapy. Here, she met her guru, Vidushi Rajam Shankar, and learned through the Gurukul Parampara tradition. Taking us through it, she explains, “Living with her, I began with chakra activation and furthered my understanding of vibrations, sapthswaras, and the connection between music and the vibrations of chakras. My career in autism therapy started under another guru, Dr. Meenakshi Ravi. Thus, my connection with Hyderabad deepened during my music therapy learning period, and I also established my clinic there.”
The city has shown acceptance of new treatments, cultures, and people from various walks of life. She reveals that Hyderabad has shown significant acceptance of holistic treatments like music therapy. The city’s residents, especially those dealing with autism, exhibit a commendable level of patience, allowing the therapy to progress over the typical 16–20 sessions.
This patience and trust in the treatment are more pronounced in Hyderabad compared to other cosmopolitan cities. Rooted deeply in their traditions, the people of Hyderabad place a strong trust in music therapy. She also conducted workshops in hospitals and says, “While hospitals may not fully accept music therapy, they are open to giving it time and paying attention to its developments and impacts.”
In Hyderabad, she initially faced a language barrier while learning Telugu. Navigating the city, making contacts, and conducting research and workshops were more straightforward. However, she noticed distinct differences in how people approach treatment in these two places. She continues, “In Gurgaon, there is less patience; people are eager to try new things but often lack persistence. The residents here are modern and inclined towards innovation, whereas in Hyderabad, the people were simpler and more grounded, which contributed to a successful career for me. In contrast, Delhi seems to have a culture of showmanship, which I find quite different from the straightforward nature of Hyderabad.”
The time that she got to spend with her guru was one of the fondest memories she recalls from Hyderabad. During this period, she learned the invaluable practice of chakra activation.
Before this, she had no knowledge of chakras, which led her to delve deeply into reading and understanding them. She shares, “I also have cherished memories of working with autistic children, some of whom were incredibly intelligent. Their love and affection inspired me to organise more workshops and programs, focusing on rhythmic stimulation and meditation. I also conducted sessions for their parents, teaching them about chakra activation. These sessions helped parents learn how to address specific issues, and many reported a decrease in their anxiety.”
Likes and dislikes are often from personal perspectives and sometimes due to interaction with locals. “I appreciate the simplicity and acceptance I found in Hyderabad,” she says. “However, one aspect I disliked was the limited embrace of Hindustani music. The cultural preference leans heavily towards Carnatic music, which, while understandable, presented a challenge for me as a Hindustani musician. This rigidity in cultural preferences is something every tradition has, but it did make it harder to introduce and integrate Hindustani music into the local scene.”
The city of Hyderabad has something to offer everyone, she says on a concluding note, adding, “I was keenly interested in music therapy, and in Hyderabad, I met my Gurus. I am grateful for the amazing people I met there. I had no relatives there, so I was inclined to take the path without anyone to demotivate or hinder.”
