Karan Singh performs at ICCR soiree

By IANS,

New Delhi : Revealing another side of his versatile nature, Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) president and veteran Congressman Karan Singh rendered a selection of light classical and devotional songs Wednesday as part of the ICCR's Horizon Culture series.

The series has been bringing cultural showcases every fortnight for almost a year.

Singh, who belongs to the former royal family of Jammu and Kashmir is the first president of ICCR to sing at the council's official soiree, the ICCR said. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife Gurcharan Kaur was present at the soiree.

A trained classical musician, Singh's repertoire included devotional hymns, ghazals, Dogri songs and classical and semi-classical vocal music.

But the MP had kept his passion private.

"Music had been a major and magnificent input into my consciousness from an early age," said Karan Singh, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP.

"I first heard my mother sing Dogri folk songs and devotional hymns when I was very young. Subsequently, I learnt Indian classical music for several years. I continue my practice till the present day," he said.