The split between the music styles started to take shape around the 13th century during a time of intense historical transformation.
The world gears up to celebrate World Music Day 2025 on June 21, and it cannot go unnoticed that Indian classical music remains one of the most ancient traditions in the global musical landscape. However, do you know that Indian classical music is deeply connected to two forms – Hindustani (North Indian) and Carnatic (South Indian) classical music. While both of them are formed from the same roots, they have gone up to be shaped up by centuries of cultural, political, and regional influences.
So, how does the divergence evolve and why these two forms of Indian classical music still remain relevant today?
Indian classical music and its origins can be traced back to the Sama Veda, where ancient chants were composed using melodic patterns. Eventually, these chants turned into ragas and talas, which are the rhythmic backbone of both Hindustani and Carnatic systems. In early centuries, Indian classical music was much associated with spiritual practice and temple rituals. In fact, texts like Bharata’s Natya Shastra and Matanga’s Brihaddeshi show how Indian classical music was influenced by the Indian subcontinent and its practices.
The split of Indian classical music into Hindustani (North Indian) and Carnatic (South Indian) started off around the 13th century when the nation was going through an intense historical transformation. As Islamic rule expanded across the northern parts of India, musical traditions too changed and had Persian, Arabic, and Central Asian influences. It led to introduction of new instruments and styles, which further paved the way for Hindustani classical music. Under the new form of classical music expression, which was performed in royal courts, the influence was mostly by the Sufi and Mughal culture with the usage of sitar, tabla, and sarod. At the same time, vocal forms like khayal, thumri, and ghazal gained fame.
On the other hand, South India remained untouched by these external influences, and hence, retained a more traditional approach towards music, and had devotional themes. Composers like Tyagaraja and Shyama Shastri define Carnatic music today.
Nonetheless, despite their differences in style, both Hindustani and Carnatic music retain the same core, and use ragas to evoke emotions and talas for creation of rhythmic cycles. Indian classical music and instruments have made their way to global platforms, including those of Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia.Performers like Anoushka Shankar, Ravi Shankar, and Ranjani-Gayatri among others have managed to bring classical music to new audiences, and it looks like the global interest in Indian classical music is growing.
On this World Music Day, let’s not forget that both Hindustani and Carnatic classical music carries the soul of India across time and borders.
