Abu Dhabi: India’s ‘singing priest’ brings people together with his music – News

The cleric will share his life experiences at a live concert in the capital on Sunday

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Music can bring positive changes to our lives. It has a lingua franca that transcends cultures and religions, said a visiting Catholic priest from Kerala, who is commonly known in India as a “singing priest”.

“Human character is a combination of positive and negative energies. It is a struggle between these two energies. When we are filled with good positive energy, it leads us towards generosity, and when we are led by negative energy, I only It creates negative energy. Music helps us fill ourselves with positive energy,” said father Dr Paul Poovathingal, who will play Carnatic songs at the Indian Social and Cultural Centre (ISC) in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. He was the first Christian pastor to receive a Doctorate in Carnatic Music.

“I can sing songs that promote national integration. Islamic, Hindu and Christian devotional songs and prayers such as ‘Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu’ (May everyone in the world be happy). In 2007, I was in the then president APJ Abdul Kalam Such a combination has been done before at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Sir Karam said I have blazed a new path in Indian classical music by integrating world religions and prayers. He pointed out that the need to integrate religions through music is the need of the moment and urged me to do as much as possible Such performances continue around the world. Religious integration is more important now than ever.”

Father Poovathingal noted that his troupe is made up of a multi-religious group of artists. “I’m Catholic. There are Muslim and Hindu artists in the orchestra.”

The voice “doctor” is also

He is also an acoustician and has studied Acoustics—the science and practice of speech adaptation at Columbia University and the National Center for Speech and Speech in Denver, USA. Currently, he runs the Chetana National Vocal Institute in the Thrissur district of Kerala – a unique vocal institute in India that assists musicians, public speakers, actors, artists, anchors, salespeople and more.

“When our former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy was facing voice problems, I treated him.”

He is also director of the Chetana School of Music, which helps people with autism and cerebral palsy through neuromusic therapy. “Music is used as a tool for brain development. Neuromusic therapy produces positive improvements in children with disabilities.”

In Kerala, he plans the “Ganashram” project, an eco-friendly campus focused on music, meditation, yoga, speech therapy and spirituality.

“The campus will be based on universal themes of peace, love, compassion, gratitude, forgiveness, patience and brotherhood. It will be a place for people to relax. We will also create an audio-visual music meditation theatre.”

For over two decades, he has been a disciple of the legendary Indian singer Dr KJ Yesudas. “I am his student and continue to learn from him.”

Father Poovathingal is looking forward to performing in Abu Dhabi and the UAE, a country that promotes peace and tolerance. He will share his life experiences at ISC’s live concert on Sunday (7.30pm). Admission is free, but requires a green pass for the Al Hosn app.