The Sagar Veena is a stringed instrument with endless expression. It is a unique addition to the world of South Asian classical string instruments and a completely new invention in the realm of musical instruments. The name itself carries meaning: Sagar is a Sanskrit word for “ocean,” while Veena is a traditional term used across South Asia to describe a family of string instruments. The current form of the Sagar Veena is the result of over five decades of research and experimentation.
Conceived and developed by Raza Kazim since 1970, the instrument has evolved through seven prototypes to reach its present design. Throughout this process, Raza has been supported by his daughter, Noor Zehra, who has worked extensively to test and demonstrate the instrument’s musical potential. She remains the sole performer of the Sagar Veena, having presented it in numerous performances both within Pakistan and internationally.
“I wanted more space than a human voice could provide, because the voice has its own limitations…a range of two and a half octaves, one specific timbre, be it bass, be it soprano, or tenor. It was limited by its timbre and its range. For the serious making of music, I did feel the need for a bigger range of timbres and octaves. So then I thought of the Sagar Veena, a nine-stringed instrument, with three wires in each sthan (octave), providing you with 9 timbres, four and a half octaves, and a resonance which comes close to human sensitivities. These were my three requirements.” – Raza Kazim
Three factors were considered to achieve the sound of the Sagar Veena:
More than seventeen Sagar Veena’s have been made since its inception, with each later version different in variation and advancement. In the latest version of the Sagar Veena, the Danti is curved and two resonating chambers are added at the feet of the frame. It is credited as the only musical invention on the list of ten Pakistani inventions and discoveries.
In the words of Raza Kazim:
“The objective of the Institute is to discover and establish through knowledge, reason and verification, a framework of theory and practice in an effort to contribute towards a new and superior civilization emerging in our time. The Institute symbolizes my answer to the age-old question of human misery and happiness: taking the next step in human evolution through mental intelligence.”
Consistent with its conceived vision, SIPA has functioned as a dynamic social laboratory, fostering a culture of intellectual curiosity and innovation.
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