How did the harmonium and violin become an integral part of Hindustani music?

Question

The Harmonium hails from Germany and it is not an Indian instrument. Also, it is a equal tempered instrument. But the harmonium is a very common accompanying instrument in Hidustani Classical and Bhajan. Whilst the harmonium is not used for South Indian Carnatic Music, violin is commonly used. The violin was also adopted from western world. Why did Hindustani music pick harmonium and Carnatic Music pick violin? Why did we adopt Western instruments even though we have a lot of Indian instruments?

Answer 1

You are correct in that both the harmonium and violin hail from Europe. However, the harmonium was brought over to India by French missionaries and was not invented in Germany. The people of India used these instruments in a different way the Western musicians did. It is important to note that Eastern music emphasizes melody, while Western music emphasizes harmony. In Indian culture, the harmonium player would play the melody and use drone knobs as well. The violin in Indian culture is played sitting and is held vertically, contrary to the Western technique of playing standing and horizontally.