This panel discussion delves into the rich, yet underexplored topic area of music education in South Asia, home to over a quarter of the world’s population with a treasured mix of languages, religions and cultural practices. In keeping with ISME’s 2026 World Conference theme, “Unity in Music Education: Building Bridges for All,” this session posits music education as a vital bridge connecting heritage and modernity, tradition and innovation, and local identities with global influences, while critically examining challenges to equity, inclusion, and cultural sustainability. By interrogating the historical legacies of colonialism, the persistence of oral traditions, and the impacts of urbanization, globalization, and socio-political shifts, this panel unpacks how music education in South Asia serves not only as a mechanism for identity formation, spiritual expression, social cohesion and a conduit for artistic expression but also explores ideas of transformative change in both institutional settings and community practices.Five speakers will deliver short presentations highlighting context and practice in different countries in South Asia, with each speaker sharing historical and cultural perspectives from their work within the region. Their collective scholarship exposes a glaring gap in research on South Asian music education—an absence that reflects the ongoing dominance of Eurocentric frameworks, despite the region’s profound influence across global musical traditions. Grounded in their diverse positionalities and lived experiences, the panelists will contrast formal, policy-driven educational frameworks with grassroots initiatives, illuminating tensions between Western-influenced teaching methods and indigenous approaches.Panelists will examine colonial legacies in institutionalized music education, tracing how British-era reforms imposed Western notation and curricula, marginalizing indigenous oral traditions. This presentation interrogates the spiritual and religious dimensions of music education, arguing that many practices—while vital for cultural continuity and community cohesion—are systematically erased from curricula through colonial logics that privilege Eurocentric curricular formation. Such exclusions not only marginalize the traditions but also reproduce hierarchies of knowledge that delegitimize Indigenous and Global South epistemologies, reinforcing the violence of coloniality within educational practice. A presentation on community-based musical practices will offer a deeper understanding on how they operate outside formal institutional settings while embodying cultural sustainability, especially among marginalized communities.An overarching introduction to South Asia’s demographic and cultural diversity, underscoring music’s role in in sustaining intangible cultural heritage amid rapid transformations will be presented. From examining implementation challanges, including resource disparities in rural versus urban areas and the risk of homogenizing diverse traditions under national frameworks, the presentations from the members of the panel set the foundation for a discussion exploring music education’s potential to bridge divides, while addressing gaps in scholarly attention that overlook the region’s unique blend of continuity and change.This panel discussion offers an overview of the important perspectives of music education in South Asia as a region where traditions are transformed, historical narratives are infused with cultural critiques, and pedagogical practices seek to build sustainable musical futures. In centering South Asia, this panel not only disrupts the silences created by Eurocentric music education frameworks but also insists on the urgency of decolonizing knowledge and pedagogy. By foregrounding local epistemologies, lived practices, and community-rooted approaches, the discussion highlights the possibility of reimagining music education as a site of justice, resilience, and cultural flourishing. In doing so, it offers a critical intervention into global conversations, positioning South Asia’s musical futures as both vital and transformative for building more equitable and inclusive educational worlds.Session format over 90-minutes10 mins: Introduction to the panel and overview of the topic50 mins: 10-minute presentations by each of the panelists30 mins: Q&A and discussion with attendees and panel