A 2006 Offering....

Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya, has decided to come up with a new blog "Endaro Mahanubhavulu" - dedicated entirely to the domain of music. It merits mention that the author is a neophyte when it comes to this vast ocean of music. Kindly treat his opinions with a pair of tongs - because they might very well be technically wrong.

The blog aims to generate an awareness among the reader about the various beautiful things that thankfully continue to exist today. It will mostly touch upon the aesthetic and emotive aspects of music, rather than the technical aspects itself. There are a host of amazing sites that do justice to their very philosophy of existence.

All kinds of music will be given a fair treatment out here. Be it the two forms of Indian Classical Music - Hindustani and Carnatic; Indian Folk music, Western Classical Music - renaissance, baroque, romantic, impressionist, etc., Jazz - smooth jazz, those early days, bebop era, cold era, etc., Rock and Roll, Contemporary Music, Film soundtracks, Celtic music, Arabic music, Latin music, African music, Oriental music, etc.

The author cannot know everything. To be honest, his knowledge of all these forms is very very limited; indeed difficult to measure even on a ppm scale. There are so many people, who have been immersed in this field of music, for their entire life-time, and yet who have so much to learn. Music is a true ocean. But then, the best way to start is to start. The author sincerely hopes that he can learn as much from this project as the readers themselves.

It is not intended that some form of music is given preference over the another. I apologise beforehand for such events. Moroever, I respect people of all kinds - be them atheists, agnostics, spiritually inclined but not religious, the religiously inclined, etc. Whenever, a post seeps in with a dominating feel for a particular religion, that is more so because it has to be with the spirit of the music piece.

The posts will contain appropriate references to books, sites, persons, etc. Shameless plagiariasm will be adopted if entirely necessary, with proper acknowledgement to the source.

PS: Endaro Mahanubhavulu - a pancharatna krithi of Saint Thyagaraja. Salutations to all the great men (and women!) in the universe for their contributions to music.

PS2: A Happy New Year!

PS3: If you are interested in this ambitious project, and want to team up with me, I will be delighted. A task force dedicated to the annihilation of ignorance and darkness! :)

2005 : The year that was....

2005 is almost coming to an end. The winters of 2005 will give way to the spring of 2006. The new year is welcomed with hope, the sweetest of all. In hindsight, I am sure it must have been a mixed year for all of us.

Some dreams materialized.
Some dreams became lessons for life.
Some events brought inexplicable joy.
Some events brought tears and pain.

So many friends made.
A few friends lost.
So many people came into our lives.
A few farewells.

Life is like that;
A pair of opposites.
The yin and yang of life.
Both co-exist!

Wishing you all a very happy new year. May 2006 see you doing all those things that you wanted to do.

PS: 2005 saw the transformation from a cynic to a regular blogger in me. Blog-hopping has been a pleasurable activity. I have come across a few blogs that have been heavily inspiring. There are so many talented writers in their own worlds in this world. It merits mention to mention these blogs that I visit on an almost daily basis (in strict alphabetical order).

Abhi's Summary of Lifetimes
Akruti's Alochana
Ammani's Filthy, Funny, Flawed and Gorgeous
Eroteme's In a garden called life
Sagnik's Random thoughts

A special thank you!

The Merry Season....

Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya wishes its readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah (another festival of lights in this world).

Lead, Kindly Light (the motto of one of my many establishments of schooling :))

Indianness X - The December Season....

Madras, the metropolitan city of India metamorphoses into a musical and spiritual seat of intense intellectual activity during this December season. A city known to have only three types of climate - hot, hotter and hottest truly comes alive with its now unbeatable and unparalleled musical climate. It is not wrong to say that December sees Madras becoming a Carnatic music stronghold at its best.

Living legends, established contemporaries, budding talent; basically musicians of all kinds - perform, enthrall and inspire an audience on a purely intellectual and musical basis. The rapport that the musicians share with the rasikas is inexplicable. It needs to be that way. The rasika needs to be musically tuned and technically sound to appreciate the concerts better. This might very well drive away the ignorant many from such concerts.

The author finds this beautiful city and musical heritage grappling to come in terms with the harsh reality. It should not lose out on this tradition because of lack of patronage from the rasikas. It is an altogether different issue that the Carnatic form with its strong foothold on the devotional and spiritual aspects of Hinduism, is in a better state; than its counterpart from the north - the Hindustani form.

This question also brings a smile to the author's face. How would this Carnatic fortress respond to Hindustani concerts during its prime season? As usual, I have digressed from the topic of discussion. So, what is the reality?

• Most concerts have limited audience. A rasika is becoming more of a rarity. Such atmospheres are depressing for the musician, the sabha as well as the rasika.
  
• An increasing divide between the musician and the appreciative audience. Classical music is becoming more and more esoteric day by day. It is indeed ironical that a light music function or a rock/pop concert by a world-famous band draws a huge audience willing to pay as well as "appreciate" them.
  
• The Americanization - has its own share of merits and demerits. What can the musicians do if their music finds a greater and much more appreciative audience in the US? The honorariums will be higher (thanks to the supremacy of the USD) and their preference is perfectly justified for music is also their prime vocation.

But then imagine this purely fictional anecdote. A typical scene in a contemporary(?) South Indian household during the December season.

The fledglings have grown wings and flown. The elderly couple continue to live in Madras for sentimental reasons. This is the much awaited Marghazhi season. The couple is highly enthusiastic and is brimming with eager expectations. Let me call them Shri and Shrimathi.

Shri and Shrimathi wake up early every day (say, 4:30 AM). Marghazhi tunes(Tiruppavai's) are playing in the background. The servant maid comes at 5:00 AM and has made the kolam for the day. The milk-man has come and has delivered the day's quota of two aavin milk packets. After having the required dose of pure filter coffee, the couple go out for their daily walk (as recommended by the doctor and their children; few know that the walk is the most anticipated activity of the day for the couple).

The HINDU has arrived by the time they are back. Shri goes through the concerts for the day. Shri jots down a few concerts he is interested in. Shrimathi is not happy that her opinion was not considered. They have a friendly quarrel arguing as to which concert for that day will be the best and worth attending. After having chosen the concert, sabha and the musician who will grace their evening, they spend the rest of the day with coffee, prayers, lunch, siesta, coffee, etc. The unavoidable discussion on the current dismal state of musical affairs comes up.

5:00 PM. Shrimathi dressed in a Kancheevaram pattu saree with appropriate jewellery and a string of jasmine flowers on her hair is ready for the evening. Shri, has one look at her, and blushes and feels all young once again. Both are fortunate to have one another, especially more so when the fledglings are in the US! The couple go on a romantic date to the kacheri. 3-4 hours of bliss. The musician enthralls them with a virtuous display of Ragas, Krithis, Ragam Tanam Pallavi's, thillanas, etc. and the couple is so happy to be musically alive.

A day well spent. Who really cares as to what the world thinks? Retired life, a prime time of their lives, to make up for all those years of hurried life - corporate success, children, financial worries, etc.

..... Such simple pleasures in life make life all the more beautiful, wonderful and worth living for.

The walk of life.....

I am surprising myself these days by becoming hyper-active on the blog front. :) Here I go, again...

Today witnessed the Winter Convocation of Graduate and Baccalaureate programs at Texas A& M University. I was there; witnessing the ceremony as five of my friends had the walk of their life. It must have been a proud moment for them, dressed in academic regalia and being conferred the degree for their academic achievement. Nothing else seemed to matter. They made it. I know of the pain that they had to undergo in the process. Success couldn't have been sweeter. I was happy for all of them.

Strange are the ways of life. How years of academic commitment transforms into a 10 second magic moment? They are now the proud holders of the degree that they must now do justice to. The very field that they have got their degree in needs them so as to help sustain progress and discovery. Some were fortunate to have their family witness the event. Others were fortunate to have their friends support them. For some, those who were alone, they were made to feel special courtesy the august gathering and ceremony.

A few observations:

• Most of the doctoral degrees were conferred to People's Republic of China.
• A strong Indian presence was felt in the MS programs.
• The academic regalia for Texas A& M University with its strong traditions was magnificent; guess every school has its own rich tradition.
• Convocations are a great moment of joy, pride and nostalgia. Unfortunately, my baccalaureate alma mater is known for its tradition of not having convocations.

PS: This post is dedicated to my friends, Aravind, Gopi, Vishnu, Radhika, Sathya and Mandar for making it to this occasion. Mention must be made of Nitin, who couldn't make it due to personal commitments. All the very best to all in their journey of professional life.

Purpose of Life...

Have you ever wondered - what is the purpose of our lives? Further, have you ever noticed these -

We really do not know our own selves.
We really do not know what to do.
We really do not know what we want.
We really do not know what makes us happy.

I hate to generalize, but I guess, there are no unique constant answers to these questions. The answers keep changing. The more we take out time for our own selves, the more we begin to realize as to which way we want our lives to be headed.

An academic/ professional/ personal achievement will seem to be the main reason for happiness. But once, that goal is achieved, the human wants more. There seems to be no end to his greediness. Or if you look at it the optimistic way, there seems to be no end in his quest for the elusive perfection. But, then, is the quest always pure? Doesn't he begin to give in to the materialistic value of gold, deter from his path, and forget about alchemy.

Lastly, when one talks of a purpose in life - why should that be necessarily related to the development for society or doing something ground-breaking to help the lives of many? Why cannot leading a contented happy life be the main purpose in life? When one thinks of a purpose, it is usually big. The dreams are big. Few materialize and few don't. Recently, came across this Zen saying somewhere, The Great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences. When love and hate are both absent everything becomes clear and undistinguished.

The people who actually make things happen, do their divine pursuit, without actually making much ado about it. Guess, in the big scheme of things, it is always the individual who counts. This is not being selfish. If he/she is happy, then the world around that him/ her is happy and happiness pervades all over.

PS: I really don't know as to what sense this post makes.. but then, here I go...

A personal note from the author...

Dear readers,

This is the first time, that I am writing from a purely personal standpoint in this blog. I am currently on an interesting journey in life - a process of rediscovering oneself; where I need to do justice to my own self, my value sytems, my family, my friends and my passions. I would be writing as and when appropriate in the true spirit of Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya. I further promise that I will be as honest and frank as possible.

I am not a saint.
I am a normal human being.

I love beautiful things.
I have my own list of "hates".
I have my own share of defects.
I have my own share of pluses.

I am not a nice person at times.
I can be a nice person at times.
I can be a very good friend.
I can also kill the best of friendships.

I thought I understood people.
I thought I knew what I wanted.
I thought I knew what love was.
I thought I knew what friendship was.

I lust for erotic women.
I long for exotic women.
I commit sins.
I am virtuous in certain aspects.

I like to help people.
I take help from people.
I can be considerate.
I can be abysmally cruel.

I need to learn a lot
I can help others learn
Selfishness is a sin.
Selfishness is a virtue.

What am I?
I really don't know.

The purpose of writing this post is to highlight the difference in persona between the author and the real me. The author has written about beautiful things in life. He has freely commented on certain ways of life of the people in a cynical fashion. The reader is encouraged to keep in mind that the real me is way off from perfection. It is best not to confuse the author with the real me.

I do apologise for the tones of arrogance in the author's attitude. The real me also needs to - do a lot of groundwork, soul searching, correct defects, change ways of life for the better, learn from the life-changing lessons, connect and relate to people, love people, appreciate beautiful things in life, etc.

The undeniable affect and embrace the lives of each one of us, and the real me is no exception. The attitude with which we face the undeniable makes us stronger for the better.

All the best to everyone in this journey called life. Life should be and is beautiful, no matter what happens around us. Whatever happens, happens for a reason, for the best and at the right time. Our faculties of understanding are so very limited that it is best to let time take its own course.

Love,
Ranga

PS: This blog is dedicated to one of my best friends in life - Ms. Barathi; for her definition of a friend and all that she did as a friend. She had taken so much trouble and pain in the process and went out of the way to help me out when it really really mattered.

PS2: This is further dedicated to all my wonderful friends, who are there to share my joys and sorrows; who like me as I am (the nice and yet not-so nice person); who are so generous in giving me valuable lessons; who teach me about wonderful things in life, etc.

PS3: Such friends in life make life all the more beautiful and wonderful. I need to learn a lot from these friends of mine and do justice to the concept of a friend.

A hazy shade of winter....

Grey skies;
Chill winds;
Downpour;
No sunshine.

Thus begins the dawn of winter. So, what lies ahead?
Springtime, yes, the lovely springtime.
Seasons, cherished for all the 4 seasons.
Each being wonderful(?) in its own sweet way.

Warrior of the Light....

A witness to this event.

Dr. Shankar P. Bhattacharyya, had been invited to play the sarode and provide an introduction to Indian Classical Music, at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church, College Station. This was part of the outreach program of the church towards world religions.The audience was a limited 15 Americans, enthusiastic about spirituality and with a willingness to learn about other religions.

Sarode captivated their hearts and they wanted to know more about the sarode and the Indian Classical Music systems. Naturally, there were a few misconceptions about the religious connotation of music. Music does not have any religion and the universal aspect of music could not be better emphasised than by what happened today.

Dr. B played an early morning raga, Jogiya Kalingra; and a romantic night raga filled with pathos - Kirwani. I am sure that each member of the audience must have connected with the music in a unique and different manner. The effect of sound on human emotions would make a good topic for research.

A step in the right direction. We need to reach out to such people. The onus is on us, we Indians ourselves. India is not all about cows roaming around streets, and people roaming about in elephants. Sadly, this is often the image that people have about India, courtesy the biased news coverages.

PS: References 1 and 2 for the Sarode.

PS2: The title of the post, is a well-known terminology used by Paulo Coelho. This was used to signify the warrior of the light in each one of us.

A Celtic Bonanza...

Event : A Celtic Christmas
Group: The Boys of the Lough
Organizers: MSC-OPAS, TAMU
Date: November 29, 2005
Attendance: Rudder theater, almost full

The Boys of the Lough, gave the audience an aural treat of traditional Celtic music from Shetland, Ireland, Scotland, etc. with added flavours of Scandinavian music too. They further included a few non-religious music pieces. What made it all the more special was the variety of instruments at display (both visual and aural). Some of them were encountered by the author for the first time in his life. The ensemble included Mandolin, Citter, English Concertina, Fiddle, Flute, Whistle, Button Accordian, Melodeon and the Guitar.

Inferences:

1. Instrumental music is truly truly universal, transcending across all possible human barriers. The Hare's lament conveyed melancholy and despair while the Wren Polka No's 1 and 2 conveyed emotions of joy and excitement.

2. Music continues to prove its global appeal. It exists in a myriad of forms, both classical and non-classical. Each region in the world has evolved with some music form or the another. The author must admit that it is difficult to not compare the music forms for their sophestication, appeal and merits.

3. Such evolution from the fundamental notes emphasises the need for a strong fundamental basis for everything that we do in our lives.

All in all, a cherishable experience and a blessing.

People in our lives...

#1. Why do so many people come into our lives?
#2. Why do some people go beyond their means and limitations to help when it really matters?
#3. What does a friend mean to you?
#4. Why do some people knowingly/unknowingly help someone chase his/her dreams?
#5. Why do some people come as omens and provide us with valuable lessons and go away?

Everyone has a role to play in our lives. It is upto us to realize, acknowledge and thank them. Thanksgiving time. A simple thank you to one and all. In the end, it is just the individual who matters and his/her journey is what counts the most. Difficult though it might seem to love everyone, the universal fact is - "Every face has a story to tell worthy of respect and compassion".

Happy Thanksgiving!

The obvious....

What do you do when the "obvious" is not obvious to you?

What do you do when "intuitive" brings the fear in you?

I have often come across people, includes my own self, who throw around these words for added effectiveness whenever they talk (be it technical or non-technical). What does one do in such moments of despair? Attempt not to destroy the ignorance at the cost of acceptance among the circle or become an object of ridicule for not knowing what you should be knowing about in the first place.

This is an experiment that often proves to be enlightening and useful. Keep asking questions till the so called "obvious" things lose their obviousness. The outcome of the experiment is usually the same. We would realise that the entire world is a sham and the person (who becomes the guinea-pig by making those "obvious" and "intuitive" claims) is equally hollow and empty as one can be. It is not possible to know about all the things in the world. What one should call for is a change in the attitude of the people.

Respect a person's questions, both profound and silly. Accept your ignorance if you are truly ignorant. It doesn't really make sense to be in the veneer of a "know-it-all" when you actually do not know much. Guess this becomes all the more important for people involved in the domain of teaching. What does one do when a motivated and enthusiastic student with a keen willingness to learn asks simple questions that in fact takes one out of the blue?

As we progress in life, we get so very accustomed to the happenings, and we unfortunately forget the founding fundamental assumptions that we started with in the first place. We accept things as they are. We fail to question things. We fail to think outside the box. We are getting more and more entangled into a limited domain as we grow up. Is it the fault of the person or the society at large? I would end this post with this quote,

The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance, but the illusion of knowledge.

This topic might have been covered in a different sense in this post. However, this question troubles the author a lot. Hence, he doesn't see as to why he shouldn't write once again about the obvious and intuitive aspects of the world and wait for answers.

A few drops of water....

The author was a witness to this amazingly funny event. Let me give a gist of the incident.

People were running here and there.

Some people were angry with themselves

Cos' they had forgotten one of their possessions

Seemingly prized and invaluable.

People who had that same accessory

Were proud of their own selves.

They had done something spectacular that day

And vanity was their virtue and sin.

How they looked down upon the first set of people?

Btw, what was the author doing out there?

He had lost that same "valuable" possession recently.

Yet, he was happy watching them and ...

Or so he thinks;

Or is it a case of sour grapes?

Now, let me not hold the suspense further. It was a slight drizzle on a hazy winter morning that lead to this chaos. Would a child have behaved in such a fashion as the adults in question. Believe me, this was of a truly universal nature and almost everyone out there, irrespective of caste, creed, sex, nationality, etc. were the "extras" in the comedy/tragedy. That "valuable" possession happened to be an umbrella and the "hero" in the comedy/tragedy. Most of them were in such a hurry that the author was wondering as to what they would be doing once they reached their final destination. How would the act of simply doing nothing and allowing the few drops of water caress their entire physical being seem to them?

Growing Up....

Why does it seem that everyone around you has grown up while you happen to be the eternally same soul? When you look down deep within yourself, you would realise as to how much you have changed. There is nothing permanent in life but change. This is very much true even amongst the dearest of friends. People who know one for eternity or know someone to the "T" would be more than surprised with the changes in someone.

I guess I need to write more on what I mean by growing up. As we grow up, we meet more and more new people, who definitely influence us. We become relatively more "mature" and world-conscious. And, yet, as adults, we seemingly begin to lose the inherent quality of a child - to ask and be curious about everything. "Life has become boring" is a complaint amongst many of us. It has become boring because we have made it so.

Anyway, getting back to the original topic of discussion, people change. So, how would it be to meet the people of the past? People whom you knew so well, and who knew you well too. Would it be plain joy or would there be apprehension too. Would each one understand the other again, now that both have changed a lot. What makes it all the more interesting is that each thinks that only the other has changed. I guess with mere acquaintances it doesn't really matter much. We would be happy to have met them. Period. Ironically, it is with the important people or the people in our circle of life that the many questions arise.

Lastly, why do so many people come into our lives?

PS: The reader is encouraged to read this and this for the sake of completeness.

Languages....

Why do languages seem to be more of a barrier? Each language has its own repertoire of beautiful works that it does seem highly impossible to appreciate their inherent beauties. To heighten the misery, there are these prejudiced and heavily jaundiced opinions on certain languages.

To add more salt into the wounds, certain works that were meant for ease of comprehension and for the layman; have become esoteric in nature to the people of today. While transliterations do thankfully exist, none of them do justice to the original work of art/ literature.

To name a few, (a not so comprehensive list)

• Thyagaraja Krithis in Telugu - highly philosophical in nature, yet comprehended by a few fortunate souls
• Purandaradasa Keerthanas in Kannada - ironically, simple in content and beautiful in compositions, meant for the layman
• Tirrukural in Tamil - words of wisdom from Tiruvalluvar
• Kabir, Rahim and the vocal compositions of Hindustani classical music in Hindi - profound philosophy in supposedly "simple" language
• Rabindrasangeet in Bengali - the songs of devotion, love, romance, nature, and patriotism
• Pablo Neruda's odes in Spanish - all types of love - both divine and materialistic find sweet mellifluous expressions in his poetry
• Rumi, Hafiz and Khayyam - beautiful poetry in Persian; when the transliterated works are unimaginably beautiful, then what can one say about the originals.
  
• Ghazals, Shers and Shayari's in Urdu
  
• The Gita, Vedas and the Upanishads in Sanksrit
• and so on....
  

What can one do with his/her ignorance of the languages? Doesn't instrumental music sound as the solution?

A Taste of India....

Event : Swaad 2005

Organized by : AID-TAMU

Venue : Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

Date : November 3, 2005

Attendees : 600

AID-TAMU pulled it off in a grand spectacular fashion their biggest fundraiser yesterday - the annual Indian food festival at Texas A&M University with a set of around 30 dedicated, enthusiastic and motivated volunteers. The theme of this year's Swaad was "Festival of Lights" to coincide with Diwali. Organizing the event was a nightmare for the organizers themselves for cooking an assorted variety of exotic Indian dishes for 600 people was no mean achievement. The author was fortunate to have been a part of the volunteer team and was also responsible for the ambience/decoration of the hall.

AID-TAMU strived to bring about a taste of the magnificently rich and diverse Indian cultural heritage to the people of Bryan/ College Station community. The hall was decorated with a lot of lights of all possible kinds, with the prime objective, of lighting up the entire place. Handicrafts for sale, Mehendi tattoos for a reasonable price, Art exhibition consisting of collages and photographs, Rangoli, etc. were part of the learning tools about India provided by us for the attendees. Soft instrumental music (mostly Indian classical) was playing in the background. Further, there was a video show "Transcendental Emotions" that depicted the universal emotions of love, yearning, frustration, pathos, joy, bliss, etc. through the medium of songs from Indian Cinema (right from the 1950's to present).

The event was a grand success. The author was fortunate to have interacted with two American ladies, aged definitely 70 and above. They told him that they were fortunate to have been there and how much they had enjoyed everything that we had offered. People outside India need to have the right image of our own exotic India and the onus lies on us - the Indians - both the resident and the non-resident ones. Sadly, I have encountered people ( read some Indians ) who do nothing but criticize and comment on the problems of the country. What they fail to realise is that criticism without action is not the solution. It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.

I am sure, that this event, would have been a great learning experience for one and all of the volunteers. Nevertheless, there are a few issues that need to be addressed and improved upon for the future Swaad's.

Happy Diwali...

Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya wishes its readers a very happy Diwali.

It is possible to bring a light into our own lives and other's lives in every possible, seemingly small and insignificant way.

Music - the road to salvation....

The author was treated to two scintillating Hindustani concerts this weekend. The concerts vindicate the truth that music is the road to salvation. The world couldn't have been any better. Nothing else seemed to matter. It was like a flying dream. There are certain things in the world that cannot be expressed. Expressions of Silence would be the best approach. Nevertheless, I want to write about these concerts and the musical aspects in my own humble way.

Hindustani Classical Music, with its highly romantic concepts of Ragas for the moods and the time of the day, does touch the heart of a person. This post is not meant to denigrate other forms that exist in the world. The emphasis is on the Hindustani form alone. All other forms converge to the road to salvation.

What was special about the two concerts was the universal nature of the recitals. Instrumental Khayals, could be appreciated by a western audience too. Languages often prove to be a barrier for the proper appreciation of music.

Concert #1 A Sitar Recital

A contemporary sitarist, of the Maihar Gharana, Sri. Partha Bose enthralled an audience of around 150 people, with his virtuousity on the sitar. Sri. Gourisankar accompanied him on the tabla. He started off with an elaborate essay of Raga Patadip, an afternoon raga. He ended with a light classical composition on Raga Khammaj.

An interview with Sri. Partha Bose can be found here.

Concert #2 Sarode, Sitar and Jugalbandhi Recitals

Dr. Shankar Bhattacharyya, a disciple of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan Sahib since 1982, treated us to Raga Zila Kafi, a late afternoon raga, a mixture of Raga Kafi and Raga Zila. He followed with a short composition of Raga Tilak Kamod.

Sri. Indrajit Banerjee, a senior disciple of Kartick Kumar, a senior disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar, played three different Ragas - Desh, Charukeshi, and Piloo.

We were fortunate to witness a Jugalbandhi of Raga Manj Khammaj by these two musicians, that definitely reminded me of the great Jugalbandhi duo Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Pandit Nikhil Banerjee.

One word that would best describe the performances - sparkling.

***

Words failed me. I was speechless. Silence would be the best way of expressing the aesthetic and emotional impact of the concert. This brings me back to the question of surrender. Is it all right to emotionally surrender to musical compostions? Is it all right to be just musically alive and break down each composition for a detailed analysis of the technical aspects. I feel that it is all right to emotionally surrender to a musical piece within the gambit of the technical aspects. Sounds vague, right? Well, music has been a road to spiritual bliss and emotional contentment. The rasas and the bhaavas of the compositions are for us to discern and appreciate. It is a circular loop. What starts with feelings and moods has to converge back to the same.

***

Isn't it a wonder that music had, has and would continue to hold its own appeal among the people of the world. Life without music, unimaginable and frightening.

Tell me your dreams...

Is it wrong to dream? It is one thing to dream, and an another to chase it. Wouldn't it be better to simply sit laidback and let time takes its own course. Why does it so happen that following your dream also comes with the heavy price of pain, hurt, tears and suffering?

As much as I love the concept of "The Alchemist", I seem to have these questions. Answers from my readers are more than welcome.

A different post at a different point of time.

Happy Dassehra....

Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya wishes its readers a Happy Dassehra.

May all your dreams come true.

PS: More than 1000 visitors since June 17, 2005.
A sincere thanks to one and all.

The Lens....

The human eye would undoubtedly be one of the best when it comes to the quality of the lens and the visions captured by it. Stored in the memory of the human brain, the pictures are often unerasable and deeply imprinted. The memories could be good or bad. What the heart understands, the mind does not and is merciless. Sadly, we take such wonderful functions for granted at times. The true incident cited over here, highlighted this fact in a rather embarassing manner for the author.

One of my friends had purchased a new state-of-the-art digital SLR camera with amazing features. We were naturally enthusiastic and had wanted to capture the beautiful small crescent and an adjoining "small" star on a night sky. What we finally managed to obtain was in no way comparable to what the human eye had captured. It merits mention, that we were amateurs in photography and didn't know the features provided by the camera as we would have desired. Nevertheless, the human eye would still be the best camera in the world.

Often, we are moved by wonderful photography. Photography is a medium where in a person can communicate with an another soul what he/she wants to convey. It is mostly a personal statement. While it is a good practice to appreciate the pictures captured by a camera; over reliance and dependence on a camera would only make us not appreciate the beautiful visions captured by our own eye.

Further, the vision gets modulated with the state of the mind. A beautiful vision might appear blurred due to a frenzied and frustrated state of mind. A worried mind is similar to over exposing a camera to light. We would then obviously fail to appreciate. I would treat this incident as a gentle reminder to me and to my readers to have that smile and look out for the beauty everywhere through our very own eyes.

The fine art of dancing.....

The author had two refreshing, and charmingly different experiences with the fine art of dancing. The stark contrasts in them would definitely bring upon a smile on any one's face. The purpose of this article is not to denigrate one art form over the another. The author, admits, out here, that he enjoyed both the performances. It is not that one is spiritually elevated over the another. The more and more we resist the emotions, whatever be them (incl. lust), the more and more they persist.

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#1 Bellydancing

Courtesy: Turkish Festival, Houston, Oct 1 2005

Ms. Pinar, enthralled the audience consisting of young men, old men, children, women with her belly histrionics. She would have definitely put all those histrionic gyrators that we get to see in commercial Indian cinema to shame. Agreed that she was minimally clad, to just cover the woman in her, and that she would have definitely evoked emotions of lust in men, and envy in the women... thankully, there was more to it. Her control and mastery over her own belly was awesome. Swaying to the apt music, she definitely brought a smile on everyone's face. Needless to mention, she was the most popular and the bellydancing event the most anticipated event of the day.

#2 Bharata Natyam

Courtesy: SPIC MACAY, TAMU, Oct 2 2005

Mrs. Shirisha Shashank, a Bharata Natyam danseuse, enthralled the audience with her grace, charm and dance. Her eyes were brilliant and emoting appropriately the moods to be conveyed. Her recital of Jagadodharana(where she played the roles of Yashodha and Krishna, interchangeably) was the best of the best. She is a talented contemporary dancer and she needs the support and encouragement of the populace. Well, more than her, it is the danceform that needs to be kept alive through such talented dancers. Some of her recitals also had the underlying philosophical and spiritual meanings in them.

***

Lastly, I dedicate this post to Ms. Pinar and Mrs. Shirisha for their spectacular dance recitals.

Ignorance.....

Is it wrong to admit one's ignorance. How does the world look upon a person who admits "I do not know". Often, people make this claim of knowledge, most times superficial; and strangely love to bask in the glory of a know-it-all. There are things that are obvious or intuitive for them. How I hate those words? Dig them deep, and you would find that they are as hollow and empty as can be. I am not against being hollow and empty. It is just this simple fact - feigning one's emptiness that is difficult to digest. So, looking at ignorance, it can be classified in two ways.

(a) Destructive ignorance

A case where ignorance is NOT bliss. There are so many wonders and beauties in the world that being ignorant of them would simply amount to losing out on the better ways of life. Again, people who are smug and happy with their present state of affairs and sensibilities would get bored of it all as time progresses. Here, is where the wonders help one in coming back to life. Hence, it would be destructive if one were to ignore "the callings" that would finally lead us out of our mundane vegetating life (a complaint of many). It is how we make out our life to be.

(b) Constructive ignorance

Have you ever wondered or pondered about this. The more and more we get immersed in our passions that have become our ways of life, the more and more we realise as to how ignorant we are. The knowledge out there is a vast ocean. Be it music, technical, other art forms, literature, whatever. What we claim to possess would be one miniscule droplet of water in the ocean. Ignorance unites one and all. The moment, we think that we are perfect, we know-it-all, it is gone. Perfection would always remain an elusive state. "It is hard to improve upon perfection". So, how can one be perfect?

Blessings...

Do we count our blessings. We have been blessed in so many wonderful ways. There would definitely be the downs too, but aren't they blessings too for a better way of life. The lessons learnt would be invaluable to us in the long run.

If this be so, then why is it that a man/woman is never really happy and contented with the existing state of affairs. Why don't they try to see as to how blessed they are? Its always like this. The creation of a vicious circle in life by the people themselves, that would only make life seem all the more "unblessed". Here, I go on certain incidents in life that I guess is universal.

1. Childhood - a wonderful phase in one's life. Wonderful in its own sweet ways. The closest an individual gets towards counting his blessings. Simple things move the child. It is happy for simple reasons. Simple reasons make it throw tantrums.

2. Adolescent Blues - a confused soul. Wondering as to what he/she would be doing for life. Needs to take those decisions which charts its professional career at a rather tender age. Engineering/Medicine/Commerce/Arts/... It is when he/she starts making those indiscriminate generalizations on one's own capabilities. Also the time when one comes into terms with the process of "growing up".

3. Youth - even more confused. What career option would be the best for him/her? Which would get us more money. How can I be happy? Do I need money or satisfaction or both. Which career would be personally stimulating and satisfying too. Is it all right for me to compromise on my career for money?

The time when he/she starts yearning for the right someone somewhere. A process, a long journey, when the fictitious him/her becomes real. It has its own ups and downs. When it seems that the right life partner, or if I dare say so, the soulmate would make things wonderful.

One must indeed realise that it doesnt take long for the right person to become right or wrong. It is all in the mind. One must nevertheless, be willing, to overlook the negatives in the right person. As long as there is respect and love, I guess it is all fine.

4. A new beginning - The person is no longer alone. He is with her and she is with him. They embark on a new journey together, full of dreams, romance, aspirations, and what not. Sadly, in most cases, the honeymoon period is very short. Once, they begin to live together, the other's faults seem to be unbearable. Responsibilites of parenthood, stability in career, disillusions in romance, etc. seem to bother them a lot.

5. Mid-age - seemingly crisis prone. All those dreams of youth lying unrealised and sacrificed for the family's interests. Disenchantment sets in. The soulmate is no longer the soulmate. The relationship has become more of a marriage of convenience for them. It is more for the sake of their children and society. Romance is gone. Yet, the society thinks that they make a wonderful couple and is envious of them.

6. Retirement Blues - the world thinks that you are no longer fit to do work. People take it real hard. Infact, it is one of the most blessed states in one's life. They can do whatever they want to during that time. The children have gone away. Now, it boils down to the stage in life where the significant other is more of an acquaintance. They seldom talk to each other. Every point of discussion ultimately leads to what happened in the past and fights. Fights can be romantic. But then, fighting daily over seemingly mundane happenings of the past is totally unromantic.

7. Old age - they are all alone. The children are well-to-do. The parents have been successful on that count. Yet, they are failures. The love is lost. They love their children so much that they would never blame them. They would blame themselves. The children would make it a point to call them up once in a while. The parents survive on their savings, if any. They yearn for the company of their grand-children. Yet, they are deprived of the same because of a MIL-DIL problem or the arrogant SonIL or because the children are abroad . Finally, they die a peaceful death in their sleep or a violent death because of some fatal disease.

So, life does seem to be cruel, right? Where, each phase, seems to be confusing, hazy, disenchanting, tortuous, what not? There is no concept of settling down to a better way of life. The mistake lies with us. We need to count our blessings and learn to accept things as they are now. Further, we need to be grateful for our upbringing, our parents, our family, our friends, our education, our downs for the lessons, our share of ups, everything. Yearning for a better way of life would be at the cost of losing out on the present important days of our lives.

PS: Well, the author has given the worst possible scenarios in each phase. It might not be so. But then, it might very well be a reality too. None of the events are real. They have been weaved in the mind of the author to hopefully drive the point home. The author must admit, that he is not immune to the ways of the vicious circle. However, in the best interests of the readers and himself, it is but natural to sermonize; with the hope that we never get deeply entangled in the vicious circle of life that there is no way out.

PS2: If some instances do touch a raw nerve, then it can be safely assumed that we are not heartless. No one would love to get ensnared in this circle where life becomes a struggle. Let us hope for the best for all.

Disasters..

Nature has its own catastrophic way of getting back at mankind. The Tsunami disaster that more than just shook South-East Asia earlier this year; and now the Hurricane Katrina. I must admit, the author had only vaguely heard of the tsunami (was an important quiz trivia in those geography talent quizzes) and didn't really know the modus operandi of the hurricane/other cyclonic storms. Both these events have been devastating for sure. Lives and property have been lost. All this would be a not-so-gentle reminder, that, despite what all that mankind can do, nature still holds the upper hand. Irrespective of the sophisticated weather-monitoring systems in vogue today, such disasters continue to happen.

One gratifying thing that I noticed during both these difficult times, was the spirit of humanity in action. Sadly, the same spirit lies pregnant inside the womb of "My life, my blues, my family, my work, ...etc" most of the times. Sometimes, I do wonder if human beings have lost that vital sense to think beyond just their lives. No, no, I am not advocating any of anti-Roark sentiments out here. But then, do we do anything at all towards Mother Nature - to whom we must be more than just grateful. Do we acknowledge and count our blessings. Definitely not, in most cases. It's always the life of a cribber. Nothing could possibly satisfy us. There is always a yearning and a craving for something beyond the present. I guess I am digressing out here. I will address this in a separate post.

Coming back to disasters!! The world has come together in providing relief efforts, and thankfully, most differences are forgotten. Is'nt it ironical. The world needs disasters to stop fighting and come together. The affected regions receive attention and finances too. There is an unprecedented spurt of development in those regions. This is in a way good. But again, one of the ironies of life. If no disaster were to happen at that place, that place would have been rusting its way to under-development. This was coming straight from one of the relief camps of Tamil Nadu, after the Tsunami disaster. Villagers living just outside the affected regions, were wondering, as to how unfortunate they were because the Tsunami didn't affect their lives. They felt that the relief efforts post-Tsunami would really benefit their "fortunate" neighbours. Strange are the ways of the world.

***

Hurricanes are beneficial too. They provide rain to those regions in the world which would otherwise have been very arid. Nature's feedback mechanism of driving the heat from the hot equatorial regions to the tropics helps in maintaining the heat balance in the earth.

***

This blog is dedicated to the people affected in these two disasters. Sadly, nothing can be done about the lives and property lost. The survivors need great fortitude in beginning a new phase of life. Here's wishing them "All the very best".

Pottermania....

This post was inspired by that unknown little Mexican (presumably) girl who was sitting out in the open, glued to one of the Potter books, with not a care for the outside world. She was understandly lost in her own "Muggle" world. I must admit, such is the amazing reach of Rowling and Harry Potter.

The purist would find it difficult to accept Rowling and Potter. The children of yesterday (the youth of today and the older generations) would find it difficult to digest the fact that Rowling might very well replace Enid Blyton as one of the greatest children's writers (which might very well turn out to be a reality).

Rowling Vs. Blyton. Does it really matter as to who wins.

However, the very fact that such girls (for that matter, children) exist in this world proves to be a gratifying factor. Nowadays, it is difficult for children to develop the healthy habit of reading in this increasingly net and visual based entertainment era. The fantasies that the human mind can weave are unimaginable and visual effects often tend to spoil/limit that creativity to a great extent.

***

Lastly, this blog is dedicated to that little girl.

Q w/o A - I ....

Is everything written or "maktub".

Is the future charted by destiny or free-will.

***

I have no answers.

Associative Nostalgia - III ... Children's Comics

This is an attempt to write about the more beautiful things that thankfully exist on earth; after what had been a series of serious posts.

***

Tinkle, Chandamama (not strictly a comic, but still...), Amar Chitra Katha, Champak, Billoo, Pinki, Chacha Choudhary (whose brain works faster than a computer), Mandrake, Chacha Bhatija, Gokulam, ...... and the universal Tintin, Asterix, Richie Rich, Casper, Archie (and the Little Archie ones..; never really liked them though), ......

The one thing that is common to all of them, is that they would remain beautiful no matter how old, matured and worldly the once-upon-a-child becomes. Each comic has its own USP. Each is colourful. The good and the bad exist (as real as it can be). It is always the triumph of the good over the evil. The characters are as real as real life ones. Of course, in some of these, like Champak and some stories in Tinkle (Kalia the crow, Kapish, etc.), the characters happen to be animals. Who cannot but remember the Jataka Tales of Wisdom and the ready wit of Birbal and Tenali Rama brightly captured as comic strips. Amar Chitra Katha does cover many topics ranging from fables to biographical accounts of the historical greats to spotlight on Indian culture to what not.

Such simple children's comics do have valuabe lessons for us, no matter how old we are. I recently came across a Mathnawi by Rumi which was similar to a tale from the Panchatantra. The lessons remain the same, but in different forms and languages. It is not a shame to continue to read these comics. They often bring a smile onto us. The very Obelix and his cravings for wild boar, the Thompson and Thomsons (one with and without the "p"), the gifted language of Captain Haddock, Cacophonix and his musical abilities, the duel between Fullyautomatix and Unhygienix, the intelligence of Asterix and our very own Chacha Choudhary (both happen to be short persons), ....

***

The truth is a big circle and at times a paradox too. A person is always in search of the truth, and more often than not, he/she comes back to the same point of departure. This is to remind us.. We have come from the earth and we would go back to the same. So, when we are here, it would be best for us to love the beauties that the earth has to offer us in so many forms; without any pride and prejudice, whatsoever.

August 15....

The Independence Day of India. Back in 1947, the partition of India lead to the birth of two new states - India and Pakistan. India has come a long way since then, with her own share of ups and downs. A few of her dreams have been realized and a few shattered to pieces. Yet, she goes on dreaming with the hope that people begin to realize and act.

The middle class youth and the educated would be disenchanted with the politics. Politics, my dear reader, is the same everywhere. Every country has its own share of turmoils and politically motivated masterplans. People, the very educated ones, once they settle down towards a decent living, begin to criticize at India. It is like dishonouring her. She is what we make her to be. This is more so among the Indians out here in the US (the NRI's or as Geeta from the movie Swades puts it - "The Non-returning Indians"). This is not to mean that all the Indians in India are proactive and working towards her development. This is not to mean that the Indians in India don't criticize.

There are a few organizations like AID, ASHA, etc. out here in the US which do significant work towards the development of India. It all depends on the attitude of the people. These organizations have a limited yet dedicated volunteer base. It doesn't really matter as to where one is.

It is time we did something rather than just sit laid back, talking and criticising. I urge everyone of you to be a lighthouse, spreading light in whatever significant/ insignificant manner. This is the only solution thanks to which the concept of "India Shining" would become more of a reality rather than remain a virtuality or an impossible dream.

Jai Hind.

PS: Coverage of July 04.

Health Consciousness...

As a sequel to the previous post. It merits mention that the author felt that it was high time we looked for the inner beauty in ourselves and others. This article presents a different viewpoint on the subject of physical well-being.

Is it wrong to be physically conscious. Is it all right to wallow in self-pity over our seemingly ill-toned and ill-structured bodies. Is it not time now to do something about them.

Yes. It is time. But then, why should one do it? Is it to get into the books and looks of the people around us. I would say a definite big NO to that. The only sensible answer would be - for our very own physical well-being. Obesity is known to cause certain fatal complications later on in life. Moreover, a well-toned body gives that divine peaceful easy feeling. Exercise keeps one active too. I have seen 60+ men jogging their way to glory. So looking at it at the micro level of our very own self, we need to have a well-toned body.

But then, in some cases, people desperate to put on weight stay lean despite their eating a lot of junk stuff. On the other side, people desperate to lose weight remain as they are despite their compulsive dieting (which at times reaches heights of paranoia). In such cases, I guess we need to learn to accept ourselves as we are; and yet continue to exercise to keep ourselves "fit".

Well, Why do I seem to contradict myself, every now and then? Its all got to do with paradigms.

PS: Btw, for those factors beyond our control and influence, like our skin color, we have to be happy as we are. Commenting on the beauty of a person based on skin alone is down-right vulgar and shameful.

PS2: I have known of instances where a person with spectacles looks down upon an another because she/he is wearing spectacles. An inexcusable case of double standards.

Beauty (Revisited)....

Who defines beauty in a woman? One of my friends went this far to comment that He/She made women during his/her free time with great creativity and craftsmanship. Most romantic images, be it words, pictures, poems, paintings, songs, etc. have emphasised greatly on this feminine beauty. There does happen to be a rich repertoire of metaphors ascribed to the concept of feminine beauty, grace and charm.

Images of lust conjure up in the minds of young men and old men too, and preferences seem to be greatly different. Men, especially when in a group, "critically" rate the women under their purview on a scale of 10. I have known places where they have great means of referring to the women in question and consideration. For e.g. say 3 o'clock can be given a CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) of 6. The other would say, "Oh! Come on. She deserves more." Guess, this is a routine in the life of an average male. That is the irony of it all. The average male passes critical reviews on the beauty of women, totally unconscious of his lack of masculine beauty or handsomeness.

Can everyone be a diva or a madonna or the perfect epitome of a well-chiselled sculpture? What about the less fortunate ones. Does beauty translate to the plane of materialism where it boils down to just the physical structure. What about the inner beauty which when rightly appreciated would overwhelm the most stoic of a person himself? Sadly, with so much emphasis being placed on the physical beauty, women strive their best to uphold the norms of the masculine society. Women less endowed would be wrongly judged and would have to live with that inferiority complex for ever.

But then, are the women less beautiful in the eyes of the cruel world really not happy? Are they single. Don't they find their someone somewhere? The only thought that comes to my mind is the poem about Laila and Majnu, that has been beautifully captured with words by Rumi.

A gist of it is this.

Caliph : Laila, What did Majnu see in you? You are just like any other ordinary woman.

Laila : In the eyes of Majnu, I am the most beautiful woman; and your eyes are simply not his.

It is time, we as men, learnt to reach out towards the inner beauty in a person. I guess the same applies to women too. The inner beauty is neither feminine nor masculine. It is something, which, both men and women possess; and which remains pregnant most of the time within the person. It gives birth when the doors of the impregnable fortress, read the soul, open through the means of connectivity, with an another soul.

PS: This article is on women from the point of view of men. I do not know about the other side's opinions on men.

PS2: Lastly, this article is dedicated to my friend, (let it be anon.), who triggered it all off today, with his seemingly innocuous comment mentioned earlier on.

PS3: The previous thread on beauty of a different kind is also beautiful in its own sweet way.

Money (Revisited)....

More at the micro level of the self. The reader can refer to an earlier post for the author's views on the same at the macro level.

Does possession of money necessarily translate towards a paradigm shift where in a luxury becomes a necessity. Is it a case of "sour grapes" for the "lesser fortunate" souls who do not have money. Is man (for that matter, an woman) ever contented with the money he/she has. Is it wrong to be a materialist. Is it worth spending vulgarly on those "necessities" when a definite change can be brought about in an another's life. Who are we to help others - are we breeding parasites?

Opinions on these confounding questions are more than welcome.

F.R.I.E.N.D.S

Most people know you for what you seem to be. Few know as to who you really are.

Why do we need friends? In most cases, they come into our lives, become dangerously close only to diverge. I am talking of divergence in the form of physical separation. There is a more unfortunate case of divergence, when friends part not as friends, but strangers. I would like to talk of the first scenario. I will talk about the case of dissonance and mutual severing of the relationship later on.

The world is full of people. Most times, bystanders, acquaintances and friends, serve as omens to provide us with valuable lessons of the world. At times, the lessons are only too bitter and bring forth betrayal, treachery and unhappiness. There are times, when the friendship is so so beautiful that there is amazing connectivity and resonance. Such friendships are rare to come by. Hurt is a part and parcel of this process of seeking friends. However, the soul is always on the lookout for another soul that would match it beautifully. The fear of hurt is always lurking in the corner of the mind or in the heart.

First of all, why do we have friends when we all know that we would be parting ways sooner or later, hopefully as friends. Separation and farewells are difficult but inevitable. Why do those few people who know you really really well later on turn to those strangers who not know you that well? They cannot be blamed; because a person keeps changing with the hope that the change is for the better.

Is it a difficult thing to do - being friends for life. I truly do not know. I guess that feeling needs to be mutual. As is important in any relationship - as long as there is mutual respect and love, the friendship should stand the tests of time. The only "sane" way at looking at the bigger scheme of things - We encounter so many people in our lives - as bystanders, acquaintances, friends, best friends, etc.; maybe more so to appreciate the "right" ones that come along.

PS: As a rejoinder, even the serial F.R.I.E.N.D.S. is no more so. Sadly, all beautiful things do come to an end. This really gives me the shivers. Or is it that one beautiful thing leads to another beautiful thing? I truly do not know. I would really appreciate your opinions on this bewildering topic. I must admit that this is one of the most incoherent pieces written by me. Kindly excuse that.

PS2: This blog is dedicated to all the people in my life, who have provided me with lessons. Each and every experience with another individual has brought forth its own share of joys and sorrows.

Unparliamentary Words....

Paradigm #1

Bad words are so so essential in relationships, esp. between close friends of the same sex. The free unrestricted use of such words develops a sense of bonding and closeness between the friends. They are usually filler words with no harmful and malicious intent whatsoever. This I believe is universal. Each language has a rich repertoire of such "good" words.

Paradigm #2

Bad words are used in the sense that they are meant for. Rude, abusive and unparliamentary and loaded with harmful and malicious intent. This usage is what I loathe. Recently, I came to know about many unfortunate incidents that had actually happened. Minorities (esp. the coloured ones), women (the beautiful and the not-so-beautiful ones), etc. were involved in events where the so-called self-thinking "evolved" souls literally cursed them with such words (that don't merit mention here). Sadly, in some cases, the event also lead to a physical assault. What is the world coming to?

The Face....

"Face is the index of the mind" is a well-known saying. However, does every face convey the true emotions of the heart and the simple/convoluted thoughts of the mind. The fantasies that the human mind can weave are often spell-bounding and enigmatic too.

But, then, each face that we come across in our lives has a story behind it. And each face is hardly a open book. It is always on the lookout for other faces that understands not just the face; but then, the body, mind, heart and soul of that face too.

Each and every face in this world has an interesting story to tell. Fortunate and blessed are the ones willing to listen to such stories.

Sour Grapes.....

A highly optimistic way of looking at things. Instead of regretting or repenting over what had happened, the "grapes are sour" paradigm does wonders to one's psyche. When someone wants something badly, and that same something doesn't happen - then what can one poor soul do? Just make this good old claim of sour grapes and carry on. A rather difficult thing to do, but then much better than wallowing in excessive self-pity.

Indianness X - Restaurants....

The article in "The Hindu" about our very own President Dr. Kalam recommending the good old vadai to Icelanders made me finally write this long-pending article now. Let me not make this to be an extensive coverage of vadai. That article has done great justice to this South Indian delicacy. One point, however, merits mention. In one of the Indian restaurants in the US, it was advertised as "The Indian Do-nut". What a way to attract attention of the ignorant ones? When I am at it, the Onion Uttapam was described as "The Indian Pizza - with onion topping" and the Sambhar as "Lentil Soup".

The restaurants in the US do their best to project the Indianness, that is sadly not available anywhere else in the world but India. Believe me, restaurants do hold a special place in an Indian's heart. Sadly, people of our grandmother's generation are strictly anti-restaurants. Most restaurants/mami's place/iyer's lunch home/udupi high class vegetarian hotels/ whatever, use the indispensable onion for almost every preparation. This fact doesn't really appeal to the orthodox class of the society. Having a coffee there is also taboo. I happen to know of people who have gone to restaurants on the stealth, just to avoid the wrath of these people.

The face-lift that the restaurants have undergone is shocking. No longer is it the simple place to have that Sambhar-Vada or Masala Dosa and a cup of coffee. The quality of food has deteriorated with the people giving more preference to the ambience, location and the seemingly vulgar catering to the high-class. Nowadays, the food being catered to the high-class is no longer high-class. This is not to say that all restaurants are like that. There are some that continue to survive these necessary yet difficult times of westernization and modernization, courtesy their USP - Indianness.

What is the appeal of these places catering to the high-class? Is it because people have lots of money to splurge on something as banal as dining out. People end up spending around 20 times what they would have in a normal restaurant. During my trip to India this Dec-Jan, I was surprised to find people giving preference to Subway (where they dole out their health conscious low calorie salad based subs), MacDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut, etc. over the best restaurants catering to the middle-class with high-class food.

Another incident to mention. I had been to a "rustic" high-class udupi hotel in Triplicane, Madras with my father during my trip. That place was supposed to have been established pre-independence and its main USP was and continues to be Sambhar Idli and Onion Rava. People (all normal sane ones, poor and the rich alike) thronged to this place to have that white, soft, puffed rice pancakes dipped in lentil soup made with small onions.

Rusticity Rules!!!

July 04...

The land where people of a certain kind are termed "Aliens" celebrated its I-day today. The non-aliens were at their patriotic best, and such feelings were highly contagious. So, we (the aliens) celebrated the I-day too.

Independence, is too neat a concept and importantly is worth every bit of our support, no matter where we may be. May all of us find the "real" independence to do what we really want to - be it personal, academic, professional, spiritual, or whatever.

PS: a real short one, courtesy Ammani's influence?? :)

Malignant Cancer I - Dowry...

This is a topic that every right-thinking person (no political overtones intended) has strong views on. The author recently came across poignant and thought-provoking short stories by our very own Premchand and Tagore on the evils of Dowry. Guess thought-provoking would be a mild way of mentioning it. A better description would be, those stories would make your blood boil. It does surprise me that Dowry continues to plague the Indian society, among the elite and the educated classes too.

Dowry is one of the means of the vulgar and demeaning objectification of the woman. Is it in recognition of a groom's upbringing or education. In some communities in India, the rate increases with a person's education standards. IITs, BITS and IIMs bring in more money. Much better if the person in question happens to be doing his graduate studies in the land of dreams for many - the US. What shocks me is that this is happening among the so-called educated people. Most have this inevitable excuse - "Depends on my parents. If they want me to take dowry, then I cannot go against them. I do not want to hurt them." As banal and absurd as it sounds, this is one of the cheapest ways of cleansing the conscience of whatever iota of guilt it does have.

Another means of justification goes like this - "The parents of the bride are rich, well-to-do, have lots of money and lands. She is the only daughter. So, what's wrong in their parents gifting us "Dowry"?" Is money a quantity to be hoarded and bartered for a woman. What are the grooms doing with their education? Why cannot they stand on their own legs? Why look for easy money? Does a person love his wife more because she got in more money. Believe me, money is the easiest way to a person's heart. Sons-in-law have a real soft corner for their in-laws who are well-to-do courtesy their own hard work. This is not to say that daughters-in-law do not have similar respect for the in-laws. Sad, but true.

Money continues to play a havoc in the lives of the people. People who do not have money crave for it. People who have money are not satisfied. People always seem to be on the look-out for easy money. This is where I love the utopian village of Ayn Rand's creation in "The Atlas Shrugged". Well, I am going off-tangent here. So coming back to this malignant cancer, it does have a lot of social repercussions. People consider the girl child a burden. They start saving towards her wedding right from her birth. The wedding which is supposed to be a celebration of joy - the union of a man and a woman - becomes an albatross around the neck for the parents. Then, there are the concepts of societal obligations and status maintenance. The parents of the bride continue to spend huge amounts on the event which becomes more a welcome/unwelcome means of flaunting their status. People cease to be themselves; and what can you or I do?

Well, what was the purpose of this article? Can a few idealogists bring about a change in the society. It is foolish to think that Dowry is a happening of the past. It very much continues to grow; assuming even more grotesque forms because of the increased sophistry involved these days. The writers (then and now) have given vent to their feelings on "Dowry" by employing the devices of sarcasm and melancholic tragedies. But then, people continue to be like that. All that I can say is that the resolution for "A No to Dowry" should come from within.

It is with a mixed feeling of frustration, helplessness and hope, that I rest this case here.

Scent of a Woman....

This article is with reference to the medium of Indian Cinema. The role of an actress in a movie has undergone a catastrophic metamorphosis. Recently, I came across an article about an actress(?), who proudly claimed to be the "Kissing Queen". The role of the woman in most movies of today has been reduced to the oomph and vulgar objectification of the woman. Thankfully, role-oriented movies keep coming once in a while, and such movies are equivalent to an oasis in a vast desert. The seeker in search of water in the desert would at most times refuse the filthy water being offered today. In the current scenario, the water offered by Chandalika of Tagore fame would be the purest of all. More pure than everything and way above the actual filth.

The land of Madhubala, Savitri, Nutan, Jaya Bhaduri, etc is a sad and mute witness to this plight. The scene is worse in the Telugu and Tamil Filmdoms. These industries seem to thrive on the actresses from the north. The success of an actress is nowadays inversely proportional to her dressing sense. "Lesser, the more merrier" seems to be the order of the day. Well, what is it that makes the public want to see such movies (that gives the porn industry a run for its money). Or is it just the manifestation of the views of the present generation and in the name of woman's emancipation. I frankly do not know. There were a fair share of movies with the oomph factor in the 70's and 80's, courtesy the vamps. But then, what is currently being produced, seems to be with a huge difference in the attitude.

Is a woman a mere object; something to be acquired at all costs. Does an extra-marital affair translate to the expression of a woman's free will. Be it a man or a woman, this expression cannot be condoned. Further, what is being displayed as love in the movies is a crass mis-representation of this sublime emotion. There is no concept of a romantic duet nowadays. Even the songs with the two going around trees amidst nature of the yesterera have given way to a group dance with so many extras with skimpy clothes thrown in for added pleasure. I cannot fathom why all this continues to happen. People seem to be obsessed with one thing - Sex. They do not want to talk openly about it. To satisfy their urges, they seem to derive vicarious pleasure from such movies. Would this be why such movies are being produced. A better solution for these filmdoms would be to provide its loyal fans - XX movies. It is better to shatter the glass rather than live inside a hell-producing glass house.

Compare the present arrant trash with those movies of yesterera. Nutan epitomises the woman in movies like Sujata and Bandini. Madhubala does justice in Chalti Ka Naam Ghadi. Jaya Bhaduri dressed in starched cotton saree with no/minimal makeup emotes amazingly well in Piya Ka Ghar, Abhimaan, Kora Khagaz, etc. It begins to hit you hard with the more you compare. Something must be done about the helplessness and the frustration that one experiences. I am still trying to find that "Something". We cannot and shouldn't gift these movies as a legacy to the children of tomorrow.

What should then be the safest approach? Being against something would mean sticking to that same something. I guess it would be best to let things be as they are. Does this contradict the previous para. The road to salvation definitely knocks on the doors of sins and suffering. I am sure that the manifestation of the true spirit of the woman - the feminine face of God would happen amidst such filth and chaos. The children of today and tomorrow would learn it the real hard way, making the lesson all the more valuable.

PS: As has been mentioned, thankfully, there are a few handful of movies with real substance, that surface every now and then. Such movies need the right attention and appreciation from us; whether they succeed or not at the box-office is an altogether a different issue.

Associative Nostalgia II - School Teachers....

Most schools start early. Most teachers are women. Most of the women have household responsibilites too. Most of them have their share of blues of life. Most of them cook, get their family going in time during those hectic mornings, catch a bus/auto to school, and also be on time to school. Me for that matter, have been late to school, quite frequently.

To top it all off, a teacher's salary is not that great. What is it that drives the world of a teacher?

This question becomes all the more difficult to answer when the teacher happens to be a man. Nowadays, both have equal earning capabilities. However, in households of the traditional man as the bread-winner types, it becomes increasingly difficult to manage the household. I have seen Sir's take extra tuitions to augment their income. So, again, we come back to the basic tenet. All are one and the same. Be it a man or a woman.

Teaching involves shouting at the top of their voices. Further, unruly classes need to be controlled. An unruly class can create inexplicable havoc in a teacher's life. Then, there is the eternal happening of students commenting on their teachers. She is partial, yaa. She likes him. He likes her. She gives more marks to him. He doesn't like me. She makes me go to sleep. Oh! He is so boring. She gives lots of homework. He doesn't allow me to enjoy my Sunday.

So, coming back to the basic question. What is it that drives the world of a teacher?

"Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya"

O Mother! Help me lead the children from darkness to light. There can be no other reason. I have seen teachers from middle class households who need the income to supplement their way of life. Further, I have seen teachers from well-to-do househould, with their husbands amazingly high up the technical/corporate ladder who teach more to put their degree to use. The one thing that is common amongst all -They love what they are doing. Blesssed are these souls who do what they love to. Satisfaction, Contentment, Happiness are certain pursuits that Money can definitely not buy.

So, what is it that they expect from the students? Believe me, they are so generous that they do not demand anything. Their greatest happiness is when their ward has come up in life and when he/she is happy. They always pray for the well-being of their students. Where else can you find such loving people, who are very well part of your family, yet are not so by blood.

The least that we can do, for all the wonderful things that they have taught us, be it academic or non-academic, is to remember them, and pay a visit to them whenever possible. The joy that a student has remembered his/her guru, is unparalleled.

I end this heavily nostalgic piece, by praying for the well-being of all my Guru's. I have begun to see all of them as one; though in my younger days, I too was partial to some of them. The love, reverence, attachment and respect that a Shisya has for a Guru is the best possible gift and believe me, this gift is ephemeral. The Shisya doesn't forget his/her Guru's during the entire lifetime. Maybe, when each of us are entangled in the web of life, we fail to express contentment and gratitude to them. However, deep inside, within the subconscious, we deeply love and respect these teachers.

That's the beauty of it all. Love and Respect, both going hand-in-hand. Not many relationships exist with these two seemingly conflicting emotions at the same time.

PS: When the author generalizes most teachers to be women, he is not being sexist. Well, a majority of my teachers happened to be women. During the beginning of the article, the author wanted to highlight the dual roles played by the woman in the society.

Associative Nostalgia I - Childhood friends....

Where are those friends of yesteryears?

What are they upto in life now?

How has life treated them so far?

Well, faces and their childhood innocence to serve as a constant reminder that they had once existed in a person's life. Would we be able to recognize them now. Thanks to www.orkut.com and the net, being in touch with friends and acquaintances of the recent past is a happening thing.

As we grow up, supposedly "mature", we tend to have expectations from our friends. There are some points of appeal in him/her. Blessed be the friendships that have multiple mutual planes of interactions. We start picking friends. We become cynical of people too. We get hurt by simple things courtesy the people around us. The so-called matured mind starts filtering people before converting them to friendships and relationships. That is all now, when we have grown up.

But what about those friends, who were all part of our lives. In fact more than a part of our lives. Where our lives seemed to revolve around them, and life without them seemed to be impossible. We shared a lot of joys together. How simple things brought us unlimited joy?

Now, we are no longer together. We don't even know as to what the other is doing. All that we can hope is that they are all doing great. The irony is that the separation was not induced. It was not due to loss of face/respect, irreconciliable differences or whatever. It just happened.

Childhood friends - more like seeds of a pollinating plant - the Mother Earth herself. Now, they have all dispersed and turned into beautiful fruits. Would each fruit recognize the other now. Thankfully, we are still under the loving embrace and care of the Mother Earth.

Lastly, a dangerous question. Even if they were to meet, would it ever be the same as before.

PS: I have used "We" everywhere. The author believes that this phenomenon is universal. Such nostalgic thoughts would have definitely embraced each person's life at some point of time or the other.

The Five Books You Meet In Earth....

My very good friend Hesam wanted me to compile a list of 5 books that have affected me the most. Believe me, from that day, this mind was searching, accepting and rejecting books. Well, I happen to love books. Books are there to teach us. But, then with so many wonderful books waiting to be read, it does sound immature to bring out a list of Top 5. But then, I will definitely oblige a request from Hesam.

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With no prejudice whatsoever, here are the five books that I fortunately happened to encounter. There are many more that could have been in the list. And there are many more waiting to be read and assimilated.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Its all about following your dream. A simple story woven around a simple theme. The simplicity is what astonishes us. Talks about certain ways of life that can be considered most natural, but sadly and unfortunately forgotten. For those of us daring to dream, or simply put, having the courage the dream, it is better to follow the dream and bear with the consequences rather than live with that regret.

Roots by Alex Haley

An enquiry into the past as Alex Haley traces his roots back to Africa. A deeply moving book. We often wonder about our ancestry and for Alex Haley, this daring adventure would have been both satisfying and horrendous (courtesy the cruelties heaped on his ancestors). Provides valuable insights into the psychology of the individual.

An Equal Music by Vikram Seth

The only romantic novel to feature in this list. Set admist romantic settings of Europe (Vienna, Italy, UK, etc.) and Classical Music, Vikram Seth sensuously glides us along the main theme with his poetic prose. Provides valuable insights into the musical life of a musician. How music unifies the people and how music makes and destroys the fragile fabric of relationships.

Surely You're Jokin! Mr. Feynman by Richard Feynman

To Define is to Limit. This book takes you along the seemingly funny adventures of a curious character - Richard Feynman, himself. His eclectic and esoteric tastes, philosophy of dignified tolerance and enthusiasm to importantly try out new things leave one with mixed feelings - zeal and frustration.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach

A simple story. There definitely is a Jonathan Livingston Seagull in each one of us. Highlights the seemingly thin shade of difference between living and existing. Often, we are so entangled in the web of life, that we often cease to live. We simply exist.

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Others that happened to narrowly miss the list were The Bridge Across Forever by Richard Bach, Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho, Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, Fine Things by Danielle Steele, The Luck of the Bodkins by P G Wodehouse (my first book by Plum), The Dark Room (my first book by RKN), Trustee from the toolroom by Nevil Shute, Nirmala by Premchand, Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer, The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom, and so on.

As an extension, here are the five authors/authoresses who have had a great impact in my life. I bow down to them in deep reverence, love and gratitude. I have read the same books over and over; and I happen to love each and every book. Well, love might be an understatement. I happen to be dangerously crazy of each one of them.

Pelham Grenville Wodehouse (Plum)

R K Narayan (RKN)

Enid Blyton

Paulo Coelho

James Hadley Chase

Well, Chase might be a revolutionary inclusion. Famous/infamous for their paperback covers, they are nevertheless, amazing books on the psychology of the criminal. Written solely from the criminal's point, they delve into the reasons behind the shattering metamorphosis from an innocent peace-loving individual to a violent, often helpless, criminal.

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Lastly, I request Abilin, Saurav, Arun, Ajay, Nitin and Abhilash to come up with their list of five books. Subtle recommendations do work.

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Randomhouse's 100 Best Novels. And, an interesting list by Eroteme.

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Hesam, I am beginning to love this. :)