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.