The end of an Era

One of the finest musicians of Indian classical music, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi (1922 - 2011), has been lost to the world. Being an outstanding disciple of Sawai Gandharva (Rambhau Kundgolkar), he was the flagship of the Kirana Gharana.
His musical career spanned several decades. During this period he was a very prolific performer who seldom disappointed his fans, and the general masses (who came to hear him out of sheer curiosity).
Each performance of Pandit Bhimsen seemed either an emotional plea or a thanksgiving to the Almighty. He carried music lovers to a very different plane, making them forget all their wants, desires and pains, for those few hours. I always felt he made the masses interact with the Almighty through the sheer emotion in his music.
On stage Pandit Bhimsen was electrifying in his delivery. He specialized in Purya Dhanashree, Miya ki Thodi, Darbaari kaanada, and a few other raagas, which were his usual pieces in most of his concerts. This did not mean he lacked in repertoire as Panditji has also presented an out of the world Miya ki Malhar, daasar krithis, and abhangs with utmost ease. Panditji, on several occassions, has performed "jugalbandhis" with other artistes.
As I write this short obituary, it is still difficult to accept that Pandit Bhimsen is no longer with us.
I pray that his music be heard by all music lovers for many more decades, thus making it truly eternal.

Students - their involvement in political movements

Often we read about students clashing with policemen or the paramilitary forces, destroying public properties, hurting themselves, and others in the bargain. In some cases we also read of some students taking the extreme step to end their life.

While one does understand the need for agitations, what I fail to understand is the students' lack of discernment on what to agitate for, and how to go about it. In any agitation, the political party members who are office bearers, MLAs, MPs, Ministers are never at the site of violence; never get injured; never lose their life; they merely court arrest, visit hospitals to assuage the feelings and injuries of students and the common man who has borne the brunt of the violence (call it lip service). Shamelessly they go on to address the media articulating one lie upon another on how hurt they are, and how they feel one amongst the victims.

Why doesn’t the student community understand that they are being used by the political parties like paper napkins (for the political class to blow their nose into), and then thrown away!! The students are being taken for granted, and are being misdirected. This does not augur well for the future of India - that is going to be led in the future by many from this student community. An agitation means no classes, means exams being postponed, means delay in graduation, and finally a delay in landing a job to carry on with life. It also means building into our psyche a streak of violence, negativism, sycophancy, and a host of negative traits that we don’t need at all.

Why is there a violent agitation by students for a separate state? Why isn’t there even a “peaceful” agitation against the price rise of all essential commodities - which affects them more than formation of a new state? Ok, forget the students for a while here. Why hasn’t any political party taken up the cause of price rise seriously - all we hear is noise in the media channels that matter to them. Has any opposition party gone up to the ruling party and proposed a joint action to overcome the current crisis? No. None is interested in having this issue resolved.

I hope the student community will soon understand what they should do, and what they shouldn’t and continue with what they are supposed to be doing – that is acquiring knowledge for a brighter future. It is detrimental to their future should they heed the call of agitation by the political class & fall into the trap of self destruction.

Temple festivals - Nallepilli (Palakkad district)

Close to the border of Tamil Nadu in Palakkad district, is this small village Nallepilli. A serene hamlet comprising a main road, several small streets that lead to this main road, a BSNL exchange, post office, acres of paddy fields spread in all directions, several small lakes and ofcourse the Shiva, Shashtha and Bhagavathi temples. If something can overpower you here, it is the stunning silence in the middle of the day, and the hospitality of the residents.

I visited Nallepilli in December 2009, for the Shashtha Preethi (the festival during the month of December when Lord Aiyyappan is worshipped). I entered the agraharam of the village at about 9AM, and was looking around when some residents came up to me and enquired if I needed help. When I mentioned to them who I was looking for, they directed me to the house of my friend and within a quarter of an hour we had visitors at the friend's place asking if he needed any help to host us. This was quite a pleasant experience for city dwellers like me, who wouldnt even know his neighbour in the apartment complex he lives in. My friend let them know that my wife's great grand father was a resident of the same village, and that he was the headmaster of the school (the only one then).

The narration of the link we shared with the visitors was hardly over when two old men came to meet us. One of them is related to my wife, while the other was a student of the headmaster. Their happiness on discovering a relation that was lost until now was so childlike. Extremely naive, and so uncomplicated!!

Needless to say, we had a fantastic time at the village, and almost felt like settling down there to a simple, steady and uncomplicated life, filled with abundant silence.

The next visit was in May 2010 for the kumbabhishekam of the Shashtha temple. Close to 1000 people attended the function, and were served a sumptuous lunch. Food was served the previous day as well - thrice. Nobody went hungry.

In all these events, residents of the entire village worked in groups (committees as we would say in the urban world), to ensure the function went off well. Some worked back stage, while some worked on the stage. But none had a complaint that his/her work went unrecognized.

People who have moved out of the village seeking different career options in places as far away as Delhi and Bombay were back in Nallepilli for the function; it was "their village" and "their function". A good union to relive the nostalgia of the years spent in the village, and keep the tradition going undisturbed. This was quite a strength to the current residents to stay back and continue the good work with support and patronage from those who moved out of the village for professional reasons.

If you look at neighbouring Tamil Nadu, villages that boasted of a past where such events were known for their grandeur, there isnt even a whine or whimper these days. It is a pity that none of the ancient temples receive due patronage or support anymore.

May Nallepilli and its tradition be kept alive for a long long time.