What is energy? What is spirit?
This is not a post on science
class nor is it an article on occult sciences. But the idea behind that
question is simple. I just want to know if any of you have experienced
vibrations in some particular places(not during an earthquake or during a
flight/train journey).
At least I have experienced
such vibrations. It is said that one experiences this when the energy levels
match with that of ours.
Take some temples; or concert
halls; or even places not popular but are very special to us. I shall come to
the last mentioned in a while.
That is why, places where some
legends were born or where they grew up or even places frequented by them carry
that value. And that is why, such places are converted into memorials.
In Salzburg, Austria – the
place where one of the greatest composers of Western Classical Music lived has
been converted into a beautiful museum which houses the artefacts used by the
composer.
In Bonn, Germany, Beethoven’s
birthplace is a memorial, museum and an institution.
In Eisenach, Germany, there is
a museum dedicated to Bach with more than 250 exhibits.
At Stratford-upon-Avon,
Warwickshire, England, a 16th Century half-timbered house has been
restored and has been converted into a small museum.
Then we have memorials for
John Keats, William Wordsworth and for many other poets and writers. A book
‘Second Thoughts’ written by Navtej Sarna, a book which I own with a lot of
pride, describes the houses and memorials of many writers and poets across the
world.
What about our ‘Bharat’? (and
I am focussing only on Dakshin Bharat as of now).
Ettayapuram- the place where
Mahakavi was born is very poorly maintained, though there is a MaNi Mandapam
which was constructed thanks to the efforts of writer Kalki.
Thiruvaiyaaru- Musicians who
make a living singing a majority of his kritis, assemble once in a year, ‘sing’
the pancharatnas looking at the TV cameras, pack their bags and never bother to
even look at that place for the next 362 days. Since I went there during one of
those 362 days, I know what condition that place is in.
There are more such namesake
memorials in our country, but let me stop here.
One must thank their stars for
the existence of such memorials. But many legends do not have even this
‘luxury’.
So, why am I writing all these
now?
The house of T.N.Rajarathnam
PiLLai- considered to be the father of Nagaswaram, who would play a single raga
Todi from midnight to early morning with people listening with rapt attention,
and a vidwan who was asked to perform on AIR on the 15th of August
1947- was razed to the ground 4 years ago!
What shocked me was the apathy
of the Government of Tamizh Nadu who decided to shut their eyes and be a mute
spectator. It is more shocking because Karunanidhi, the former Chief Minister
of TN was a huge fan of Rajaratnam PiLLai and had wanted to convert his house
into a memorial. But somehow this did not happen during his time. It is
unfortunate that people in his lineage do not share his musical taste and also
the sensitivity to respect legends.
What is also surprising and
shocking is the fact that none from the Carnatic music fraternity have bothered
to raise their voice. Goes to show that most of them just pay lip service and
keep their mouth shut when it comes to some real issues.
Now, I was mentioning ‘places which are not popular but are special to us’. TNR’s house is an
example. Likewise, places frequented by us during our childhood also carry that
stamp of speciality.
The song of the day is special
essentially because of this fact.
‘ALLi thandha bhoomi’ from
NaNdu (1981) kindles such memories without a doubt.
Rendered by Malaysia Vasudevan
in a very different voice, the song has nostalgia written all over it.
Take the beginning. The
humming tinged with a sense of poignancy is backed by the strings of the
guitar- which plays the chatushram beats with joy- is followed by the keys
which is backed by the bass guitar and this is followed by a unique sound which
almost ‘speaks’ to us.
The Pallavi starts and to our
surprise- and not to our surprise- it is set in Tisram , the 3-beat cycle and
not in Chatushram (prelude). Laya Raaja does not stop here. The beats follow a
peculiar pattern in tisram – ta ta tataaa- which is 1 2 3 4/ 1 2 but played
with gaps giving a unique complexion. There is more too.
The word ‘ini’ in the second
line is rendered plainly the first time and is extended the second time to make
it sound like off beat though it follows the beat.
In fact, rather than an
experiment done just for the sake of being done, this one is in line with the
emotions and the feelings conveyed by the song.
Doesn’t the bell sound in the
beginning of the first interlude remind you of your school bell? To me, it
does! And along with that it also gives me some memories of many things
associated with the school.
The keys that follow to the
backing of the rhythm pad reminds me of the games we played and the fights we
had. The two sets of strings with different melodies in different octaves
remind me of different sets of friends and the debates we used to have. The
guitar which bends towards the end, makes me feel melancholic.
The first CharaNam gives me
memories of the paths and ways I took to reach my schools(in Madras, Hyderabad
and Cuddalore).
The guitar playing the same
melody repeatedly with the different sets of strings playing different melodies
again remind me of my college surrounded by the sea which had different colours
in different places and dirctions.
The flute and the
single-stringed instrument remind me of the birds perched on the trees on my
way to the college and their songs.
The second CharaNam reminds me
of my trips to the library and of me sitting under the trees with a book in my
hand.
Life is a lesson. What we
experience cannot be taken away. This is what is energy. This is what is
spirit.
Wish people in our country
were more sensitive to this fact and respected what needs to be respected!
