DECEMBER MUSIC SEASON IN CHENNAI

Hi friends, 

Music is an art that puts sounds together in such a way that people like or find it interesting. It includes singing with voice or playing musical instruments. The word music comes from the Greek word Mousike. It means "art of the Muses". It means a person, especially women, who is a source of inspiration. The Muses were the nine goddesses who symbolized the arts and sciences.

In 1000 CE [Current Era], Guido D'Arezzo made many improvements in music theory. He first improved and reworked standard notation to be more user-friendly by adding time signatures. Then he invented SOLFEGE. It is a music education method used to teach pitch and sight singing of western music. This is the vocal note scale: do, re, mi, fa, la, ti, do.

I do not wish to elaborate any further. Music has its own history. It relieves stress and strain. It gives solace to the soul. It gets you peace of mind. It makes you forget the present and your worries. It is divine. All people do not have the capacity to sing. Years of practice is needed. The training has to start early in life when the vocal chord is flexible.

Some people, though not able to sing, maybe appreciative of the music. They may be knowing the nuances of music. They get happiness in listening. The third category neither knows singing nor the nuances of music but simply enjoys music. Most of people love music. Those who do not enjoy music are unfit to live.

Carnatic music is divine. It is very difficult to learn and to perform. Only a few people show interest. Modern music has taken its place. When I was young, in Srirangam temple, they used to play Thiruppavai by M.L.V. in the morning. I have interest in Carnatic music, especially after my marriage. I give below a list of ten songs which I like the most.

1.  Sri Chakra Raja                      Raagamaliga            Sudha Ragunathan
2.  Sobillu Sabdhaswara              Jaganmohini            Radha Jayalakshmi
3.  Chinnanjiru Kiliye                  Raagamaliga           G.N.B
4.  Ongi Ulagalandha Uthaman   Arabhi                      M.L.V
5.  Banturithi Kolu                       Hamsanadham        Radha Jayalakshmi
6.  Krishna Nee Begane Baro      Yaman Kalyani        Yesudass
7.  Chamaja Vara Gamana          Hindolam                 G.N.B
8.  Alaipayudhe Kanna                Kanada                     Sudha Ragunathan
9.  Radha Samedha Krishna       Kalyani                     G.N.B
10.Thaye Yashodha Undhan       Thodi                         Madurai Mani Iyer

In Chennai, there are Sabhas that give patronage to Carnatic music during  Dec 15th to Jan 14th or Margazhi, Tamil month of Lord Vishnu. Many talented singers, old and new, are given opportunities. My wife is a good singer and interested in attending music programs. Though we do not have the time, we go for the programs of the following vidwans.

1. Sri  Jesudass,  2. Ms. Sudha Ragunathan, 3. Sri Unnikrishnan, 4. Sri Kadri Gopalnath in saxophone, 5. Sri U.Srinivas in Mandolin [till he was alive], 6. Priya Sisters, 7. Chinmaya sisters, and 8. Ranjani Gayathri.
[Para 1 and 2 Wikipedia]
MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

Sri K.J.Jesudass                                                             

Ms. Sudha Ragunathan.


Sri Unnikrishnan

Sri Kadri Gopalnath.                                                       

Sri Mandolin Srinivas.

Priya sisters

Chinmaya sisters

                                                  
                                                      Ms.Ranjani Gayathri  
                                                     
                                                           

GRANDPARENTS THEN, AND NOW

Hi friends,

Now the child is sent to school at the age of 2 or 3. There is Nursery, pre-KG, LKG, UKG, etc. before 1st standard. The situation back in 1950 was different. I was admitted directly to 1st standard when I was 5. I did not carry loads of books on my back. I took only a slate made of thin Cuddappah stone. Later it was changed to a tin plate to avoid breakage. 

The school was between 9 AM to 12 noon. We had only 3 periods. We went to the school only with the slate and a chalk pencil. There were no notebooks, books, lead pencil, pen, eraser, water bottle, shoe/socks, uniform,  tiffin-box, etc. There were only 3 subjects, English, Tamil, and Maths. There was only one teacher for all the subjects. There was only one class per standard and one teacher took control of 2-3 classes. 

The teacher would write alphabets and numbers on a blackboard, which I re-wrote on the slate. He would put a tick mark which I proudly showed to my grandparents. They told everyone how intelligent I was. I played in the evening. We had two cows. The Konar milked the cows. My grandmother gave me fresh milk. We used only kerosene lamps at night. After the sunset, we had our dinner.

After dinner, I sat on the lap of my grandparents on the lawn under the moonlight in a cot made of coir rope. There was no mosquito then. My grandmother told me stories from Mahabharata, and Ramayana and taught me Sanskrit Slokas. My grandfather taught me Maths and Tamil. It was always an oral and memorizing type. The morals they taught me are of immense value even now.  

He started from the easy one and moved on to the difficult one. He taught  Numbers 1 to 100. Then Tables from one to ten. I had to repeat it again and again so that it got into my memory. Once a Table is over, I had to repeat it every day so that I did not forget. He would then move on to the next table until we reached 16. Then he taught me 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 tables. The present generation does not know anything about these tables and they use the calculator.

He would then take up Tamil. He taught 7 days of the week, 12 English months, 12 Tamil months with its Sanskrit equivalent, [eg. chithirai-mesham], then 60 years and 27 stars in Sanskrit. There was no writing. I had to repeat whatever he said and memorize it. This coaching was about an hour every day. While studying, usually I fell into sleep on my grandparents' lap. They would put me onto the pillow and covered me with a blanket.

By the time I reached the 2nd standard, I was thorough with all the above lessons and knew them by heart. Even now I know them which the present-day children miss. That was the role played by the grandparents then. They are not given their due place in the family and are ignored now. MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

THE AGONY OF A DEPRIVED OLD SOUL

Hi friends,

Hey, do you remember me? I am your father. I turn 85 today. You may not remember it. I want to talk to you. I know you are very busy. You have work to attend to, children to take care and you are running here and there, to make money.

You are wealthy. You have all the money in the world. You have given me the comforts. How long I can lye on this cot? How long I can stare at the ceiling? How long I can listen to the same music? My back pains. Just hold me up for a while.

My hands are shaky. I am unable to hold and read the book or dial the phone. My eyesight is failing and the letters are small. The broth, the maid gives, is tasteless. I miss your mother. If she is alive, life would have been heaven.

Please sit near me and look at me. See my cloudy eyes. The grey hairs are withering. The skin has become shrunken and wrinkled and eyes cataracts clouded. It is due to age. You are smiling at me, but I see no love in your smile. 

Loneliness kills. Do you see a father in me? I have lived my life. I love you so much unlike anyone else in this world. I would spare anything and everything just for sharing a few minutes with you. You feel sad when you read about the death of old people. 

Your heart bleeds when people die suddenly when they are young. But you do not even care to notice I become old every day just before your eyes. You are only busy making money. Still, my love for you remains the same even at the time of my death.

I may not be here tomorrow; I may not be here next week. Someday, you will shed tears for me and you will feel sorry that you did not have the time to spend with me. I love you so much and your sorrow will touch my heart deep.

We are together now. We shall talk, heart to heart, not as a father and son, but as friends. I may tell you something about myself and about life. I decided to have you in my life because I wanted someone to share my love with. But you are very different. 

I know you fully well. You are my son and I love you so much. Let the time slow down for us to talk. Speak with your heart, and I shall know your heart. Life is very short. So please come and we shall share at least these last moments together.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER

Hi friends,

Both of them were sisters. Their parents were neither rich nor poor. They had already performed their daughters' weddings within their capacity. They had died in a road accident. They were gone without even seeing their grandchildren.

The elder daughter was Abirami. She was 30, calm, quiet. wheat complexioned, homely, and studied up to the 10th standard. She was married to a farm labourer. She also worked in the field. They had two children, at the age of 8, and 4. Their income was just sufficient to meet the ends. 

Abirami cleverly managed the family. She gave importance to education so that the children would be well settled in life. Her husband also cooperated with her. So they worked hard, earned more money, spent less, and saved for their education. The children also understood the parent's difficulties and studied well.

The younger daughter was Annapurna. She was 25. fair, attractive, beautiful, intelligent, graduate, employed, and getting a good salary. She was married to a bank manager, with a good salary, car, house, etc. Theirs was a love marriage. When her parents objected, it was Abirami who persuaded them to agree. They had a 2-year-old boy

That day was Annapurna's wedding day. They always celebrated the whole day going out. This time, her husband was not able to spare the whole day due to official duty. They decided to go out in the evening. Annapurna was happy and she had prepared sweets and tiffin. Her husband had promised to come by 5 PM.

Annapurna got herself and the child dressed up ready. Her husband came in time, went for a bath, returned soon, and got himself dressed up. She served him sweets and tiffin. When they were about to leave, Abirami entered the house.

Annapurna was very happy to see her sister and thought she would also join them. Her husband also was happy and welcomed her. He was on good terms with Abirami's husband and also close to their children. He knew about their financial difficulties and he had helped them on many occasions.

Annapurna received her elder sister warmly. She had a lot of love for her. She cared for her and visited her often with gifts. She did not forget that her present life was only due to the blessings of Abirami. She offered her sweets and invited her to join them. She expected that she would accept her invitation.

Abirami hugged her sister with love. Then taking the little boy on her shoulders, she gave her a tiffin box and said " You are like a daughter to me. I know today is your wedding day. I  prepared some sweets for you. I would have come early but the bus got delayed. I have to go back and I cannot come with you. I have come with a purpose". 

"Our mother gave me a gold chain for my wedding. I wanted to give it to you at your wedding. But I had pledged it to pay school fees. Only yesterday, I got it back. Immediately I got it polished to give it to you on your wedding day. My husband also agreed". She put the chain on her neck and started leaving. Annapurna was stunned by her majesty. They are BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER.