Madan Mohan's ek song, silken, soft, gentle

 Madan Mohan's ek song, silken, soft, gentle! Guessed it? A tough question, that one, right? One can line up hundreds in answer, right? Yet, in my opinion, the best match would be "tum se kahun ek baat" from his National Award winning  sound track of "Dastak". 

Actually, each and every song of "Dastak", like almost his entire oeuvre, is a gem. Yet "tum se kahun" is unique. It uses the whisper-singing mode, getting popularised in the third decade of the twenty-first century, that, too, mostly in the Western pop genre. 

In 1970, Madan Mohan uses that soft yet spoken intimately whisper, that, too, without the breathy husk. The harmony is indeed petal soft aurally. Mohammad Rafi has most lovingly captured that romantic feel penned passionately by Majrooh Sultanpuri.

The tender repetitions, the soulful similes and images, the calming composition of light consonants by Majrooh Sultanpuri is accompanied by the lovely ensemble of violins and guitar interludes. Equally special are effects such as the add-in of a horse driven tonga retreating along a lonesome lane.

That "silent night, lovely night" effect captures most lyrically the soulful intimacy of genuine love. Madan Mohan thus continues to enrich our sensibilities most sensitively. Hence this tribute on his death anniversary!

Pratima@ In the AI era now, making music may be mechanical. Can, however, such magic be ever spun yet again?

Quote of the day:                                                              "Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything," asserts Plato. A definition that stands the test of times! 

Word of the day: harmony                                          Harmony refers to the pleasing, gentle, balanced arrangement of different parts, resulting in an overall sense of perfection, unity and aesthetic balance. 

Pratima R Agnihotri                                                    Pune

Tradition and the Young Talent

 T. S. Eliot, a great poet and critic who transformed literary paradigms the world over and forever, began his trail blazing career with a brilliant essay entitled "Tradition and the Individual Talent." The title of our blog today is a take on that world famous moniker. 

Much deserved is this title because our blog celebrates the first ever symbolic 'wari' at the BMCC. Celebrated this afternoon, at the helm were the young FYJC-ians, ably helped by their SYJC seniors, and efficiently guided by their teachers. 

Absolutely adorable was their enthusiasm. The kids did not forget nary a thing. Decked up in the traditional finery, they hosted, hustled, hurried here n there, their fresh faces full of joy, devotion, and a sense of duty. A cute feel it was to look at their furrowed brows full of commitment and acute concentration so as to observe the minute most details. 

Their 'wari' began with the 'nam-mudra' for everyone. After the customary 'puja' began the 'dindi'. The procession around the huge BMCC ground was attuned to all the traditional 'wari'-related musical instruments, 'veena', 'mrudung', and the castanet like 'taal'. Why, the event began and ended with a 'shankh naad'. 

No wonder, all those passing by the BMCC stopped awhile to look at these students busy with the 'nam ghosh.'  Once back to the campus, they even sang/recited the major 'abhang' often associated with the 'wari'. The 'dindi path' within the campus was decorated with 'rangoli' patterns, while the Tata Hall and the foyer looked as dapper as these sincere kids.

The 'dindi' ended with the 'ringan' ceremony, performed genuinely, with lots of sensitivity and boundless enthusiasm. The traditional 'fugadi' was not missed either. There was a proper 'aarti' and 'prasad' at the end. Most importantly, the kids explained each and every ritual, and its relevance. 

No wonder, both the guests and the Principal appreciated their efforts which were encouraged most effectively by the Heritage Collective In-Charge teachers. All of them and their students deserve our huge thanks for bringing the 'Pandharpur Wari' here on campus!

Pratima@ Unlike the online 'wari' cum lecture series so far attempted by the BMCC  Heritage Collective, this first ever offline 'wari' was a perfect channel to the unbounden energy of the Junior College students.                                                                            Such cultural awareness is the need of the hour, given the times today! Such kind of 'college' and/or 'traditional' days create a space that brings youngsters closer to their roots, right?  

Quote of the day:                                                          "Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire," asserts Gustav Mahler.

Word of the day: Wari                                             The Wari (or Vari) is a sacred annual pilgrimage (yatra) in Maharashtra.  Dedicated to Vithoba, the arch deity of Maharashtra, it was initiated by Sant Dnyaneshwar.                                                                            Millions of devotees (Warkaris) walk on foot for about twenty-one days carrying the padukas (symbolic footwear) of the revered Marathi saint-poets. The major procession travels roughly two hundred and fifty kilometers from Alandi and Dehu, holy towns associated  with Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram respectively.                                                             All the other palakhi's join this procession en route. Finally, all the dindi's  converge at Pandharpur on Ashadhi Ekadashi, the day when a fast is kept.                                                        After the 'gopal kala' the next day, the warkaris return home to their agricultural duties. They observe the Chaturmas till Kartiki Ekadashi. 

Censor!

 It was the best of the moments, and it was the worst of the moments, and let me tell you why I so write. Time was when I was a rookie journalist with the "New Indian Express." As I was basically a Ph.D. researcher, I was a freelancer with the newspaper. Yet I used to be a regular, too, so much so that per week, I could pen at least three articles for the Features' Desk. 

When I got to know that Bhishm Sahani of the "Tamas" fame would be there, I got the Desk Editor's permission to interview him. I got a proper interview time allotted by him, an interview graciously accepted by him, given his advanced age. Later on when the write-up was published and I sent him a xerox copy, I received a "You are very kind" post card from him which is one of the high points as a journalist for me. 

That is the best aspect. The worst moment was one of the so-called great academicians signalling him through gestures not to speak! Well, it was a properly n prior permitted interview for a leading newspaper. Even to hint at such a gesture was absolutely unprofessional. And here was this absurd behaviour! The less said about such ugly nastinesses, the better it is for one's own memories! 

Anyways, despite such "censoring", the interview did take place! One of the questions I had asked Sahani-ji was about censoring of texts, films, paintings, any cultural/aesthetic product for that matter.

His answer, I feel, can be a leading light whenever such issues toss up n down the entire socio-cultural ethos like a whirlpool. Sahani-ji's opinion -- here I am not quoting him verbatim, rather summarising his ideas -- was that an artist's freedom of expression is indubitable. Yet it cannot conveniently corrode the societal set-up.

Thought of it all because of the current furore over this bio-pic entitled "Satluj". Apparently, it deals with the aftermath of the Bhindranwale era in Punjab. No, I have not watched the film. No, I have not read up about Jaswant Singh Kharla. No, I am neither praising nor criticising the entire discussion.

Well, as it transpired during the interview mentioned above, we have to understand that an artist as an individual is a part of the society. The whole, too, matters as much as the part; the center of a circle, too, is as valid as the circumference; neither side of a square can either be elongated or shortened without disfiguring the original, right? 

To consciously ignore either to suit one's own immediate agenda, to cherry-pick conveniently to valorise one's own current postures, to create bitter binaries to hypocritically manage one's own present profiteering, whether it be socio-cultural, historical, political, ideological is an intellectual crime! Instead, better defend an idea through/with an idea! In brief, self-reflexivity matters the most! 

Pratima@ I do think that 'managing' media in such a pseudo mode is much worse than the p.r. promotion about film stars' personal lives just before the release of a film!                                   Is the film really banned, moreover? The cuts could continue to be challenged in the Supreme Court, and even beyond (the President's intervention?!?), right? Given the times today, in addition,  is it possible at all to ban anything? Conveniently it can be downloaded from very many legal/illegal sites! In fact, the film must have gotten loads of curious publicity because of the so-called prohibition!?! Or was that the plan of promotion???

Quote of the day:                                                          "When you tear out a man's tongue, you are not proving him a liar, you're only telling the world that you fear what he might say." A quote by George R.R. Martin.

Word of the day: Censorship                                   Censorship is defined as the suppression or prohibition of speech, public communication, or other information considered objectionable, harmful, or inconvenient by governing authorities, private institutions, or individuals. It restricts freedom of expression and aims to control the flow of information.

Why the push n shove?

 In our area, there is a Shri Rama temple. Each Ram Navami, there is a "janmotsav." When it comes to taking the 'prasad' distributed by the 'guruji', most all present rush n create a mini stampede like situation. Everyone is shoving everybody else aside, jostling like mad, none is ready to wait, to stand in a queue. Nobody is there to make the crowd behave itself like devotees, and not like savages! 

Nothing unique about this scenario. Last year, I was in the Tulshibaug Ram Mandir at the same time. Aai loved Shri Rama. She used to recite the 'Ram Raksha Stotra' with great devotion. Her 'Bhajani Mandal' used to perform during the 'Chaitra Navratra'. Hence my attendance in her memory. The scenario inside the Tulshibaug temple was no better than the rush in the lane out there in the peak hours!

Look at the annual palakhi procession. Except, may be, for the designated 'palakhi mandali', the rest is sheer chaos. People push like hell to reach near the 'paduka'. Horrible is the condition of the poor horses. A hyper sensitive animal, it is touched by thousands anywhere anyhow. On the cart driven by the bullocks, there is a huge load. I absolutely admire all these poor animals for their tremendous tolerance and patience.

As for the actual 'wari', it is like the crazy current of a mad river in terrible spate. People push each other like anything. Food items are distributed at all sorts of places. A huge crowd gathers, though the push n shove show continues. Old folks slip on the banana peels. None is bothered. 

Is it so very difficult to prepare barricaded routes so that the Wari procession can continue faultlessly, and the onlookers can pay their obeisance to the 'padukas'? Why not give the food items to the 'dindi' head who distributes them to his 'dindi' at the stage when all stop to rest a little? If you give bananas, why not give a paper bag for the skins to be discarded?

The same push n shove scenario is very much the 'done' stuff during the annual Ganesh immersion procession. Why, even at Tirupati Venkatesh Balaji temple, beyond the 'Garud Stambha', it is such a push, shove, ram, thrust scenario that a stampede is eagerly awaiting to happen! 

A similar free for all is the sick scenario in the narrow most lanes leading to the unique temples at Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and on the narrowest bridge leading to the Badrinath campus with Alaknanda, just two or three feet below, roaring its fury at this madness! Is everybody awaiting a Himalayan blunder?

The authorities MUST act before some huge tragedy takes place. People must be made to follow barricaded routes. Why incur the deities' wrath, given such uncouth 'darshan'?!? Merely mad mob mentality!

Pratima@Honestly, the scene is no different from the horrible crowd attacking  the poor local trains during the rush hours in Mumbai! And we call ourselves devotees, even when it is difficult to call such crude behaviour human(e)!

Quote of the day:                                                          Says Seneca: "Do you ask me what you should regard as especially to be avoided? I say, crowds; for as yet you cannot trust yourself to them with safety."

Word of the day: Mob mentality                                 Mob mentality or herd mentality is a psychological phenomenon where individuals adopt the behaviors, beliefs, or actions of a larger group. Driven by a desire to fit in and a loss of personal accountability, people in a crowd may abandon critical thinking and moral responsibility.

Singing the Pasaydan

 At 9 this evening, many Puneites and even others, who might have the link, would sing the "Pasaydan." Sure I am interested in as well as excited about the project. 

Why so? Okay, let me explore the issue. It is Sant Dyandeva who has enunciated this great prayer for the welfare of the world and for the abundance of peace and serenity. In my opinion, Sant Dnyaneshwar is one of the greatest reformers. I do most sincerely think that he is not only a great philosopher, but he also offered a great new direction to society.

He was the first to translate the Sanskrit "Bhagwad Geeta"  in to the then local folk language. Likewise, his other writings, too, make the great knowledge of the Vedas and the Upnishads accessible to the common man. The great poet and the superb communicator that he was, he uses apt images, perfect symbols that relate to daily lived life to 'translate' the great thought in to relatable concepts. 

This wonderful contribution, which promotes equality and  knowledge for all,  should require at least some six lifetimes. He managed it within a short span of hardly twenty-one years. Unjustly ill-treated, horribly harassed, horridly hunted literally, yet this brilliant young man prays for the welfare of the world. 

That is "Pasaydan", the core of his humane thought and 'holi'stic vision. His prayer is that the wicked should not only get rid of their villainy, but there should be such a sea change (with-n-) in their hearts that they should follow the right(rous) path. Yet his essential prayer is that each should get what he wants. It is this ambrosia that he is celebrating in this heart felt prayer. 

Truly the most humane vision imbued with divinity itself is the "Pasaydan," the final prayer for profound peace, at the end of "Dnyaneshwari". Fully I support and heartily I participate in this most welcome programme. Looking forward to 9 o'clock! 

Pratima@ I adore n revere the great Sant Dnyaneshwar so much that the ideological warfare n party politics around such an event hardly matters to me.                                                 Anyways, emptily parroting secularism without having consulted either the texts or without having understood the context of "Pasaydan" is vain cynicism for me. For sure, I know how and when such terms entered the Preamble, and I do know to quite some  extent, having read in some depth the history of  secularism, what it actually means beyond party politicking which in the current context holds no meaning for me, given the international realities as well. 

Quote of the day:                                                            Says Epictetus,"All religions must be tolerated... for every man must go to heaven in his own way."

Word of the day: holistic                                                 Holistic means emphasizing the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Rather than analyzing individual components in isolation, a holistic approach examines complete systems, how they interact, and how they affect one another.

B(l)anking Operations

 On one of the statuses shared on the WhatsApp, there was this passionate plea about the lunch break poor poor poor bank employees are not allowed! Hugely sarcastic it was about how people spend hours looking at a JCB machine digging a road!! Acrimony itself it was about the bank clients not being able to fill forms!!! 

Yes, absolutely agreed that a lunch break is the legitimate right of the righteous bank employees. Yet most all clients who come to the branch are employees somewhere, too! Why cannot there be a simple solution of staggering the lunch break so that at least two windows remain open. 

As it is, most of the times, all the counters are never ever functional. If the branch is under-staffed, it is not the customer's fault, right? But, no, except for their personal favourites with whom they are busy  chatting, simpering, carrying on personal transactions, bank employees are rudeness incarnate. They look at people as if they do not exist at all.

Personally I sure do wait it out utmost patiently if I have the misfortune of reaching a bank branch exactly when the lunch break begins. Yet this gentleness never is reciprocated. Except for an honourable exception or two, nobody is as rude as a bank employee, the lowest to the highest per branch. Practically everybody would agree with this universally acknowledged fact. 

In the AI era, with huge computerisation, at any branch office, one spends hooooours for the simple most operation. Moreover, many client operations are anyways machine operated or managed online. Their mistakes, they would never ever accept. But gang up against a client, sure they would. Why must a bank be blank when it comes to basic, decent, straightforward communication? Commerce colleges sure need to work on their students' spoken skills! 

Pratima@ Recently, in a private bank, I was told that I opened an account which I never ever did. I showed them their own documents, but to no avail. When I asked for the details of that fictitious account, they would not share it! Some authority, eh!                                                             Yet another bother is the "helpful" liaison officer who calls up any time, but is never available when needed. Honestly, attendance must be a MUST in commerce and management colleges, and communication skills should be a subject taught every semester both at the UG and PG levels! 

Quote of the day:                                                         "Communication is the solvent of all problems, and is the foundation for personal development," says Peter Shepherd.

Word of the day:                                                          Irritation, frustration, vexation, frustration = Every branch of any bank! 

Decorating the deity

 In Aai's memory, we have instituted a prize in her school in Pandharpur. The teacher in charge sends the Vithoba pics now and then. In the status mode, moreover, I daily get the pics of the Kolhapur Ambabai, and often of the Datta Palakhi as well as of the Omkareshwar temple, Ujjain. 

At the very first sight, what strikes me the most is the aesthetics. The daily 'deco' of the deity is an absolute "dekho". On special occasions, be it the festivals such as Dasara/Padwa or the national days such as August 15/January 26, the idol is so beautifully decorated that is indeed is a divine vision. 

I love the anthropomorphism involved in the process. Come Ashadhi Devshayani Ekadashi, and Vithoba gets a pillow! It is believed that the Lord takes rest during the Chaturmas. No, it is not superstition. It is a unique oneness with the deity which anyways has been part of the Marathi Bhakti tradition, beginning with Sant Dyandeva. 

When it comes to the drape of Rukmini, personally, I adore the way the Ambabai idol is decorated. It is simply a beauty. The unique sarees are so draped daily that it is a visual treat, an ocular feast. On special occasions, the adornment is literally beyond  belief. 

Throughout the Wari procession and from the Ghat Sthapna till Dasara, Aai used to watch on the television the entire process of the daily puja. I hence know the lovely process of decorating the deity in quite some detail. Incidentally, the original idol of Ambabai has very kind, gentle, soft eyes. That is the only bit of embellishment I am rather uncomfortable with. 

Though I do not know in detail the way the Mahankal or the Gangapur Dutta idols are embellished, I sure would like to assert that decorating the deity is an art form. I think it is learnt in a hereditary way. Or it could be on the job as one progresses from the junior to senior priesthood. I would not know. 

Sure, the notion of godhead is an abstract concept. Yet such rituals lead the devotee, who may not always be a philosopher, in a more focussed way towards the divine. Hence this appreciation of this unique art. 

Pratima@ I must, however, admit that I love the Vithoba idol the most when it adorns the simple "tulshi" garland. 

Quote of the day:                                                           "We lack a direct access to God. Hence we worship the idol." Anonymous. 

Word of the day: deity                                                 A deity is a supernatural being, such as a god or goddess, that is worshiped by people who believe it possesses divine powers.