Mumbai - It happens only in India

http://us.rediff.com/news/2005/jul/28rain1.htm

And, I live in the world's largest democracy. A democracy that is of the people (a few corrupt powerful ones), by the people (their chelas) and for the people (themselves and their chelas!!!)

This is the sad state of the entire country, not just Mumbai. I can imagine the pain, for I have lived in agony in a rainless Chennai wishing for the rains to stop when they happened to shower. Such is the state of our sewage system! I am even more skeptical about Bangalore. It just hasn't got its first big hit yet.

Do we have any accountability at all??? We keep throwing some known devil out of power only to get another unknown one.

I am sure things can improve in this country, if only we could work on the mentality of people. We may be great in enduring pain and reaching out in tough times; we can show greatness in fighting it, preventing it!

Some movement by which -
1. People by themselves are educated and forced to
a) Not defecate in public places
b) Not litter just about anywhere - at least not throw plastic around
c) Keep public toilets clean
d) Not throw everything into the sewage (be responsible in disposing garbage)
2. Follow the traffic rules, for the good of entire world
3. Do their job properly & feel a sense of responsibility for what they are doing

It is not impossible, but, if we keep just calling up our residences and feel satisfied and happy that all our 'people' are safe, 'we the people' will not improve collectively. Almost 55 years have gone and we are still lacking in basic infrastructure??? Abominable to say the least. I'm looking for some NGO through which I could do my bit! If any of you who read this come across one such thing, let me know.

My favourite poems

Where the mind is without fear
------------------------------

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my father, let my country awake.

- Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), Gitanjali, 1912.

kite door bat ball....

as on jul15 -

let me continue before I forget

kite door bat ball
sky road car tree
engine light star PBC
monitor building signboard traffic-light
seven chennai seat-belt
smile divider nameplate
bus honda waterbottle
mouse watch mirror
indicator tennis-ball handbag
kannada silk-board maharashtra
awesome treetop moustache
red cylinder wife
sunflower aquaguard chair
toyota hosur can
song play panasonic
juice tissue-paper
temple tyre
panipuri roadroller
prestige handlebar

57 words!!! Wow! I can't imagine that I could actually remember all of them - we just had a game of word train just after our team outing today. I've had the max fun in this outing.

Musical Musings - I

Inspired by tilotamma's post on Bangalore Nagaratnamma (http://tilotamma.blogspot.com/2005/07/bangalore-nagaratnamma-part-i.html), I have dug up an article that I wrote ages ago.

Musical Musings - I
----------------------

Listen to traditional Carnatic Music, and for anyone new - all artists will seem similar. Everybody sings some Raga Alapana, some Keerthana and some swaras. The same keerthana "Nagumo" has been sung so much that I guess, Tyagaraja Swami himself might just say "Chalu Chalu ra saami! Enough is enough". Everybody sings the same "Ta na na" or "G R S N D". So, why is it that people still go to concerts to listen to different artists?

Carnatic music has the concept of lakshana. Let's take the meaning - lakshana has to do with features, characteristics. When singing a raga, lakshana refers to the structure of the raga. For instance, a prayoga such as "M1 G3 P D2 S" is referred to by traditionalists as the Kambhoji stamp. That is the Kambhoji raga lakshana. In order to bring out the essence of the raga, its lakshana has to be established and followed. For instance, although Bhairavi and Kharaharapriya share some similar swaras, the prayoga "S,,(g2)R2 S N2 D2" is Bhairavi and not Kharaharapriya. Whereas, the prayoga "D2 N2 G2 R2 S" is the property of Kharaharapriya. The prayoga "M1 D2 P M1, G3 R2 S R2" is Aarabhi and not Devagandhari. With almost the same swaras, Devagandhari meanders while Aarabhi flows briskly.

However, texts on Carnatic music say that lakshana alone will not render music, what is more important is lakshya. Lakshya means goal (just like in Hindi - yeh mera lakshya hai, Tamil - Latchiyam). What is lakshya - it is a Bhava that the artist is trying to bring out, a story he/she is trying to weave. Lakshya is what the artist wants to convey through the lakshanas! While lakshana forms the foundation, it is lakshya that becomes the beautiful sculpture or the temple that the artist builds.

It is this lakshya, I think, that unconsciously makes us listen to the same raga from different artists. Often, we stop with saying that he/she has a wonderful voice, or this prayoga was good. But, the entire musical experience is brought out by lakshya, not just vocal feats or swara mastery.

It might help us to think while singing (or playing an instrument) that we are weaving a beautiful shawl, telling a story or putting together various flowers to adorn the Lord's garland. We can get really creative with this. Once we know that there is a goal, a Raga alapana will not be merely an exercise of singing on R, G, P, D, N or going up and down the scales as fast as possible!

Terms:

Swaras: The seven fundamental notes Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa Da Ni
Bhava: Emotion
Raga: Technically, a set of swaras. Practically, swaras and their prayoga. Aesthetically, a medium for evoking a bhava.
Prayoga: A method of utilising something (like Prayog karna in Hindi). In a raga, it refers to some particular way of singing that brings out the essence of the raga.
Alapana: Elaboration of a Raga - using syllables Aa, Ta, Na, Ri.
Keerthana: Composition

Ragas described here:

Aa - Arohana (ascension) Av - Avarohana (Descension)

Aarabhi: Aa - S R2 M1 P D2 S
Av - S N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S
Bhairavi: Aa - S G2 R2 G2 M1 P D2 N1 S OR S R2 G2 M1 P D2 N1 S
Av - S N1 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S
Devagandhari: Aa - S R2 M1 P D2 N3 S
Av - S N3 D2(+) P M1 G3 R2 S
D2 in avarohanam is sung as N1D and not plainly as D
Kambhoji: Aa - S R2 G3 M1 P D2 S
Av - S N1 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S
Kharaharapriya: Aa - S R2 G2 M1 P D2 N2 S
Av - S N2 D2 P M1 G2 R2 S

References:
Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer's article in The Hindu on Lakshya and Lakshanas (I forget the edition)

DESIDERATA

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass. Take kindly to the counself of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born out of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle to yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you the universe is unfolding itself the way it should. Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you perceive Him to be. And whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

-Max Herman

***Thanks to Prof S. Raghunath, who gave this at the end of our Alliances course***