Ideas & Views

Carnatic music is  a  highly evolved art form with careful, diligent and scholarly contributions by many geniuses. By itself it is an equivalent of Hinduism, a way of life. It has a strong foundation and a wonderful structure. More importantly, it throws open infinite possibilities for manodharma, imagination and creativity. There is a widely prevalent notion that Carnatic music is too structured and very elitist. I have heard so from many who did not have much idea what it is all about. It is the lyrics that make one feel alienated from carnatic music and not the music itself. Can music ever be constrained within the realm of lyrics? What about instrumental music?  Carnatic music has a significant percentage of contribution from the Trinity. Religious flavor, deriving from all the Bhakti movements of the past, runs high in its veins. Bhakti is not the only emotion that we feel all the times of the day. We all necessarily don't worship Rama the same way we worship Shiva...

The farewell is over and here I stand in the middle of nowhere Or is it the beginning of a road I am not fully aware of. I have no concrete plans, No passion, no dreams,  Few ideas and vague thoughts, None too clear and calling. My mind is still and my slate is blank.

A farewell poem ..... To hear the morning birds sing, To smell the sweet roses, To watch the green grass grow, To bask in the mid noon sun, To smile at a stranger and mean it, To watch the children play, To see a flower blossom, To feel the rain on my face, To whistle at the humming of bees, To dance a jig, To read the position of sun, To gaze at stars all through the night, To play a game of run and catch, To meet old friends and have hearty laughs, To make a funny face and soothe a  crying baby, To wander away in woods, To turn off all gadgets, To stop and drop all thoughts, To pause and feel life, If not now, when else, For life is only once.