China has gone ahead with its plans to build dams on the mighty Brahmaputra river in Tibet, with the fate of the downstream Indian states uncertain. On the other hand, India is herself building dams on Brahmaputra’s tributaries in Arunachal Pradesh, which will affect her own people in Assam, and neighbouring Bangladesh. How can India protest about the Chinese action now? asks Prof. Chandan Kumar Sharma. Ever since the news of China building the Zangmu hydel project on Yarlong-Tsangpo (as the Brahmaputra is known in Tibet), and its plans to divert its water toward north started filtering in more than…
Author: oiop
How many of us know that the world’s fi rst plastic surgery was conducted in India by an Indian? Sushruta, an ancient Indian surgeon, delved into the intricacies of medicine and fi ne points of surgery in his treatise Sushruta Samhita, much before the western world even knew about it. Isn’t it time that the medical fraternity in India take a ‘Sushruta oath’ in place of the ‘Hippocratic oath’? This would be an apt tribute to the father of Indian surgery. A feature by B. M. N. Murthy. Since our body is the most precious gift of God and since…
Indian music and musical traditions are at a crossroads with the emergence of the new media. Today, learning and dissemination of music is ably assisted by webcasts, live streaming and Skype, though illegal downloads have long become a way of life. Harnessing the new media constructively, while keeping the rights of the artistes and the recording industry in mind, is the right way to go. Vithal C. Nadkarni finds his way through this musical maze. At a Jaipur concert last year, the Benares gharana maestros Rajan and Sajan Mishra asked members of the audience to desist from recording their performance.…
A genial giant among musicians (1925-1994) July 13 1994 was a dark day for Hindustani music, when Sangeetacharya K.G. Ginde passed away in Mumbai. He was a genial giant among musicians, with a ready wit and explosive laugh. His shishyas had known him as an uncompromising disciplinarian when it came to music, yet a kind-hearted guru whose gyan was an open book, verily an encyclopedia of Hindustan music, for everyone to refer to. To his contemporaries at the Maris College of Music, Lucknow (now the Bhatkande Sangeet Vidyapeeth), he had endeared himself as chhotoo (the young one), but as time…
The Chennai music season perhaps has no parallel. In the month of December alone, a delectable feast of over 3,000 classical music and dance performances is organised at over 50 sabhas, where new talents are discovered, and established artistes return to their roots once again. There are changes today though, with young artistes trading quick excellence for depth and passion, feels V. Ramnarayan, but he also tells us why, despite everything, this show will always go on. It all started in 1928, when the Indian National Congress decided, when it met at Madras, to have some Carnatic music to educate…
The Renukaji Fair held annually in Himachal Pradesh is built around a hoary, interesting legend. The fair attracts large crowds and gives tourism in the region a tremendous boost. It is a win-win situation all round, says Tirtho Banerjee after attending the fair. Trumpets sounded and beats of drums reverberated as chants of Jai Parshuram and Jai Renukaji rent the air. Carrying colourful silver palanquins of deities, people drenched in devotion danced with religious fervour and joined in the shobha yatra (procession). The palanquin of Lord Parshuram was brought to Renukaji from the ancient temple of Jami Koti village, the…
The Baul performers of Bengal were more about seeking union with the Divine, than showcasing their musical genius. Shoma A Chatterji reviews the movie about Gour Khepa, one of the last Baul performers, who died last year. Gour Khepa performed with legends like Bob Dylan, and refused to visit the United States to perform in Peter Brooke’s Mahabharata, when told he couldn’t legally carry hemp with him! The Baul school of music that originated in Bengal before it was partitioned, is not just music or performance or a ‘school’, but comprised wandering minstrels who sang their own lyrics set to…
As long as there are news publications, letters to the editor will continue to be written, says A. Radhakrishnan. He gives tips on how to write that perfect letter, which may in itself be a solitary endeavour, but can even help to raise awareness about a social cause. Writing letters to the editor is not the prerogative of a chosen few. The right to ventilate one’s feelings, frustrations, and suggest solutions to problems besetting us – all of which can combine to do good to the society and the individual, belongs to all. These letters are a part of a…
Music therapy is very much a part of India’s ancient traditions and texts, but hardly anyone follows it today. One of the very few, qualified therapists is Pondicherry-based Dr. M. Hariharan, who is trying his best to revive it. But it is an uphill task in India he says, even as the rest of the world has successfully adopted music therapy. Indian music therapy, otherwise known as Sangita Chikithsa (meaning treatment by music), is quite an old and familiar concept in Indian culture. Many references are found in ancient Sanskrit texts and literature, like for instance, in Raga Nidhi, Raga…
The Unforgettable (1941-2011) A little over three years ago, on the morning of 10 October 2011, music lovers across the world were in for a shock. Ghazal legend Jagjit Singh had passed away at the age of 70, after suffering a brain haemorrhage a couple of weeks earlier. Suddenly, albums like The Unforgettables, A Milestone, The Latest and Mirza Ghalib, as well as film hits from Prem Geet, Arth and Saath Saath, came to mind. The songs Baat niklegi to phir, Woh kaagaz ki kashti, Duniya jisey kehte hain, Sadma tho hai mujhe bhi, Honto se choolon tum, Sarakhti jaaye…