Let me attempt to now narrate
matters that involved me personally involvement; some good, some bad, some
downright ugly. I hope these write-ups interest you enough; I for now believe
that words, and words alone build a mosaic of interesting and readable
material.
I now narrate how men turn to
become beasts, and act violently and senselessly. This happened in Calcutta
during the second communal riots. On Direct Action Day of August 16, 1946,
under the Surawardy regime, Calcutta became the playground for anti-social elements
to kill, plunder and loot. The Statesman of Calcutta called it “The Great
Calcutta Killing”. The mob, which was marching from Howrah Maidan towards the
city, crossing the Howrah Bridge, took law into their own hands and carried out
a mass murder. Citizens were saved from this communal carnage only on the third
day, due to the valor and courage displayed by the Sikh and Bihari community,
amounting to self-sacrifice. They retaliated by silencing those who started the
trouble.
During those days, I spent my
evening leisure hours visiting the post-graduate hostel of the University
Science College of Calcutta near Sealdah, where one of my cousins and several friends
lived. They used to delight in my company and I would join them for a brisk
hour of basketball or volleyball. Sweaty and foul-smelling after the game, I
would head back to my room in Central Avenue for a hurried shower, then join my
roommates for a chat, have dinner, and sleep off. My morning shift duty @6am
involved repairing and maintaining steam locomotives at Calcutta Port
Commissioners at Garden Reach workshop, my temporary job then.
One of those days, after the
usual round of volleyball at the PG Hostel, walking along Mirzapur Street
towards College Square. I suddenly realized that a person was suspiciously
following me, with dagger drawn. His intention was pure and simple – to kill
me. The second communal riots in Calcutta were on, and anti-social elements
were on the prowl for murder and loot. Profusely sweating, I increased my pace.
I heard someone shouting out to me that curfew was imposed and that I had to
take cover. As I hurried ahead, with the killer following me, I noticed the familiar
Sangu Valley Tea Restaurant in front of me. That restaurant saved me - rushed
in, even as the manager, who knew me, was reprimanding me for being straying
out. Several hours later, I took courage to leave the restaurant when my friend
provided me with an escort to reach me home. It still haunts me when I think of
this incidence.
I somehow am unable to stay
away from the subject of music. I made a gross mistake by omitting the name of
Karaikudi Brothers, particularly, Sambasiva Iyer, famous for his veena playing.
Similarly, I omitted the name of the legendary figures connected with Katha
Kalakshebam whose names to this day are remembered in a nostalgic manner. From
Harikesanallur (a village in Tirunelveli), one of the poorest of the poor Tamil
Brahmin boys left his homestead to eke out a living. Gifted that he was with a
sweet and melodious voice, and unmindful of the presence of the Royal family of
Mysore, he was apparently singing in front of the deity of Chamundeswari, a
temple near Mysore city. Surprisingly, the Maharajah picked him up, gave him
shelter, and provided him the right guidance for him to emerge as a famous
exponent of katha-kalakshebam. He became a giant among musicians, and strolled
the music world with unmatched excellence. He is none other than Harikesanallur
Muthaiah Bhagavathar. In addition to kalakshebam, he was a great composer of
music. His krithis in their form and content are popular to this day and his
compositions have a permanent place in Carnatic music. He was feted by all the
Maharajahs of the south. Well dressed in the royal suit presented by the
Maharajahs with a matchless zari turban crowning his head, and French perfume
profusely sprayed on his body and attire, he epitomized in real life, the
phrase “from rags to riches”.
The other “kalakshebam” personality
I missed mentioning was Mangudi Chidambara Bhagavathar, who hailed from a
village called Mangudi in Tanjore district. He came from a rich Smartha Brahmin
stock of Vaathima subsect. Those days, Tanjore vaathimans were fabulously rich,
philanthropic, and patrons of fine arts. They were noted to entertain one and
all, both at the conclusion of concerts, and during weddings in their community
with sumptuous and tasty feasts (“morattu saapadu”).
Chidambara Bhagavathar was a portly
figure requiring special seating arrangements. This heavy built person however performed
his kalakshebam standing on his feet for two to three hours, thus showing his
respect and reverence to the almighty whose name he invoked several hundred
times during the course of his performance. He was famed for his performance of
“Gajendra Moksham”, and “Kuchela Upakyanam”, two of the most famous episodes in
the Bhagavatham.
Bhagavatham teaches men to be
law-abiding, honest, humble, and helpful to others. It inspires people to go
forward and help tide crisis-situation through voluntary service. Bhagavatham
exhorts one and all to be active and equal partners in the emancipation of
suffering humanity.
