Saturday, March 31, 2012 – Cheating death and…more on music

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.