Cleveland, IPL and Hinduism

[mark akoori]

I just returned from Cleveland and being a cricket fan and believer of Hinduism, I couldn’t help at some comparisons.
Cleveland and IPL
(1) Both have become money making schemes following the naked principles of American capitalism. The IPL boasts that it helps promote and identify cricketing talents for the country. Yet they totally ignore the ICL and its players just because ICL threatens to eat away the money which otherwise would be IPL’s monopoly. Cleveland boasts the same, “promote KM and NA musicians” and yet dump or ignore many talented NA artists into the trash can.
(2) IPL has resorted to all sorts of gimmicks. The cricket played by Grace, Bradman, Ranjitsingh and Gavaskar and described so eloquently by Neville Cardus and John Arlot is now a caricature of buffoons in coloured clothing and orange and purple caps. This circus is further made more comical with the cheer leaders baring it all and the ultimate triviality of “time out” so that more of the same (money of course) can be generated. For Cleveland, cheer leaders are replaced by ardent shishyas of Karnatic music composing and singing “Happy birth day to Sundaram” in the middle of a serious concert. Then of course the spectacle of a western orchestra, suited and booted and all, seated on the stage where the idols of Rama and Thyagaraja are relegated to the back bench. I wouldn’t be surprised if Aiswarya or similar ilk are commissioned to do a Karnatic rap next year and make it a highly ticketed show. And don’t forget the concept of competitions that have mushroomed to every imaginable category with its own entrance fee and associated favoritism in judgment. In the mridangam competition this year, all the winners were students of teachers who also sat on the judge’s seat!
(3) In Hindusim, one goes through “balyam, kaumaram, yavanam and vardhakyam”. Looking at the chief guests of Cleveland I see a pattern
In the early stages the chief guests were highly respected musicians (balyam), then we had a corporate chief (kaumaram) followed by a diplomat (yavanam). This year it was a sanyasi (vardhakyam).

Must the show go on?

[uday_shankar]

Must the show go on?

huh ??!!

The last time I checked, we still lived in a free world. So people are free to put up any show they want and you are equally free to jump into Lake Erie, only a few blocks north of Euclid Ave.

[sureshvv]

Your rant reminds me of this incident many years ago when my parents and sisters visited us while I was living in the US. When the topic came to cricket and I said I could not imagine how anybody can watch a game that lasts all day, my mom exclaimed and bemoaned the loss of "Indian culture, tradition and values" !

[mahavishnu]

Good one, Sureshvv.

[cmlover]

Having identified Kricket, Karnatic Music, Karma (essence of Hinduism) as the foundation of Indian culture the KKK clan should attempt recovering the errant NA emigre through proselytism. VVS should lead the way since he invented the methodology of 'Competitions' in keeping with the pioneering spirit of the Pilgrims who came to NA in early days. Not knowing VVS's sports inclinations I may suggest someone close to him to persuade him to start a KKL (Kleveland Kricket League) competitions which will squeeze out the extra Kash (Shankar may note that along with Kash the extra pounds as well as per his advice ) from the pockets/stomachs of Indians in NA and the reputed Kash-hungry experts from India will be more than ready to train the Juniors and SubJuniors for the competitions. That will also wean the young minds from the local scourge of BBs (BaseBall and BasketBall). The Karma side has already been taken care of by Pitttsburg which has mushroomed into more than 600 Hindu Temples in NA. It will be nice if VVS can invent a competition among the deities at Kleveland using some innovative Sampradaya program. Perhaps the all-knowing Lord Venkateshwara the richest , will give the strength, vitality and long life to VVS to promote all of these KKK plans that will establish the Traditional KKK sAmrAjya in NA transplanted from the land of its origin!

[appu]

I Then of course the spectacle of a western orchestra, suited and booted and all, seated on the stage where the idols of Rama and Thyagaraja are relegated to the back bench.

mark akoori, If you look at the pictures posted in Kutcheri reviews of the concert, you will notice that the whole orchestra was suited up, but not booted up. They definitely respected our culture and performed without their shoes. Shows a lot of character. As for your character GOK ........... Probably another disgruntled parent or rasika.

[mark akoori]

Your rant reminds me of this incident many years ago when my parents and sisters visited us while I was living in the US. When the topic came to cricket and I said I could not imagine how anybody can watch a game that lasts all day, my mom exclaimed and bemoaned the loss of "Indian culture, tradition and values" !

Very interesting. When I took my parents to a football game to show them how much "American" I had become within a year after leaving India, where I lived and watched cricket for 25 years, they said" Why are these mountain looking rakshas falling on one man to get hold of a funning looking object?" Of course to me American football was my way of trying to be American. But how could I tell them this? Nor did I tell that unlike cricket players, most of the football players develop brain damage by the time they stop playing the game!

[cmlover]

Was it GBS who said:
Eleven fools playing and eleven thousand watching!
If he were alive he would have said
Eleven thousand million watching

[arasi]

Turn the clock back to antiquity and we would have been watching gladiators in the arena vvv

[yourfavoriteartist]

I just returned from Cleveland and being a cricket fan and believer of Hinduism, I couldn’t help at some comparisons.
Cleveland and IPL
(1) Both have become money making schemes following the naked principles of American capitalism. The IPL boasts that it helps promote and identify cricketing talents for the country. Yet they totally ignore the ICL and its players just because ICL threatens to eat away the money which otherwise would be IPL’s monopoly. Cleveland boasts the same, “promote KM and NA musicians” and yet dump or ignore many talented NA artists into the trash can.
(2) IPL has resorted to all sorts of gimmicks. The cricket played by Grace, Bradman, Ranjitsingh and Gavaskar and described so eloquently by Neville Cardus and John Arlot is now a caricature of buffoons in coloured clothing and orange and purple caps. This circus is further made more comical with the cheer leaders baring it all and the ultimate triviality of “time out” so that more of the same (money of course) can be generated. For Cleveland, cheer leaders are replaced by ardent shishyas of Karnatic music composing and singing “Happy birth day to Sundaram” in the middle of a serious concert. Then of course the spectacle of a western orchestra, suited and booted and all, seated on the stage where the idols of Rama and Thyagaraja are relegated to the back bench. I wouldn’t be surprised if Aiswarya or similar ilk are commissioned to do a Karnatic rap next year and make it a highly ticketed show. And don’t forget the concept of competitions that have mushroomed to every imaginable category with its own entrance fee and associated favoritism in judgment. In the mridangam competition this year, all the winners were students of teachers who also sat on the judge’s seat!
(3) In Hindusim, one goes through “balyam, kaumaram, yavanam and vardhakyam”. Looking at the chief guests of Cleveland I see a pattern
In the early stages the chief guests were highly respected musicians (balyam), then we had a corporate chief (kaumaram) followed by a diplomat (yavanam). This year it was a sanyasi (vardhakyam).

Must the show go on?

Dear Mark,

I remember posting in response to an idiotic rant that a fool named sbcricketfan posted about a year ago. You write so similarly that I am tempted to assume that he's created a new identity. However, since it is my lot in life to respond to foolish posts, here goes...

(1) Why do you think that the Cleveland Aradhana makes money? Let me make it very clear - The Aradhana Committee is so committed to being a non-profit, that it makes a loss every year. Last year, I posted some rough calculations. Go look them up. There is no money, no profit, nada. You, on the other hand, have a rich financial imagination.

The Aradhana "dumps artists in the trash can"? What does this even mean? I can understand what you mean by saying that the Aradhana ignores a bunch of artists, but "dumping" them? What kind of relationship are we talking about here?

There are more than a few thousand Carnatic musicians in India and NA. So what if the Aradhana doesn't feature 99% of them? Go ask your local organization to sponsor a concert featuring the "ignored" artists. Then you would have served Carnatic music and NA in one fell swoop. And the Aradhana Committee can go about the business of organizing concerts of the artists whose music they feel is worthy.

(2) Are you telling me it's a sad day when artists sing Happy Birthday to a guy who's helped organize the Aradhana for 33 years? That a serious concert cannot be interrupted to allow an artist to show appreciation for someone who has furthered that artist's livelihood and art form? Then I'm sure that as the audience, we should not have interrupted Sowmya's concert last year to sing Happy Birthday to her. We did it because she was performing for us on her birthday and we wanted to show her our appreciation. These little breaks make the Aradhana a unique festival and give it character.

Conspiracy theorists have been posting for the past few about how the competitions are rigged, so the public must be aware of this opinion. Consequently, the Aradhana should see a decrease in competition entries. And yet, somehow year after year, the number of entries goes up. A competition that was to be canceled was reinstated after the children circulated a petition to continue conducting it. Why does this happen even though so many conspiracy theorists keep posting?
It's because the conspiracy theorists are wrong. It's because you are wrong, Mark Akoori, and you should feel bad that you are slandering the integrity of artists who spend their time judging these competitions. You cast aspersions on volunteers like me who work very hard to make sure that the competitions are fair to all, even going to the extent of making sure no one is at a disadvantage because a door opened during his/her turn. You are a very poor human being indeed, if you believe that people who spend their time, effort and money to bring good music to the public are dishonest. Shame on you!

(3) Must the show go on? Yes, it must. Just not for you. Please stop attending the Aradhana, your absence will not be noticed.

[arasi]

Our favorite artiste!
Bravo!
Now that the show is over, the naysayers can decamp and find another pet project to knock (hope not!) and decide that they won't waste their time by attending the festival next year.

[VK RAMAN]

mark - note: your absence will not be noticed. You are now empowered to start another series where all neglected artists can perform. What a golden opportunity! carpe diem!

[rrao13]

Can some one kindly enlighten me about what is wrong in making money. If something is wrong in earning money in an honest manner, then quit USA and go to Russia (which wont really be any better because there the Government makes/takes the money ] )

[Ramasubramanian M.K]

Dear Mark: Reading your rant,I came across the following piece on Internet Civility in the WSJ(April 19,2010 :

Title: IS INTERNET CIVILITY AN OXYMORON?
Excerpt: "Message Boards dominated by anonymous comments often become havens for a level of crudity,bigotry,meanness and plain nastiness that shocks the tattered remnants of our propriety"

I suspect the Author of the piece must have read your post in the Form!!!!

[cmlover]

Those who make negative comments on Cleveland should have the courage to identify themselves.
Also we welcome even negative comments which are 'truthful' and constructive. They will (I hope be responded to) by one of the organizers...
In this case you appear to have just registered to throw a slur on the organization. Such posts are unwelcome here..

[sureshvv]

Very interesting. When I took my parents to a football game to show them how much "American" I had become within a year after leaving India...

Thats so fresh-off-the-boat Mark!... You should have taken them to a Baseball game and then they would have realized how boring cricket really is... Ducking for cover...

[gobilalitha]

From Cleveland to cricket land..Baseball is the dullest game ever played. . No action except from a few.. Nne people come and swing their bats in the air connecting only a few balls and goes back to the pavilion eating lots of chewing gums, as if they are very thirsty. Millions of Americans watch this no action game.
One should have watched ihe IPL GAMES Tremendous action. powerful shots, excellent fast and spin bowling breath taking impossible catches, artistic silken shots from great players like Sachin, Ganguly,Pollard to name s few, rocket like speed bowling by Shane Bond, Steyn and wily spin bowling by KUMBLE, MURALIDARN . Leave alone the scandals like betting, financial irregularities GOBILALITHA

[Nick H]

Yet another member joining just to have a dig at Cleveland.

Look, mark akoori... if you can read, you will find out that it has been done, to various levels of viciousness, not once, but many times, and you are much too late to join the bandwagon bashing this year's festival, and too early for next.

We have a welcome new members thread: I think we should have an Unwelcome new members too!

[cacm]

NICK,
GREAT IDEA! Maybe we can add another group called GUTLESS WONDERS under anonymity. cacm AKA V.K.Viswanathan Los Alamos, NM, USA. VKV

[Nick H]

Anonymity is ok... it's what people do with it!

In my next life, I will not use my real name on the internet

[prabuddha]

Aradhana has many good aspects. If it's bad aspects sometimes get highlighted, it is because they;re not taking care of the food aspect satisfactorily. If they did that, the people who overlook the stellar qualities of the aradhana will be becalmed.

[cmlover]

I am afraid the 'food' issue cannot be solved by discussing it here. Perhaps VKV can personally take suggestions and pass it on!

[VK RAMAN]

This is the first time Food matter is showing its ugly head.

[cmlover]

I recommend the CAC to seek help from our Dr Ravi Shankar (rshankar) on the matters of healthy vegetarian food!