REMEMBERING VELLORE G.RAMABHADRAN

[cacm]

Dear Rasikas,
After recovering from the shock of Vellore G.Ramabhadtran's unexpected physical departure from all of us I have been in consultations with like minded persons interested in perpetuating his memory & contributions. For starters we want to start rightaway with concrete propositions:
1) Before getting into long range propositions, there is an IMMEDIATE area where those who wish to help can do so RIGHTAWAY. As many of you might know the last months of illness costs enormous amounts of money & the medical expenses amounted to close to FIVE LAKH RUPEES in this case. The family DOES NOT have the ability to handle this problem & I KNOW FOR A FACT (V.R. had discussed & worried about this with me quite a lot) that they need any help they can get. I have been in touch with them regarding this.
2) I have known & been very close to V.R. since 1953 & Cleveland V.V.Sundaram has been also in a similar situtation since the sixties. So for STARTERS BOTH OF US are taking this initiative & appeal to anyone interested in helping out on this immediate part of the project to either send whatever they feel like or get in touch with us.If you wish to mail a cheque right now please send the cheque made out to either V.V.Sundaram or V.K.Viswanathan.
IN North America:
Dr. V.K.Viswanathan, 690 Los Pueblos, Los Alamos, NM, 87544. USA. TEL: 505-6612618; EMAIL: vkv@juno.com
IN India:
V.V.Sundaram, "Guru Kripa", 3 Royal Enclave , Adyar, Chennai-20 600020 Tamil Nadu India. TEL: 24914103; EMail : vvsundaram@yahoo.com
3) We solicit your suggestions, ideas also. You can call or email ME OR VVS.
Right now as all the details like travel, visa, & other arrangements for Cleveland Festival are taking up all our time I am being Brief. Very soon I hope to write in greater detail . VKV(V.K.Viswanathan)

[arasi]

cacm,

Vellore Ramabhadran--professional in his playing, professional in his being, and in the end, succumbing to illness...

The reality of human existence--or, should I say the end of it, in the case of old folks?
Time for some action now, rather than words, I guess. Thanks for your post which would be of help, I hope.
We are doing our bit now by sending you a check.Thanks.

[cacm]

THANKS VERY MUCH. VKV

[Nick H]

VKV sir, What you are doing is great.

We intend to do a little for the widow of late Mayavaram G Somusundaram and can't commit to anything else.

I guess we can't all help everybody, but if we all try to help somebody it all adds up.

[cacm]

Dear Nick,
I understand. I am glad you are involved in another good cause. I find that ACTIVITY however defective & insufficient as well as deficient is BETTER THAN NON-ACTION. REGS, VKV

[Ramasubramanian M.K]

VKV: I would like to support your initiative. Will meet in Cleveland and give you my contribution.Did not realise that the illness was so prolonged and trying. Here was a TRUE Gentleman,never spoke ill of anybody or even a snide remark- despite "taunts" from his peers about his sarvalaghu playing. I have known him for over 60 years from his New Street days in Mandaveli and hosted him several times when he visited the USA---the perfect guest that any host can dream of--will blend with the family totally--never put on any "airs",excellent sense of humour perceptive but reticent. Great loss to the world of Music.

[cacm]

Dear Ramesh,
LOOKING forward to meeting you in Cleveland. PL track me down as I will be running around. VKV

[cpblog]

Dr. VKV,

On behalf of the "Parvathi", Mysore family, R.Sachi and the CPBlog team
please anticipate our contribution by check, in the coming week.

We pray that his family is kept well in the light of all the beautiful
moments that the great Vidwan gave to us fans, in his virtuosity.

Respectfully,
CPBlog Team
http://chowdaiahandparvati.blogspot.com/

[cacm]

Dear "Parvati & cpblog team",
THANKS for your response. Let me take this opportunity to acknowledge ,congragulate, and thank your team for YOUR EXCELLENT efforts in propagating & popularizing our music. REGS, VKV

[sarvalaghu]

Dear Rasikas,

I had long discussions with Sri VK Viswanathan and Sri VV Sundaram in Cleveland over the past several days. As one of Sri Ramabhadran's foremost and long-standing disciples, I have been co-opted into this committee to help Sri Ramabhadran's family in their time of need. Sri Sundaram has offered the umbrella of the non-profit organization, Aradhana Committee, as a conduit for the donations such that donors may avail the tax deductions (in US) for these donations. Sri Viswanathan has given 90 copies of the DVD he released on the occasion of Madurai Mani Iyer's Birth Centenary. Those who donate $100.00 or more will receive a copy of this DVD (while supplies last), shipping and handling at my expense. Please do find it in your hearts to help the family of the "gentleman" mridangam vidhwan, the doyen of sarvalaghu, one of only six mridangists to ever be awarded the Sangeetha Kalanidhi, and, in fact, one of very few vidhwans ever to be unanimously voted by the Sangeetha Kalanidhi committee!

Prakash Rao

[arasi]

Prakash Rao,
Hope the response is/was warm and generous from rasikAs who are/were in Cleveland. Your guru was very much part of the Cleveland scene. Even others who have admired him for his art from afar will be responding, I hope.

[sarvalaghu]

Dear Arasi,

The response has begun to gather momentum. It has been about a week since I spoke with Sri VKV and sent out my appeal. Already in this time, many of my guru's admirers have come forth to help.

Sri VKV mentioned that I have been remiss in not stating whom the donations must be made to. For those in the US, please donate by check payable to "Aradhana Committee" with "Vellore Ramabhadran" in the memo field. The check may be mailed to me, Prakash Rao, 6 Breezy Court, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076. For those in India, please remit directly to Sri Ramabhadran's daughter, Smt. T. R. Padmini, 12, South Chitrakulam Street, Mylapore, Chennai 600 004.

PR

[Ramasubramanian M.K]

Prakash: I have sent you the check today--Please coordinate with other sishyas like you in the US and abroad(for example Ramesh Srinivasan in San Jose)--I am sure you are already doing it.

In my over 60 years of hosting/befriending CM Vidwans in India and in the US, VR ranks highest amongst the most genial,accommodative artistes. In his playing as well as off the stage VR was the EPITOME of grace and civility.

[sreebeecane]

cacm and sarvalaghu, I hope it is not too late to send a cheque. Is it possible to send one to a US address soon? Please let me know.

[cacm]

cacm and sarvalaghu, I hope it is not too late to send a cheque. Is it possible to send one to a US address soon? Please let me know.

You can still send a cheque to the address given in post#12. VKV

[RKrishnamurthy]

The efforts taken by Cleveland committee and others is praiseworthy. I hope to meet with VR family in India in August and help in whatever way I can. An idea that could be considered is to dedicate one of next year's ticketed concerts as "Vellore Ramabhadran" concert and give the proceedings to his family. I hope some considerations can also be made for artists like Mayavaram Somu, a real class act.
R Krishnamurthy