Deserving personalities to whom SK was not awarded & reasons

jodha · Post by **jodha** » 14 Feb 2013, 13:34

Dear Folks,

I would request the senior members to enlighten us on this topic.

As far as my knowledge goes LGJ, rAmnAD Krishnan,MDR&rAmnAD Krishnan have not recd.What could be the reasons?

kamavardhani · Post by **kamavardhani** » 14 Feb 2013, 15:20

This topic has been discussed ad nauseam and beaten to death on this forum and elsewhere. Pls search old threads before posting.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 14 Feb 2013, 19:46

Unless we can bring the committee members here, there is no enlightenment, only personal opinion with, perhaps, a sprinkling of gossip.

kamavardhani is quite right. At certain times of the year it feels like this entire forum is about the SK award!

varsha · Post by **varsha** » 14 Feb 2013, 19:59

Some one has compared the discussion on the fate of civilisation to knitting.
It is a bit like needlework . Can be taken up every now and then when worried about nothing .
This SK discussion can be added to the list .

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 15 Feb 2013, 00:34

Putting the yarn and the needles away for the moment...
Or, that's what I think...

And, is it going to be a woman or man who gets the SK this year?

See, our fascination for the thing does rear its head every now and then.

Jodha,
Just wait until it's June. You may ask the question again

KNV1955 · Post by **KNV1955** » 15 Feb 2013, 08:48

Man or Woman?; Vocalist or Instrumentalist; TN or AP or Kerala or Karantaka; 50 to 60 or 60 to 70 or 70 to 80; First time under some category; My guess Man;Instrumentalist;TN;60 to 70; First time under this category. Guess the name.

KNV

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 15 Feb 2013, 10:19

RaviSri · Post by **RaviSri** » 15 Feb 2013, 11:00

The SK has been controversial from almost the beginning itself. In 1950 the Harikatha exponent C.Saraswati Bai was recommended for the award by the Executive Committee of the Academy. This suggestion did not go down well with musicologist T.V..Subba Rao and Semmangudi who started looking for some weakness in Bai. They found that she had not sung kalpana swaras, quietly overlooking the fact that such skills were not necessary for an SK. This flimsy reason was touted by the duo, accepted by the committee and that year Karur Chinnasami Iyer got the award with Bai getting a 'certificate of merit'. Years later a gracious Bai would propose the name of MS for SK.

The first controversial year was 1939 when they selected Musiri overlooking Chembai who was senior in age as well as concert experience. Chembai walked out of the conference. But he was prevailed upon to preside over the sadas and give away the award to Musiri. In his speech after awarding Musiri, Chembai remarked sarcastically that it was not enough that the Academy honour Musiri that year alone. "You must honour Musiri with the award every year". Thereafter whenever the Academy approached Chembai for the SK, he asked them, "Is there no one younger or less experienced than me this year. Honour everyone and then come to me." Semmangudi, many years Chembai's junior got it in 1946, a year after his guru MVI got it. Chembai finally accepted in 1951.

Another tamasha took place in 1964. Alathur Srinivasa Iyer was sounded for the award. Though elder to Subbu Iyer, Srinivasa Iyer felt that Subbu Iyer should get it first, he being their guru's son. Subbu Iyer thought otherwise. The Academy asked them to draw lots (they could have asked them to toss a coin instead!). The lot favoured Subbu Iyer who asked for a written commitment from the Academy that Srinivasa Iyer would be given the award the next year. The next year Srinivasa Iyer got it but Subbu Iyer had died by then. Why were both not considered together for the award is a mystery. A year could have been saved for another awardee.

1971 took the cake. That year the Academy's name stank for the whole world to inhale. Papanasam Sivan was selected to preside over the conference. He was 81. His disciple DKP was awarded a year before him. In his acceptance speech Sivan said that the Academy was honouring him because they had found no other person that year. Squirming and fuming in their seats the big bosses of the Academy decided to teach Sivan a lesson. After the inaugural ceremony, all the VIPs left with no one to take care of Sivan The poor old man with his daughter was left to fend for himself. They came out of the Academy and tried to wave a rickshaw to go home. It was raining and no rickshaw was prepared to stop. A journalist of a popular Tamil weekly saw this and wrote it in the magazine. All hell broke loose the next morning and the Academy was cursed by the music fraternity for shabbily treating a famous composer that too an SK designate. This happened on two or three other occasions in that season though reacting to the adverse publicity the Academy had arranged for 'The Hindu's car to pickup/drop Sivan. The Academy's reputation was damaged beyond repair.

Those who were by design or bias overlooked by the Academy for the SK award include, Rajaratnam Pillai, Pazhani Subramania Pillai, Needamangalam Meenakshisundaram Pillai, T.Muktha, Valangaiman Shamnikhasundaram Pillai, Flute Mali, M.D.Ramanathan, Lalgudi Jayaraman and many, many others. The SK award long lost its prestige. Nevertheless there is a clamour for the award among musicians which, I hear, has already started for this year.

More about the SK later.

venkatakailasam · Post by **venkatakailasam** » 15 Feb 2013, 11:04

Here is an extract of the speech delivered by Shri N Murali while "bestowing on Lalgudi the Lifetime Achievement Award"
summing up the spirit in which the award was bestowed:

quote...

“Today is a proud and joyous day in the annals of this great 80-year-old institution as we all gather here to honour one of Carnatic music’s greatest legends and a colossus among musicians, Shri Lalgudi G. Jayaraman.

“The Music Academy has not honoured Shri Lalgudi G. Jayaraman earlier. I may be permitted the liberty of drawing a parallel here. On the day of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary last year, it was widely reported in the media that the Nobel Foundation regretted not giving the Peace Prize to that great ‘Apostle of Peace,’ who is also the grandfather of our Chief Guest, Shri Gopalkrishna Gandhi.

“Well, dear friends and rasikas, in all humility and sincerity let me say that the Music Academy has done better than the Nobel Foundation at least in seeking to erase the mistake and the aberration. In its auspicious 80th year, the Academy takes particular pride and joy in conferring the Special Lifetime Achievement Award on the ‘musician among musicians’ Shri Lalgudi G. Jayaraman.” un quote

Perhaps, MA is of the opinion that Shri LGJ has been conferred a better title on him than Sangeetha Kalanidhi...

Quote is at http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/03/14/stor ... 750400.htm

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 15 Feb 2013, 12:08

RaviSri, VKLSM, KNV and others,
India is a nation of inequities and the Music Academy merely conforms to such traditions.
I pity the powers that be more than the unrecognised artistes.
I think TNRP, Mali, SB, LGJ, MDR and such vidwans head the list of all time greats and hold up to all of us how inequities abound.

As far as Gandhiji was concerned, the greatest icon of non-violence for mankind, hailed as the man of the millennium by Time-I feel the Nobel Prize, instituted by a man who saw the havoc his inventions and businesses unleashed on mankind, and mandated and awarded by white-dominated committees, would not have adorned Gandhiji well. It would be the biggest irony.

venkatakailasam · Post by **venkatakailasam** » 15 Feb 2013, 13:33

" I feel the Nobel Prize, instituted by a man who saw the havoc his inventions and businesses unleashed on mankind, and mandated and awarded by white-dominated committees, would not have adorned Gandhiji well. It would be the biggest irony."

I think nothing can be farther from truth..There were Many Indians who were awarded Noble prize...and Africans as well..and many others.....

Unfortunately, even though MKG was a peace loving man, there were more un peaceful communal riots during his life time...There are comments that he was following an appeasement policy..which has failed.....
Any way, Shri N Murali was making a statement that would amount that LGJ was was given a coveted award in recognition of his service to music..

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 15 Feb 2013, 14:35

All
Just a different opinion. SK is not awarded posthumously which is certainly a good thing. Looks like if musicians die before the age of 60 or so, there is a fair chance that even before the award is proposed the untimely demise of the artist preceeds .We should not blame the academy. I think possibly many musicians like may be MDR, Flute Mali , Ramnad krishnan,TNR etc missed it because of their little premature death. Also three years the awards did not happen ,Two on T and MD's 200th anniversary, and one as Ravisri said the alathur brothers could have been given together so the third year would have been open to another artist. So three artists lost the SK.

TNRP - died at the age of 58(died on 1956)
Ramnad krishnan died at the age of 55 years(died on 1973)
Flute Mali - died at the age of 60 (died on 1986)
MDR - died at the age of 61 (died on 1984)
LGJ - he was awarded but refused is what I heard, as he possibly considered late
Madurai Somu - died at the age of 70 (died on 1989), perhaps he lived long enough to get an award of SK, but could not make it, unlike the others.

There are few artists from 1974 to 1988 who in my opinion are definitely near Sk material who deserved, but on those years they should have waited as there are far better artists to get the same like MDR,Somu etc. But that did not happen.

You see for yourself http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangeetha_Kalanidhi . I have my own names , but prefer not to share.

Overall Academy has done a very good post 1990 to a great extent.

srikant1987 · Post by **srikant1987** » 15 Feb 2013, 15:26

"Like" Rajeshnat's post -- except that the 1974-1988 part is difficult to understand and not completely agreeable.

thanjavooran · Post by **thanjavooran** » 15 Feb 2013, 15:38

TKRangachari was denied SK. BTW as regs to TNR and Mali, SSI openly mentioned once in the sadas that the sin of not honouring these two stalwarts , still lingering the MA.
Thanjavooran
15 02 2013

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 15 Feb 2013, 16:32

I think S Balachander also deserved it.

mohan · Post by **mohan** » 15 Feb 2013, 17:06

and Tanjavur S. Kalyanaraman

CRama · Post by **CRama** » 15 Feb 2013, 17:08

Voleti, Radha Jayalakshmi too

KNV1955 · Post by **KNV1955** » 15 Feb 2013, 17:36

Sachi That is too much. I thought no one would guess correctly. Great.

KNV1955 · Post by **KNV1955** » 15 Feb 2013, 17:59

I don't know much about the awardess in 1931/1937/1940/1942/1950/1955/1963/1969/1974/1982/1998. I am sure Ramnad Krishnan/MDR/TNRP/Mali would have got but for their premature death. SB was anti establishment &created lot of problems for organisers. Still they could have given him. The story of Papanasa Sivan is really sad. I feel VVS & THV should be given. Both are 70+. Even Parasalla Ponnama deserves.

annamalai · Post by **annamalai** » 15 Feb 2013, 18:49

Of these, TNR's music was so highly respected by all the sangeetha kalanidhis of that era. So, not giving the award to him is inexplicable.

venkatakailasam · Post by **venkatakailasam** » 15 Feb 2013, 19:24

Shri KNV...I don't know much about the awardess ...

List FROM 1929 IS HERE...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangeetha_Kalanidhi

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 15 Feb 2013, 20:25

KNV we think alike, that's all.

thanjavooran · Post by **thanjavooran** » 15 Feb 2013, 21:49

KNV1955 Avl,
Papanasan sivan in his acceptance speech sarcastically mentioned that as there was nobody else could be identified, MA finally awarded this SK [to him] which caused much displeasure to the organizers [ Dr. Raghavan ]
The result was that he left un attended/ cared immediately after the closing ceremony.
Thanjavooran
15 02 2013

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 15 Feb 2013, 23:26

I was SHOCKED to see SIVAN unattended and wondering how to return home after the ceremony having received the S.K. Award which ACTUALLY increased the stature of the Academy; I was able to arrange for transportation (tho' I was a lowly Lecturer of Physics at that time).
I am HAPPY to report that under the current President Sri.Murali not only things like these but many other injustices have been eliminated. VKV

MaamiAtHeart · Post by **MaamiAtHeart** » 16 Feb 2013, 01:37

So, who will it be this year? (it is fun speculating!). My vote (either for this year or for future years) would be PS Narayanaswamy. He has been awarded the Acharya award, but just look at the list of his disciples. The wealth of music that he has shared with an entire generation of young singers cannot be quantified in words. I also wonder if the academy (see, we are getting very Oscaresque here!) will decide (just for the heck of it?) to briefly steer away from senior musicians and honor someone younger in the prime of his/her career. They did this with SSI, and I am wondering if another SS will get it this year (sorry, could not resist throwing in an acronym like everybody else does!)

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 16 Feb 2013, 01:58

To join in the speculation, historically awarding of the Acharya Award has been considered the equivalent of the "kiss of death" for the person to get the S.K. Award & has been true so far! VKV

MaamiAtHeart · Post by **MaamiAtHeart** » 16 Feb 2013, 06:22

cacm wrote:To join in the speculation, historically awarding of the Acharya Award has been considered the equivalent of the "kiss of death" for the person to get the S.K. Award & has been true so far! VKV

Thats too bad!

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 16 Feb 2013, 07:13

RaviSri
Pl continue with the History you know! That is fascinating...

RaviSri · Post by **RaviSri** » 16 Feb 2013, 13:42

Right from the late 1940s, TNR would send a letter on Independence day, August 15th, to the then Academy President K.V.Krishnaswamy Iyer (KVK). On both left and right sides of his letterhead would be imprinted the national flag and below that all his titles. He would implore the Academy to award him the SK that year, saying his soul would not rest in peace till he got the award. This went on till he died in 1956, in which year ironically another Nagaswaram maestro Tiruveezhimizhalai Subrqmania Pillai was invited to preside over the conference and get the award. KVK felt that TNR's imbibing of alcohol would put the Academy in a quandary as TNR, in 'that' state could not be expected to conduct himself and the conference with dignity. This was the main reason in denying the SK to TNR. The same reason was touted out in the case of Mali also. It was not because they died young that these two were denied. Many vidvans were awarded when they were young. Leave alone SSI, Musiri was only 40, Maharajapuiram (the father) was 51, the belatedly awarded Chembai himself was only 55, GNB was 48, MMI was 47, MS was 52, DKP 51, MLV 49, Balamurali 48, TNK 52 etc. So, there is no excuse in the case of TNR, Mali, Somu etc. It was simply blinkered, bureaucratic thinking.

1974 saw another tamasha. Critic Subbudu was clamouring for MLV to be honoured. Semmangudi who was a bete noire of MLV's guru GNB, stalled MLV's nomination successfully. That year at least someone else, like say, Valangaiman could have been honoured. But the Academy in its wisdom brought a musicologist from Andhra called Rallapalli Anantakrishna Sharma. He himself did not expect the award. He was only 83 years old and he required only four people to lift him up onto the Academy stage. Subbudu wrote that the Cathedral cemetry and the Krishnamapettai burning ghat were nearby, so the Academy could catch old of some 200 year old pEy or pishAshu next year and honour THAT.

Fact is that from 1979 it was Semmangudi who chose the SK and not the committee. In 1977 K.R.Sundaram Iyer, an industrialist, who was a close chum of Semmangudi became President of the Academy. The institution became SSI's personal fiefdom from then on. It was to continue till 1991, in the T.T.Vasu years too.That year it was KSN, Semmangusdi's close associate, next year in 1980 it was TNK and 1981 was TMT, both Semmangudi disciples. 1982 saw Embar Vijayaraghavachariar lobbying with Semmangudi and getting the award. iN 1983, MDR desperately wanted the award. Rukmini Devi Arundale went to SSI's house to plead MDR's case. Semmangudi expressed the apprehension whether MDR would be able to preside over the conference on all 13 days given his poor health. Pinakapani was chosen. Not that the above vidvans did not deserve it, but certainly MDR should have been honoured at least after Balamurali. Not honouring MDR with SK is another permanent blot on the Academy.

With S.Balachander's running fued with Semmangudi on the Swati Tirunal issue, it was quite obvious that SB wouldn't get the award. SB himself wrote in Kumudam magazine that he would not get the SK because of his truth telling. Semmangudi jumped at it, replying in the Kumudam itself, 'Look how greedy he is after the SK', as if he himself or the others were not greedy after it in their days. To further insult SB Semmangudi decided upon Veena Doreswamy Iyengar for 1984. SB was livid with rage. And at his fiefdom at the Indian Fine Arts Society that season he lambasted Doreswamy Iyengar and his veena playing, saying, "ANDavA, unakku type aDikkaNumnA evLavO office ellAm irukkE, court irukkE, vINaila edukku type aDikkarE?" (If you want to type there are so many offices and courts where you can indulge in typing, why type on the veena?) SB's point was that Doreswamy and his gurus couldn't play the veena as veena but their music was only typewriter music. Semmangudi retorted to this in his speech praising Doreswamy after the Sadas. Said he, "Doreswamy Iyengar veenai shuddhamA, suswaramA, inimayA irukkum. Shila pEr, veena kambiya piDichuNDU tonguvA. namakku bhayamA irukkum, kambilEndu tongAma irundA sarinnu tONum (Doreswamy's veena is sweet and with suswaram. Certain other people, when they play the veena, they pluck the strings so harshly that we we would afraid whether they are going to hang themselves from the strings.") Fun it was, but much bad blood. The dignity of CM itself took a big beating.

1985 was the wisest decision the Academy took when they nominated S.Ramanathan. For once, after many years, there was no controversy and SR conducted the conference with dignity and a great sense of purpose. He was not your, 'Sorry, thank you' SK. Most SK's think their duty is over when they say, 'nomba nannA pEshinA, romba nannA pADi demostration paNNinA". Not SR. His questions to the lec-demons and his observations were such that it brought out the best from the scholars and there was much for the rasikas to learn. Overall, a very satisfying and educative season. !986 was the platinum jubilee of the Academy. T.T.Vasu decided that Pandit Ravishankar would preside and get the SK. Not only most of the committee opposed it, Ravishankar himself said that he could not stay in Madras fro 18 days and preside over the daily deliberations. I and a a few others thought it was time for us play a joke. We suggested to TTV and Secretaries Rangarajan and Natarajan that Semmangudi be awarded the SK again. This was promptly conveyed to SSI who thought he was being ridiculed. Sruti magazine got hold of this news and keeping in mind SSI's political tantrums also backed up our suggestion. 'nAn enna paNNinEn, ennai edukku galATTA paNrA' was SSI's lament. Of course it was only a joke, but it set the tone for a colourful season. Ultimately the choice fell on KVN who should have been the first choice and perhaps even honoured earlier.

A vidvan who considered himself the senior most disciple of Ariyakkudi was livid with rage. The next year he simply threatened the Academy that if he were not selected that year he would hang himself from the lobby. Semmangudi told TTV, "namakkedukku avanODa shApam, avanE inda varSham Kalanidhi AgaTTum". The whole of the music fraternity came to know this and the Academy's name stank again.

More later.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 16 Feb 2013, 14:22

Nick H wrote:Unless we can bring the committee members here, there is no enlightenment, only personal opinion with, perhaps, a sprinkling of gossip.

RaviSri, thank you for proving me wrong. Fascinating history

Given such history, it is amazing the SK is actually coveted at all!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 16 Feb 2013, 15:41

RaviSri,
Thanks historian, for your illuminating posts

The Academy is like any other sabha (I don't want to see some folks fainting on hearing this).
Well, cramped halls, uncomfortable seats and bad sound may be their drawbacks, but in being as old or more in years and in running their affairs, some other sabhas are not inferior.
In a way, Muthiah Chettiar hall is just as large and is just as impressive as the Academy. It's air conditioned now and the pesky mosquitoes are no more a menace. Well, the seats need replacing, it is way out of reach for rasikAs and so on.

When rasikAs and performers start realizing that Chennai alone isn't the center of CM and that the Academy alone isn't the hallowed hall to perform in, our love- hate relationship with the Academy will abate and all will be well with us

Oh, and the Who's the Next SK? thread will be started at the end of November

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 16 Feb 2013, 16:01

Folks: My brief stay in Chennai and prowling around Cathedral Road sidewalks(!!!--are there any?),yielded the following strong rumors:
1. Sudha R seems to be the "Front runner" despite some feeble demurrhals from some(Can't she wait?) but has reportedly the backing of some "people-in-places" who can "swing" votes!! If this comes about I want credit for having "leaked" it FIRST!!!-- I would be satisfied with the title RK(Rasika Kalanidhi).
2.Strong contenders are TVG and V.V.S(the former an Octogenerian--a "plus" point and by no means "shy" to push his cause) and the latter(much younger with a scrupulous sense of dignity supposedly against any canvassing).
3.failing the above a "faint" chance of a surprise selection(have no clue what it is going to be!!).

Now that the rumor mill has been started feel free to add grist!!

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 16 Feb 2013, 16:49

My outside-chance youngster remains, as it has been in previous years, Ravikiran. If not now, then... I might even live to see myself proved right

When rasikAs and performers start realizing that Chennai alone isn't the center of CM and that the Academy alone isn't the hallowed hall to perform in, our love- hate relationship with the Academy will abate and all will be well with us

Just a few years back, wasn't the Academy in disarray?. Without Murali, perhaps nobody would be taking any notice of it at all now. Perhaps it would not exist to take notice of. Academy Mall?

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 16 Feb 2013, 18:53

MKR,
Good to know that you are enjoying your Chennai stay and are getting your share of insider's stories. The season has started in February this year--at least, the ever popular SK of the year question. Even without having your kind of connections, I'm already an RK (in my initials). You ARE a rasika kalanidhi--no credits need be earned towards that

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 16 Feb 2013, 19:07

RaviSri
Superb anecdotes , especially how SSI controlled choices of SK in 10 to 15 years time . Was there any nomination for Somu, I heard his caste came as a block , any information about madurai somu(he lived till 1989 till the age of 70)

CRama · Post by **CRama** » 16 Feb 2013, 20:45

There is one more story of a Maestro who managed to get telegrams sent to the Academy from all over the country for honouring him with SK and he got SK.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 16 Feb 2013, 21:40

Thx RaviSri.
Fascinating History. However unsavoury they be the Truths must be told.
If there are inaccuracies the members who are still alive can refute and this Forum
gives them a chance to set the records straight!
The value of SK gets dimmed once we get to know the politics behind!
The winners mostly deserve though some may be mediocre, the losers are not
whiners. We should respect the best in CM irrespective of the Awards...

Pl continue...

satyabalu · Post by **satyabalu** » 16 Feb 2013, 22:59

* I thought some one would suggest SKA.S.Rajam or Muktha (I think among all other duos who got SKN she is one left out of pair

).
* Is SKA a consolation for SKN for some?
* In my view Sri.A.Sundaresan should have got SKA .

KNV1955 · Post by **KNV1955** » 16 Feb 2013, 23:46

How about Parasala Ponnmma. She has learnt from Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar & later from Semmangudi.The only problem would be her ability to conduct the morning sessions because of her age. S Rajam definitely deserved the title.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 17 Feb 2013, 04:29

RaviSri - Very interesting!! Thank you for sharing.

RaviSri wrote:Right from the late 1940s, TNR would send a letter on Independence day, August 15th, to the then Academy President K.V.Krishnaswamy Iyer (KVK). On both left and right sides of his letterhead would be imprinted the national flag and below that all his titles. He would implore the Academy to award him the SK that year, saying his soul would not rest in peace till he got the award.

I am so sorry that no one 'taught' Sri TNR to threaten suicide - As you say, it worked at least once!!

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 17 Feb 2013, 04:44

Ramasubramanian M.K wrote:Folks: My brief stay in Chennai and prowling around Cathedral Road sidewalks(!!!--are there any?),yielded the following strong rumors:
1. Sudha R seems to be the "Front runner" despite some feeble demurrhals from some(Can't she wait?) but has reportedly the backing of some "people-in-places" who can "swing" votes!! If this comes about I want credit for having "leaked" it FIRST!!!-- I would be satisfied with the title RK(Rasika Kalanidhi).

well, you and only half of Mylapore!

Jest aside, I think it would be terrible to pass up TVG and/or VVS to award Sudha.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 17 Feb 2013, 06:02

Let us not forget BJ who may yet win an Oscar

RaviSri · Post by **RaviSri** » 17 Feb 2013, 11:08

First, the question about Somu. His name was feebly mentioned by some executive and expert committee members. But, as rajeshnat has averred, his caste came in the way. Most unfortunate and obnoxious too.

Taking off from where we left, 1988 was the 50th death anniversary of Veena Dhanammal. It was decided almost unanimously that a scion of that family would preside over the conference. T.Viswanathan presided that year and got the SK. There was no controversy and a whole day was set aside for the stalwarts of that family to perform.

In 1989 Semmangudi decided that he should occupy centre stage again. Maharajapuram (the son) got the award that year. His speciality was that he seldom attended other vidvans' concerts, a gesture expected of a President of the Annual Conference. He absented himself even on certain mornings, something that had never happened before. 'avanukkE niraya kachEri irukku, niraya vElai irukku, enna mAdiri illE" commented the Pitamaha in defence of the Maharaja. Anyway no fireworks that season.

The next year was special in terms of controversy. 1990. Lalgudi was approached and offered the SK. In 1986 he had written to the Academy asking them to give violinists prime time concerts. Some of the bureaucrats commented adversely on it. Later that year Lalgudi dropped hints to Semmangudi that he might not accept the SK if the offer came. In 1990, Lalgudi refused to accept. The bigwigs tried fro two or three days. But he did not relent. He was prevailed upon to preside over the sadas and present the SK to whoever was the awardee. D.K.Jayaraman was chosen.

There was a person called 'Auto Parts' Kannan, a member of the Academy. He with his acid tongue would make fun of or pull up any artiste or the bigwigs of the Academy. He circulated a joke on the first day of the 1990 season. "They asked Lalgudi Jayaraman, he refused to accept. They asked D.K.Jayaraman next. Thank God he accepted. If DKJ had also refused, they would have asked Tiruvenkadu Jayaraman. Now if Tiruvenkadu had also refused they would have asked Seerkazhi Jayaraman. Now if Seerkahi Jayaraman also refused, the Academy would have given the SK to Canteen Jayaraman. This year the Academy had decided upon the name which would receive the SK and they went about looking for people who would answer that name." Canteen Jayaraman was a caterer. He is known as 'Jnanambika' Jayaraman and runs the Jnanambika canteen at the Narada Gana Sabha during the season. It was a telling commentary on the Academy's attitude. Officialdom was furious but they could do nothing. That was the joke of the year.

Lalgudi refused because he was belatedly considered for the award. And rightly so. There was another controversy that year about which I wrote on sangeetham.com. I'll paste that article here later.

And what about the subsequent years, you may ask. I don't know, because in 1991, fed up of Madras, I left the city and went away somewhere else. After that I never attended the season even if I visited the city during December, excepting for a concert of Mukthamma or Viswa or Rama Ravi or a concert of SRJ and the like.

RaviSri · Post by **RaviSri** » 17 Feb 2013, 11:22

My Article written in December 2001 on the January 1st 1991 happenings.

That Was the New Year That Was

It was 1st January 1991, morning 9 a.m. The cognoscenti of South Madras bathed, put on their new clothes and wore their choicest perfumes, and after beseeching their appAs, ammAs, mAmanArs and mAmiyArs for blessings, marched straight to the Music Academy. It was Members’ Day too. After a sumptuous breakfast at the canteen (most of them do not cook at home, you know), they trooped inside the auditorium, licking their chops. That year’s Conference President was D.K. Jayaraman and he was going to present, along with his disciples, the Panchabhuta Sthala kritis of Muthuswami Dikshitar. That was Tiruvadirai day, the day of Arudra darshan at Chidambaram. Oh, then what about Tiruvadirai kaLi, didn’t the mAmis cook the delicacy at home for the festival, you might ask. Well, that the mAmiyAr will take care of, why worry!

Up went the curtain and there was seated DKJ with a dozen of his disciples and the violin and mridangam too. He wished everyone a happy new year and the audience reciprocated. True to style he began. It was the Bhairavi kriti, chintayamAkanda, the prithvi sthala kriti belonging to Kanchipuram. After that came jambUpatE in yamunA kalyANi, arunAchalanAtham in saArangA, sri kALahastIsha in husEni and finally Ananda naTana prakAsham in kEdAra. All songs were competently rendered. The compositions in yamunA kalyANi, sArangA and kEdAra were movingly sung. DKJ and his disciples created a magical atmosphere at the Academy and it was a devotion-laden worship to Lord Siva on his nakshatram and a reverential homage to Muthuswami Dikshitar. It was also a fitting finale to a December season and a great way of ushering in the New Year. It proved the competence of DKJ in preparing his disciples and also the perfect way in which he managed to co-ordinate the whole team.

But then came the driSTi or the evil eye as it were. B. Rajam Iyer was called upon to compliment DKJ. He started off by saying that DKJ and his disciples had sung very well (romba nannA pADinA). He could have stopped with that but didn’t. He went on to say that singing with so many disciples was not desirable and at places it sounded cacophonous. All hell broke loose. A few rasikas from the front rows stood up and started shouting at Rajam Iyer. “Get out”, said one, “Who asked you for your opinion”, barked another, “You are jealous, can you sing like DKJ”, asked yet another. Some of the mAmis who were staunch rasikas of DKJ, started crying. “pudu varshathanikki inda manuShan ipDi paNNuvarO?”, wailed they (why should this man do this on New Year’s day?). Another tipsy mAmA threatened (Yeah, he began the New Year auspiciously with a bottle), “Dey, veLIla vADA pAthukkarEn” (Hey come out, I’ll take care of you). Sensing that his life itself could be in danger, Rajam Iyer beat a hasty retreat and raced home on his moped to have his kaLi and kozhambu.

D.K. Jayaraman, the innocent man that he was, was upset. Here was his career about to culminate in a grand finale with the Sangita Kalanidhi and he had paid his sincere homage to the Lord and to Dikshitar. And here was a saha vidwAn trying to spoil it all by his uncalled for remarks. But DKJ was mollified by the overwhelming support of the rasikas who gave him a standing ovation. That evening, DKJ received the title and 20 days later passed away.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 17 Feb 2013, 14:11

What drama! And what a dramatist you are; really, the true gift of story telling.

In my innocence I never guessed that such things happened in the hallowed world of carnatic music, not even at the MA, which makes sure to dress its scandal in the finest of silk shawls.

It would be fine comedy, except for imposing suffering on an innocent great artist.

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 17 Feb 2013, 15:16

RaviSri,
Your narrative is a graphic account of self-centred and mean men serving their own ends and stoutly denying worthy musicians their due. A sordid tale not worth telling to youngsters. Pitamaha was silent in Mahabharata but rolled the dice here.

Ranganayaki · Post by **Ranganayaki** » 17 Feb 2013, 19:03

Sordid tale of immaturity and lack of grace all around. I have never heard of any other instance where academicians and artists all behave like two year olds that grab or hold on tight or fall to the floor and kick about in a tantrum. Lalgudi was a man apart to have declined the perceived honor for a greater and wider cause.

Ah.. I just see that Rsachi has echoed my own sentiments (vice versa rather) with "sordid tale"

PS: (I wrote this after reading up to post 42 - now for the rest of the story.. )

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 17 Feb 2013, 19:41

Ranganayaki wrote:I have never heard of any other instance where academicians and artists all behave like two year olds that grab or hold on tight or fall to the floor and kick about in a tantrum.

Seriously? From my (admittedly limited) experience in academic biology and academic medicine, a great proportion - possibly even a majority - of people in academia act like this. I find none of this surprising in the least.

Ranganayaki · Post by **Ranganayaki** » 17 Feb 2013, 20:04

Well then I must be naive. May be others can chime in with their experience in academia?

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 17 Feb 2013, 20:24

Red flag.
The fact that very bad things happen elsewhere is NO JUSTIFICATION for the stench and rot that are spoken of by RaviSri. It is a matter of collective shame for all in Carnatic music.