Plight of an Overseas Rasika

priyaram78 · Post by **priyaram78** » 11 Dec 2015, 10:59

The floods of Chennai has affected the mood of everyone not only in India but the world too. A Tamilian Rasika living abroad has Chennai in his heart. We all have pitched in too. We tamilian friends have many friends who are North Indians who have families back in Chennai too. I have a Gujarati friend who was so worried about her family back in Chennai. A Sindhi friend having family in Chennai for the last 40 years. And my Tamilian friends and I lost our faces when that Gujarati friend asked us at the start itself " December Music season is going to be held. How come ? We are sending relief materials from here, praying for Chennai and Tamilians are enjoying music there". We tamilians had no answer. We hung our heads in shame. But now I showed her all the relief work being carried out in Chennai by musicians too. My sentiment is being shared by my Mumbai friends too. The whole world will be asking questions to Tamilians living abroad and we have no answer. But thanks to Musicians for whom we have the greatest respect have come together for relief work. Please don't put rasikas in an embarrassing postiiton is all I ask from a Carnatic Musician whoever it is !

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 11 Dec 2015, 12:34

Tell them that enough young musicians are participating in relief work. Check around and you will find their names.

Tell them that some Bollywood actor has said that Tamilians could die for all he cares because by not learning Hindi they have shown themselves to be not part of India.

With that kind of sensitivity from the Bhaiyyas, we don't need to answer any of those who are questioning why we are enjoying music when others are suffering in misery. Most Rasikas of Chennai themselves have been inundated with flood waters. We don't need sensitivity training from people from whom the only lesson I would be willing to learn is how to breed more pigs and puppies -- since they seem to be adept at breeding humans -- but I am not running a pig farm or a puppy mill.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 11 Dec 2015, 12:40

Chennai-ites are a stoic bunch and will press on without much drama irrespective of what life throws at them. That's us. Nothing to be ashamed or apologetic about.

thaaye · Post by **thaaye** » 11 Dec 2015, 13:25

hmm.. I don't think it is a north vs south perspective; I think the point is why celebrate when there is a general tragic mood. Many people have lost their lives, homes and other things - there is a general chaos around. Limping back to normalcy is taking a long time. If artists are going to lose earnings, so are other such professional ppl in unorganized sectors with no regular income. So, how can the sabha ppl be selfish is what I think the point is.

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 11 Dec 2015, 13:35

thaaye wrote:hmm.. I don't think it is a north vs south perspective; I think the point is why celebrate when there is a general tragic mood. Many people have lost their lives, homes and other things - there is a general chaos around. Limping back to normalcy is taking a long time. If artists are going to lose earnings, so are other such professional ppl in unorganized sectors with no regular income. So, how can the sabha ppl be selfish is what I think the point is.

When a Hindiwallah says Tamilas can die, that is a North vs South statement.

The Sabha people are not selfish. As pointed out by one Sabha secretary, they ave ade a commitment to the sponsors and they have to explain what they did with the funding. Many sabhas have incurred expenses in terms of erecting pandals for the canteen, etc. so it makes sense to carry on.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 11 Dec 2015, 14:31

thaaye wrote:hmm.. I don't think it is a north vs south perspective; I think the point is why celebrate when there is a general tragic mood. Many people have lost their lives, homes and other things - there is a general chaos around. Limping back to normalcy is taking a long time. If artists are going to lose earnings, so are other such professional ppl in unorganized sectors with no regular income. So, how can the sabha ppl be selfish is what I think the point is.

This is especially the time to celebrate what we have left. No point to retract in a shell & mope. Lots of people here are able to take time to help AND proceed with their normal activities to a large extent.

ramamantra · Post by **ramamantra** » 11 Dec 2015, 15:00

As pointed out by one Sabha secretary, they ave ade a commitment to the sponsors and they have to explain what they did with the funding. Many sabhas have incurred expenses in terms of erecting pandals for the canteen, etc. so it makes sense to carry on.

That's too much. Are not pandals only 10% of the whole cost? Sponsors will surely understand. Btw, artists never make money in the season. They do it only to be seen in the season. The money is only in trips abroad.

Anyway, I think it is a major wastage of resources if the season goes on. For a meager attendance (most of them sitting at home for fear of catching some disease), electricity is a wastage, so is water, transport and roads. What if transformer(s) go phat becoz of such high power usage? In times of aftermath of such calamity, how can such precious resources be wasted? Why wld ppl needing to go to emergency places be held by concert-going vehicles on the road? It takes 2-3 hrs in such bad road conditions that prevail now to go even to nearby places.

At least why now? It will take at least 2-3 months for the city to recover. Have it in feb - it is still cool then.

Metro water is already stinking so badly. As water recedes, other unpalatable things are also getting discovered. So, not only sewage but decaying stuff also gets mixed with metro water. Why not use the already erected pandal as medical camp - to supply water purifying tablets to people, and other such relief work?

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 11 Dec 2015, 16:50

ramamantra wrote: That's too much. Are not pandals only 10% of the whole cost? Sponsors will surely understand. Btw, artists never make money in the season. They do it only to be seen in the season. The money is only in trips abroad.

Anyway, I think it is a major wastage of resources if the season goes on. For a meager attendance (most of them sitting at home for fear of catching some disease), electricity is a wastage, so is water, transport and roads. What if transformer(s) go phat becoz of such high power usage? In times of aftermath of such calamity, how can such precious resources be wasted? Why wld ppl needing to go to emergency places be held by concert-going vehicles on the road? .....

Why not use the already erected pandal as medical camp - to supply water purifying tablets to people, and other such relief work?

At Narada Gana Sabha, RSS -- the Gandhi-killers, according to the Congress narrative -- have set up a table, collecting relief supplies, soliciting and collecting cash donations and sending out volunteers to various sites for relief work. All political parties are trying to pose in front of video cameras to garner publicity. By the way, this was the same situation after the tsunami too. Real work was carried out by the RSS, as acknowledged to me by a former DMK minister.

So it is not as if concerned people are doing nothing.

Several musicians have been conducting collection drives for clothing, blankets, etc., and distributing them to flood-affected persons.

I have heard at least one musician express his concern about how to perform in a concert when this tragedy is weighing heavily on his mind.

Most musicians are carrying on with their concert schedules despite the bad roads, the poor sanitation, etc. This is the new normal for them as well as for Rasikas.

ramamantra · Post by **ramamantra** » 11 Dec 2015, 17:09

Its not abt musicians. Its abt the organisers. What my post essentially means is that in this time of crisis, organisers need not schedule concerts as resources (precious resources - the preciousness was realized only during the gloomy, dark, power less and incessant rainy days last week) are wasted on them. As of now, till the city is back in full swing, resources spent for the concerts will only be considered as wasted by everyone.

The common man should not feel a stark reminiscence of "Nero playing fiddle when Rome was on fire".

ram1999 · Post by **ram1999** » 11 Dec 2015, 17:24

ramamantra wrote:Its not abt musicians. Its abt the organisers. What my post essentially means is that in this time of crisis, organisers need not schedule concerts as resources (precious resources - the preciousness was realized only during the gloomy, dark, power less and incessant rainy days last week) are wasted on them. As of now, till the city is back in full swing, resources spent for the concerts will only be considered as wasted by everyone.

If you believe that the concerts should be cancelled, one should also sk whether this should be done ?

http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=26426 'Global Rasikas Meet 2015 !!"

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 11 Dec 2015, 19:51

Music is not about overseas rasikas and opinions of hindiwallas, gujjus, etc. It is about healing. Healing takes place with music among others. When most of the subhas have dedicated their concerts for relief fund, it is a good thing happening. All those overseas rasikas can in their own way support financially so Chennai can recover quickly.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 11 Dec 2015, 20:44

In the same breath that we have been applauding the Chennai spirit in this crisis where differences in caste and community were shed and a spirit of oneness and caring came to play--we are getting as communal and divisive in our statements soon after

Priya,
You are (in my view), a spirited young woman with a purpose. Your statements of concern however are misconstrued (or shaped to their own whims) by some.

Harimau,
Your positive outlook (the phoenix should rise from the ashes) is appreciated. Yet, why sow the seeds of discord by picking up from Priya just her mention of the kind of northerners (as to where they come from) and harp on the negative chants you have about them? Dilip Kumar was not born on kAvEri or tAmravarNi banks. The ninety+ old thespian's gesture in refusing to celebrate his birthday (a big bash for his fans), and wishing he were there in Chennai, his second home was ignored by you

Of course you would have read it.

Anyhow, in times of such serious impact, to air our petty complaints and to broadcast (sow) negative thoughts around is also being disrespectful of our fellowmen--suffering or not touched by this calamity.

Wait till February? Are the thai (Jan to Feb) weddings, even in the families of those who were affected y the floods going to be postponed to chittirai?I think not...

VKR,
I don't understand it either. Why is music equated to some among us to be some cheap thrill which is out of place in Chennai now? One hideous self-centered emperor's playing the fiddle while his city burned is NOT to be confused with the spirit of music, its practitioners or its listeners.

If the organizers would carry on, the musicians ready to perform, listeners gather, it's because life goes on, and being professionals (unless they have to deal with their own troubles--a pity), the musicians might as well carry on with their work...

priyaram78 · Post by **priyaram78** » 11 Dec 2015, 21:12

Arasi Madam came to know that music season will go on. So whatever I or many like minded rasikas feel does not matter. To not have a public gathering for music in this month of the tragedy itself as a mark of respect for and solidarity with the suffering. So Best wishes for the season.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 11 Dec 2015, 23:17

Priya,
It's not that I am not sensitive to the feelings of the artistes or rasikas like you about wanting to put a hold on music for a while.

I suddenly remember something from my musical side of the family. Many years ago, Jayalakshmi Santhanam was to sing at MA and elsewhere that season.One of her brothers who was just a few years older to her passed away around ten days before that. She wanted to cancel. But many in the family insisted (including his wife) that she should sing--more so because he himself loved music, gave concerts once in a while (being a full time worker as a chartered accountant). She had to relent.

This is just to say that just because some think of going to concerts as a pastime, there is this feeling that we are indulging? To the musicians of course, it's their serious profession, just as it is to a doctor, IT person or a mason...

priyaram78 · Post by **priyaram78** » 11 Dec 2015, 23:36

The situation is totally different. In normal circumstances it is upto a singer to sing or not but today the whole state of Tamil Nadu is mourning. The world is helping in rebuilding TN. No one objects to getting back to normalcy like schools, colleges. But Music festival in public. Always music is connected with enjoyment. Few will say for curing, healing. And even in that case a few more relief work to heal the suffering can be done in that time which is spent in a concert. And what next ? Someone else will come up with a rock concert. It is healing too for many youngsters across caste, creed to help bounce back to normalcy and I am sure it will get more money for charity. But is it being sensitive ?

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 12 Dec 2015, 00:30

Sensitive to what! emotion? Emotions do not help in healing nor do shutting of singing will stop the emotion. Opinions are as such opinions and any one reacting to opinion will only hurt the cause for which he/she is singing. Let us deprive all youngers" of their life because we do not believe in rock concert's ability to heal! Common

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 12 Dec 2015, 00:39

Perhaps I do not realize the enormity of the problem, Priya. However, even the non-musical side of my family and friends in India I've been in touch with feel the way I do.

Whether I'm going to be able to make it to the season or not, I have no clue at the moment. Will know once I reach India.

nanosadagopan · Post by **nanosadagopan** » 12 Dec 2015, 09:10

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/sou ... jgsTI.html

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 12 Dec 2015, 11:19

priyaram78 wrote: But is it being sensitive ?

Of course it is. Now you want to decide for all of the universe which music is all right?

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 13 Dec 2015, 08:37

Of course the season must go on. The answer is simple : life must go on.

Will businesses stop? Will theatres close? Will hotels reject the travellers who have decided not to cancel their trips here? No, of course not.

The concerts are also part of Chennai's healing. I have been to just one concert since disaster day. A sweet break from mud. The same applies to theatres. Whether film or classical music is a person's balm, we all need balm like we never needed it before in our lives.

Do people want to deny us that? Close the theatres and the concert halls, silence music of all kinds on radio and TV? If they do, that is their problem, and the answer is to ask them why they want us to suffer even more than we are doing.

(yes, I am one of the flood victims)

thaaye · Post by **thaaye** » 13 Dec 2015, 10:08

https://twitter.com/chandra86

For nature, all are equal. AC Muthiah and his wife on a boat escaping

kvchellappa · Post by **kvchellappa** » 13 Dec 2015, 10:19

Nick, nice to see you back and pack sense to the debate that took unnatural turns, and to say what you said despite having been a bad victim is from a cultured mind. Wish that your life swims back to the shore of normalcy the soonest.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 13 Dec 2015, 20:19

Does the author touch upon something called friendship?

erigiRa koLLiyilE eNNai viDuvadu (adding fuel to the fire) is an expression which comes to mind. Even if we have no sympathetic feelings towards our fellow humans, to knock them and those who feel for them is indeed far from the import of the name you use on the forum...

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 13 Dec 2015, 21:06

ramamantra wrote:Reading a book titled The White Man and his Sycophants

Not reading any more posts by disgusting ignorant racist poisonous people, who should. Never be allowed continuing membership. Sewage turns up on rasikas.org.

What did you do before you found the internet to play with? Write what used to be called poison pen letters? That would be your level indeed.

You joined this forum just to attack the reviews of an established member, and yes, I was one of those That unwelcomed you.

Get oh of here, and take your nasty mind with you. Sadly, the moderators won't take the action they should.

Who the he'll am I to say this? Someone who has been a member here almost since the beginning, someone who mixed with the same people in the previous forum. And the forum before that. Who are you? An unwelcome newcomer.

Now, there is an ignore button somewhere. I will not see your filthy reply.or any more of your nastiness. That will improve the smell.

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 13 Dec 2015, 22:24

Sad, some one is hijacking this valuable discussion into a racist talk. Get off

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 13 Dec 2015, 22:41

Moderators and SRKRIS:
Since you can't enforce membership requirements, is there a way you could give us an ignore button that could hide posts from certain members? We can pretend like they don't exist at all....and avoid wind-ups and getting riled up.

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 13 Dec 2015, 23:56

Ramamantra: You are a bigot, plain and simple. I am done with the general pollution your posts bring to this forum.
I sincerely request Srkris and the moderators to ban you for making a comment like that.

Nick, I am so sorry you have to endure this rubbish, after all you've been through. There is no place for this in any civilized society.

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 14 Dec 2015, 06:03

I have had no occasion to use this feature but in User Control Panel (you can get to this by selecting your name on the top right after you log in), there is an option 'Friends&Foes'.

Select the tab 'Manage Foes' and put in names of persons you want to ignore.

Nick could try this and be our beta tester and report the results here.

ramamantra · Post by **ramamantra** » 14 Dec 2015, 08:47

Nick H wrote:...

It's alright, nick. No need to jump so much. Truth is always bitter. I understand. Relax.

SrinathK · Post by **SrinathK** » 14 Dec 2015, 09:16

Dear Nick, after what you've been through, please don't bother about the comments from a "handle". In fact there are plenty of hints that this and another handle are in fact one and the same. Of late I think there's even a third one, though I cannot be truly sure unless I was peeking into his monitor

thanjavooran · Post by **thanjavooran** » 14 Dec 2015, 09:19

Why always pitching quarrel ? Let our approach be polite witout hurting others feeling.
Thanjavooran
14 12 2015

SrinathK · Post by **SrinathK** » 14 Dec 2015, 15:00

The feature works, but it gives an option to view the post if you wish. I never thought anyone would get to use it though.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 14 Dec 2015, 15:31

I'd like to say that it is not personal, but , of course, it is.

But it is a lot more than personal, because I, and, it seems, a lot of other members, do not want to see this forum become one of the nasty places on the net.

By the way, I've encountered more than one piece of scum on the net. I'm probably not ready for 4chan, but these guys are pretty small very. I'll use that foe button, and won't have any more to do with them. For me, they are washed away like the mud in my house. I just did the saying what needed to be said thing.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 14 Dec 2015, 18:29

harimau wrote:

Nick could try this and be our beta tester and report the results here.

Thank you for the guidance. Not just Nick, I think we can all benefit from this. Now we just need a way to kill posts that have "tup-tup" in them.

pperumal · Post by **pperumal** » 15 Dec 2015, 23:34

Going by this logic, all restaurants, movie halls, etc must also be closed.
Why single out a small field such as Carnatic music and the December season?????
Would satyam cinemas agree to this suggestion

))

- PP.

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 16 Dec 2015, 00:45

Ramamantra has been banned for making rude antisocial comments.

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 16 Dec 2015, 00:51

Srkris: Thank you. I can feel the fresh air already!

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 16 Dec 2015, 06:20

sureshvv wrote:
harimau wrote:

Nick could try this and be our beta tester and report the results here.
Thank you for the guidance. Not just Nick, I think we can all benefit from this. Now we just need a way to kill posts that have "tup-tup" in them.

Now we just need a way to kill alapanas that have "tup-tup" in them.

FTFY.

kvchellappa · Post by **kvchellappa** » 16 Dec 2015, 08:11

From FB:
Radha Bhaskar
I may sound rather blunt but I don't understand this trend of artists refusing to perform in the fest & then coming back themselves saying that they may not think it appropriate to dance or sing but were ok with offering it as a prayer for chennai. The irony is that they are singing or dancing the same stuff only, I mean what they would precisely do in a concert but want to play safe by giving it a different name so that people acclaim them as noble and emphathetic !

SrinathK · Post by **SrinathK** » 16 Dec 2015, 09:13

@mahavishnu, Now that ramamantra's banned, I had my suspicions that this handle and kolenidhi are in in fact one and the same -- if you look at it they always kept appearing in turns on the same topics, which goes all the way back to that Yoga day thread.

Take a look at one example yourself :

ramamantra wrote:
Who is he to even write about that great goddess?

kolenidhi : Sometimes, I do get the feeling that it is possible MS is hyped. She never made a mark as an actress and so took up an easier concert singing career, maybe Sadasivam's idea. Again, she couldn't really sing traditional Carnatic very well (unlike pattammal) and finally made her mark with devotional singing, shlokams and bhakthi kritis. Thanks to the duo's closeness with top politicians, she got international and national opportunities.

Without an ip log I wouldn't be able to convince the jury

, but gee, if it were true, it would be an interesting insight into split personalities.

Or this : http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic ... 15#p284915

Same dig at NickH. http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic ... 05#p289605

They even tried taking the exact same dig at me, so that just made me so sure.

It's about time you mods pulled the plug on the polluting types. Of late it was almost nauseating for some of us to read the negativity and cynicism, which if you go through the history, even includes abusing upcoming child artistes and even the son of a forum member. Right now, this forum is no place for a kid.

And forum members, as your beta tester, I can assure you the foe button works.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 16 Dec 2015, 10:16

srinathk
It is better that your detection of duplicate ids are sent to mods in private. We cannot be 100% sure and there is a chance more than two people can think the same way . Please privately send it to Mods they should look into it.

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 19 Dec 2015, 01:48

Yes kolenidhi and kolenidh were duplicate IDs of ramamantra, which I had already warned him about (and blocked) some time back.

He has been given enough leeway to change his behaviour.

Anyways I don't want to go too much into moderation actions. Please alert me about any concerns at [email protected], I might not always notice posts on the forum in time, as I don't read every single forum post immediately. Thanks.