The mouring raga up for grabs for heated discussions...

[pattamaa]

Our favorite author is back with a bang, not left behind by his counterpart in film industry... topic up for grabs for heated discussion in the cold month of margazhi

http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/ ... rning-raga

[arasi]

Just wondering. Paris, after its recent tragedy, other nations with all destructive catastrophes--did they/do they wish to bring the curtain down on art? And, the mourning period--for how long?

Is music halting the good deeds being done as relief work? Is all the energy directed towards the healing and betterment of the affected citizens being diverted to the season, putting a stop to it?

Then again, is music not a healer too?

Mourning in isolation, without having any positive actions or hope is negative, speaks of gloom and doom, I'd say...

[Rsachi]

I read this on Facebook a few days ago and wrote this as my comment:
Brings out the socially responsible thinker in TMK. The key sentence is:
"All the Sabhas could have come together and held a joint music season in early January for a week. We could have all paused, taken stock of all that happened and curated a meaningful art festival that was sensitive to its context and environment. In this time of need, we would have saved plenty of our resources—electricity, food, transport, lighting and sound, plus actual money too. The nuances of the deal with sponsors and award events could have been worked out. But, no, ‘We will go on as we always do"’ - TMK
This is a great idea but almost impossible to implement in the current situation.
My take:
There is an element of insularity that works in most hierarchical societies. That is at work in the Chennai season. And it is only human nature to continue to act as if everything will hopefully be normal. After all musicians are good at one thing: making music. (and some of them at making money too). So can't ask for a major shift in behaviour, especially if sabhas decide to go on.
In addition, I feel that there is a MASSIVE leadership vacuum in the Chennai season. A MA President N. Murali is playing his "leadership by default" role for status-quoism. A TMK is not a leader yet. Only a thinker asking us to reset ourselves.
The Indian freedom struggle was a tepid affair until a Gandhi came along.
But these are times of another Young Indian Gandhi. Doesn't hold out much hope for true leadership. These are also times when opportunism is a synonym for leadership.
It would be interesting to see what the government administration and leadership says and does about this huge ethical dilemma.
Such inflection points in history are called "Parva Kala". History may yet judge us to be insular culture-mongers in a time of ruin.

[kvchellappa]

Music is a form of entertainment and all other forms of entertainment are in full swing. There is not the ghost of a reason why only CM which is pursued by a small number and does not come in the way of relief effort, should alone cry off. The writer has not shown impartiality, consistency or maturity. Nothing novel either. The causes for which he wants to work are noble, but several others have done it more remarkably than he appears tuned to, from the community which he despises. Rajaji worked for it at a time when caste was even more fanatically followed. To have done anything then required courage; now it is commonplace. The criteria the writer sets for such pursuit are his foibles and are not defining. Leadership calls for love and moderation, absence of offensive style, not just brilliance and oratory.

[pattamaa]

.
But these are times of another Young Indian Gandhi. .

i know you are not mentioning about the person i have in mind

[ramamatya]

For all you know, it may be the food contractors pushing Sabha secretaries for their own profits

Btw, TMK seems to have taken a couple of points from the so-called 'spurious throwaway anonymous handles' - ramamantra's resources and thaaye's one mega event... Sure, no one will miss them but will miss their precious thoughts, I believe. Without such handles, this forum will be a dud.

[pattamaa]

who knows? he is also a anonymous handle here ? Are you ramamantra ?

[kvchellappa]

Mantri is amatya also (amarakosam)

[nanosadagopan]

Not in a mood this margazhi

http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Arti ... 2015101024

[arasi]

In sentiments, like the musicians, the dancers are divided in whether to perform or not. In meeting with damage to their property and effects, the dancers and their support system fared much worse in getting
ready for the season. Even there, we see troopers who want to march ahead with what little they have as their requirements.

Both kinds are to be respected for their decisions. They have their own valid reasons.

[kvchellappa]

We respect all opinions provided they do not cast aspersions.

[Sundara Rajan]

Please correct the typo in the title: should be mourNing, although most of understood what it referred to.

" But these are times of another Young Gandhi".
Let us not use this man's name in the same context as the Mahatma.
This family had long usurped the last name of the Mahatma for their own political gains. There are young Indians and foreigners who mistake them to be scions of the Mahatma.

[shankarank]

The YACM founder has hit back after my daksha yagna metaphor in the other thread! Promptly tweeted by TMK.

https://anandsiva.wordpress.com/2015/12 ... musicians/

I like the poison pill technique since Silk Entrepreneurs are major benefactors to sabhas. So adhering to it will cut at the source of all sponsorships.

Touchy feely sensitivity liberalism with tyAgaraja's words invoked makes a potent combination. Plot thickens - thicker than silk.

Thought PETA activists did something else other than wearing cotton. No rAga pravAhams required to do this - since Musicians apart from not wearing Silk also have the burden of getting rasikAs in attendence to do the same. NickH's dream come true!

[sureshvv]

"Art Silk" is catching on and is more profitable. So this movement may actually gain traction.

[shankarank]

Meanwhile bee populations that produce food are dwindling - including the kumbakONam degree coffee for the mylapore mAmis - before they have the energy to wrap around 6 yards.

Food - yes the need that is more basic than clothing. And we need a campaign for that as well.

There is a secular (supposedly) pallavi by Sanjay ( I believe) that runs like this : vanDADum sOlaiyilE malayamArutam vIsum

Let me de-secularize that one with this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCIMwoO-Jw8

Yup - hrInkAra the bIja mantra and the sound of buzzing bees! and there is tyAgaraja's retort for that : manasu swAdInamaina mari mantra tantramu lEta!

TMK would rather dabble on lavangi than lavangam ( no Canteen folks). With no possibilities of gamakas from Cauvery Delta - composed by Dr BMK, it is Carnatic music only in time axis - yes the long bows and short bows positioned nicely. My GUT theory says - "Carnatic music is viSrAnti stupid" to borrow a Clintonesque phrase - if you focus on the substance. BM music - if there is one separate as sometimes claimed by him - performs a grand unification with Carnatic music of sampradaya variety on the time axis.

If you focus on the form - it is not even as old as a musician's age! I will believe that Carnatic music is 150 years old - if Westerners would believe science as we know it is only 400 years old and not as old as Aristotle and Plato.

[sureshvv]

Can I have some of that you are smoking ?

[arasi]

You two...
I'd certainly say that he's on a roll

[shankarank]

Can I have some of that you are smoking ?

To help you think outside of the pack? Yes sure - Organic Sumatra coffee beans from Costco ( I would prefer Pea Berry if I can lay my hands on it) , Chennai ( or kumbakONam) coffee filter and unpasteurized dairy farm milk ( full fat) that I semi pasteurize myself and Organic Sugar. As insensitive and elitist as it can get! When Chennai-yites are suffering for basic needs.

And then turn to talk Radio for Rush Limbaugh - to understand his pUrva paksh on liberals - but discard his own brand of evangelism as I have nothing to do with it.

To compensate I read Chomsky also! Although I had once a right leaning Jewish colleague ( somewhat rare) tell me - that his political outpourings are kindergarten stuff.

In the analysis of the other side - lot of insights can be gathered. Some valid points will be raised in TMK's ruminations - but then priority now is to retain the other side by countering a diabolic campaign.


Despite my efforts to build a fortress Tiger reserve - and put Harimau's wisdom in sound theoretical footing - I sense some stalking. Non cooperation amongst Tigers will lead to poaching.

[arasi]

You ARE on a roll, friend! Admirable

[sureshvv]

I think you present a lot of ideas mixed in with a lot of names, so your post becomes quite indecipherable. To make it easier on the reader, it may help to limit the deluge of ideas. In order to persuade the reader, it may help to limit the name dropping.