Article in Kalki

[erode14]

[erode14]

http://rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php? ... rt=50[code][/code]

[ganeshkant]

Nagaraj,

U believe me or not for the past 5 weeks I remembered U on many occasions especially when I struggle even to go to toilet because of an (right leg) ankle injury and now able to empathize with you more.Whenever I get depressed I remember your ever smiling face and try to lift myself up.

I only wish U face the min.hurdles when going to the venues for programs and there have been efforts by organizations like Shakti foundation to redress issues as written by lalita ram.Lets hope for the better.

[kssr]

I read through the Kalki article, the other thread and the blogs about the train journey. Needless to say how sad it makes one to face the reality. The same fate is true also for wheel chair bound senior citizens and patients. It is not only restricted to trains but to every place of activity in India.

I wonder how many of the CM halls in Chennai are wheel chair friendly both for artist and audience. In Bangalore I think it is pretty bad. I am not sure of Chowdiah Hall. Even in the new Indira Nagar hall we need to climb quite a few steps. Also Unnati which is newer. NMKRV college and the other large college hall in J.P.Nagar. My father had problems climbing the steps in all these venues (although he is not wheel chair bound)

There is a great mridangam vidwan in Bangalore whose other name should be "Courage". What achievements in spite of a serious disability. In fact we have even forgotten about it in the light of the plethora of constructive activities he is engaged in. I have seen him driving a two wheeler, with the additional two support wheels. Also a car (I guess the automatic model where you need to use only one leg). These gentlemen including Shri. Erode Nagraj inspire all of us. Look at us -"normal people" always cribbing about something or the other. It is a shame.

Incidentally I would like to recall the way the facilities for disabled are compulsory in the U.S. I was amazed to see the provision made for wheel chair bound people to enjoy each and every show in the Disney world in Orlando. The difference is not the money, but the will to make it happen. It is not without reason that the U.S. is looked up to as a world leader in every facet of human endeavour.

[arasi]

kssr,
Sudheendra! Yes. Unless they are dedicated to their art, I cannot see how our extremely talented two mrudangists can put up with all the hazards out there even before they reach the concert venue! Yes, the way wedding halls of recent years have been built, with endless steps to reach their entrances with shiny, slippery granite steps! Daunting, even for seniors with no disabilities.

GK,
Hope you are getting better. It took me a knee surgery and weeks of recuperatio to give me a glimpse into how difficult it can be for someone who has to rely on the mercy of god rather than on one's own capacity to navigate the obstacle course which one faces every step of the way. What we take for granted can be a challenge to a disabled person, every time he/she steps out.
We appreciate Lalitha Raman for her Kalki article. Aravukkarasar is beaming in the pics as usual I am glad LR captured the essence of his playing in a line!

[rshankar]

We appreciate Lalitha Raman for her Kalki article. Aravukkarasar is beaming in the pics as usual I am glad LR captured the essence of his playing in a line!

Arasi - to jog your memory: the author of the Kalki article is Lalita Ram, our very own gamakam (a 'he') and not Lalita Raman.

[cmlover]

I am disappointed with this article.
Our Nagaraj is not a despondent physically compromised individual.
He is one who has reached the heights in spite of any limitations.
He is a role model for all including those with physical limitations.
The divine smile in his face should light up the hearts of all to take courage and climb even the Himalayas
(figuratively) as he has mastered laya and is at its pinnacle.
What if he did not have limbs to amble; he had the wings to soar.
Even the King of snakes (Nagaraja) has no limbs but is venerated by all of us.
His is a success story and Ram has seen only outside and written the story and sadly failed to peer inside and has missed the gold mine!

[arasi]

Ravi,
Yes, you had to jog my memory (and did you see any drastic dwindling of the memory cells, doc?).
All I remembered was that Lalitha Ram was a man. Didn't connect that it was our Gamakam

Gamakam,
This means I have to go read your blog once in a while

CML,
In spite of all the hurdles, aravarasan is the way he is. Yes, that smile is a special something. I do feel that it is the divine spark that the paramAcAryA lit in him. True, he is a hilarity mannan too. However, the physical duress of the disabled and of the elderly needs to be mentioned every now and then in the press. Who knows? Atleast a patron, a sabha official or committee member would read this and bring it up in their next meting. I am sure kssr and others will think of making it as easy as possible for artistes when it comes to arranging their lodgings and such, even though they can't do anything about thoseridiculous steps!

[ganeshkaant]

Arasi,

Thanks for ur wishes.I am able to walk now but with some limping.

[rajeshnat]

gamakam,
This article is really well written in a language that strikes the right chord. Good one lalithA rAM.

Erode
As CML mentions ,you are indeed a great optimist.

ganeshkant
Get well soon , take care .

[Gamakam]

Ganesh, Arasi, Rajesh thanks for your nice words.

I will be really happy if this article could bring abt. an iota of change in the present scene.

cml: I do understand that Nagaraj is a 'success' and I've nowhere mentioned otherwise. My point is (y)our veneration is not enough. The agenda of this article is not to write on Nagaraj's prowess. He gets plenty of accolades through regular music reviews. He wouldn't need me for that. I wanted to highlight the lack of infrastructure. That doesn't mean I have missed the "gold mine".

[Nick H]

He's right, CML.

That is not to say that I do not respect your very-well-said words on Nagaraj's success, which you put beautifully, but Nagaraj himself is a champion of this cause, not only for himself, but for others, musicians, rasikas and just ordinary public everywhere.

[mankuthimma]

Quite some unnecessary hullabaloo over a well intentioned article .
Intention being to sensitise a larger public over needs for change in attitudes .

Let us keep it straight and simple , instead of commenting on the author in a self righteous mode .
Surely Gamakam is not a babe in the woods , Not to know all these finer issues .
He has done his bit by getting an article published . If any of us can do better , let us do it .

Just yesterday , the institute where my wife works
http://www.vidyasagar.co.in/
Received a child from Sri Lanka - just in time for intervention .
How did they come to know ?
From such an article in a tamil magazine , one year ago . The story had planted itself deep in the readers mind , who was discussing with her neighbour , one fine afternoon and ........
So there are a million ways in which these things work out . Even in India ,KSSR . |(
Allot a day for spending with me in Chennai , and I can change a lot of your assumptions .
It is a Brave New world that is coming to terms with disability , even In India .
The progress may be slow .Largely due to lack of education . And needless dependence on stars or horoscopes .
You are right . the Western world does have a headstart in these matters . It is time we catch up.
This article is in the right direction and so let us not confuse issues.

Erode is not a Hero to me . He is just like any one of us . Nothing more . Nothing Less.

[cmlover]

Sorry Gamakam! I read you in the wrong light.
Just wanted to point out that Nagaraj is not just another handicapped.
While the Govt is not going to change, the affected persons can change and prove to the world
their potential which Nagaraj has demonstrated against heavy odds!
Perhaps you can do a followup article in that area!

[arasi]

Well said, CML.
The future is in the hands of the young, as we know only too well. Gamakam and others of his generation can bring to focus the need for improvements in the way things are at the moment. Someone who can bring about changes hopefully reads the article (an organizer, a government official, a businessman?) and perhaps does succeed in making things better.
Any amount of nostalgia on our part, the older set, isn't going to help--andak kAlattile ippaDiyA irukkum? enga tAttA SolluvAr,,,,etc.
Power to the young, energetic and the caring lot!

[mankuthimma]

interesting link
An Interview with Kalaivani
http://www.fropper.com/post/58434

[erode14]

Dear cml mama,

Thank you for your affection. I got a number of phone calls from well wishers, rasikas and musicians that the article moved them and most of them felt the same like you. I understand the concern and love embedded in it. As mankuthimma has clearly stated, I am known to all of you and since I play mrudangam and present myself to a crowd, I am able to convey my mind to many in a single click. Just like one status message in facebook, not even sending it to many, using the distributions list from one’s mobile phone. I have a blog, a page in social networks, able to travel, right from crawling the distance to fly above the Nile river. There are people who work or even beg for alms and struggling to manage their life with the disability they are blessed with. That is what I have stated in the post vadiveesvaram.

Somehow, bakthi seems to be the soul of carnatic music. When we talk about bakthi, karma and janma comes in. If, we the handicapped have gotten this disability as a result of the sin that we have done in our previous births, it is ridiculous to fight for rights. We can simply accept the ailment and peacefully die hoping that the next birth will be better than this, if not awesome, at least not awful. The entire society would have thought like this and the access and other pleads of the “differently disabled” has been denied for ages. Now-a-days, the concept of bakthi, karma etc. have lost their majority seats. So, our voices are heard and the government listens too.

Just relate the Chief Minister using a wheel chair and the recent announcements from the government for the benefit of the differently abled. Thank you ganeshkant and I am sorry that I wrote like this in one of my posts…

http://erodenagaraj.blogspot.com/2009/1 ... enied.html

"Napoleon, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, says ramps cannot be provided for the existin(k)g buildings for want of space! Even the ramps in most of the railway stations are always looking damaged and decorated by phlegm and pawn spits! To fuel the fire more, one cannot find where the ramp is, as autos block them. This is an age of actors and their followers. It is Indian cinema, which coined the greatest philosophy “oru poNNu manasa oru poNNAla dhAn purinjikka mudiyum” – only a girl can understand a girls mind! Only a disability can make them realise what actually it is... Therefore, what I think the only way to set it right is, to increase the population of handicapped people by breaking the legs of the so-called authorities and ministers. Even if any one of their eyes is dug, it will be perfect as pigs are one-i-eyed!"

Regarding the article in kalki, if I would have been the lay out artiste, I would have painted a person on the wheel chair (with a ‘what to do’ look) and the steps going upstairs in front of him. A caption like, He stares the stairs, always… can you “lift”? Like this, the article should have consisted something related to it, than two big pictures of mine occupying a larger space (I am in a corner (soft?) even in a concert) and that would have restricted the reader from feeling that the article is about me.

Knowledge, instead of making things better to handle, that is as small to fit in your palm, magnifies everything. Knowledge is aRidhal. You won’t mind if a drunken guy from an auto calls your names on streets and will simply carry on to your office ignoring the apaswaram to vanish in the air but when two minds ‘know’ each other, even smallest word means much and a tendency of “results” will await you.

Voicing for the need would have been an ordinary thing or even not at all an issue, if I don’t think or speak up my mind. I would have become selfish just concerned about how to let my day go. It is the education, knowledge gained, awareness of what is happening on the other side, analysing about what am I lacking, whether the qualification or the denial of opportunity itself… make us feel the problem more. The attempt to let our voices heard by the rulers of country, states, cities, villages, offices, buildings, sabhas, venues are going on and on the other hand, equal efforts should be made in creating the awareness among the rights that the ignorant disabled persons of the nation. Till now, we are in a position to accept any job that can light up the life and earn a bread for us, irrespective of the conditions that prevail, say, work place at 4th floor or zero main(s)tained - rest rooms.

If not bestowed with the support of my family, friends, guru, rasikas and even strangers and some knowledge injected into me, just like the common man, I would also be expecting some rajnikanth or vijay will bring blossoms in my garden. I am aware that though the pace is slower, many changes are occurring. But, till it happens the voices will be in the air, to start the work at many places and as a reminder to complete the work at some places.

Thanks to lalitha ram, kalki and rasikas.org

And the story does not end here. Then there is the maintenance of the ramps and entries provided with greater compassion. In railway stations, autos will occupy the places in front of ramps. Ramps will be layered pawn spits, phlegm, bird droppings and even human shit at some places. In many places, since we are special, we have separate entrances behind the hall, venue or office where the path to ramp is uneven and will be in dark. It is not used often, so people take advantage.

On September 15th, I played a live concert (3-00 to 4-00pm) at All India Radio and I could reach at the nick of moment as there was a traffic jam at chamiers road and a protest near santhome church. I hurried to the ramp on one corner and the place was stinking with ‘late’ sAmbAr-chutney covers and cigarette cases and pieces (obviously pre smoked) and it took time to clear the place and get down. One should be present half an hour before for sound check and balancing, but I played a chApu at 3-52 only!!





Bye for now, thank you all

erode nagaraj.

[venkatakailasam]

An article in the hindu appeared on 27-05 2002.I forgot to keep the link.And hence copying from my files and posting:

Vaikom Vijaylakshmi The Hindu-27 may2002

"This is a story of a young girl's triumph over her disability, of her innate musical talent and most of all, a story of coping graciously with a cruel life.
Born on October 7, 1981, on Vijaydashmi day, Vaikom Vijaylakshmi was blessed with the gift of voice but deprived of the pleasures of vision. Living near the Udayanapuram temple in Vaikom, Vijayalakshmi is the only daughter of Muraleedharan and Vimala. It was only after her parents came to terms with the fate of her incurable blindness that they moved to Chennai. Here the young Viji grew up listening to Tamil movie songs by the likes like Ilayaraja and M S Viswanathan. She was spotted with the talent of catching a tune at the first hearing and reproducing it exactly in all its subtle nuances. Later, her parents bought classical music tapes of Jesudas, which Viji would listen to, most ardently. In a matter of less than a year she learned more than a 100 ragas and made her own compositions. Till now she has had no formal training in music.
Music discipline insists for training from a knowledgeable teacher. But her effortless raga `alapana' and `swara' delineation, surprised the most discerning of `Vidwans'. Her `arangettam' was conducted at the Chathamkudi temple in Vaikom. In 1987 she met her `manasaguru' Jesudas who was amazed by the childs `jnanam' in identifying the most complex ragas and her mastery in rendering ragas like `Todi' and `Bhairavi'. The following year Viji held a performance at the prestigious Shanmukhananda Hall in Mumbai.
Viji, in the last 10 years, has performed at more than 400 stages in all the major `sabhas' in Chennai, Tanjore, Madurai, Coimbatore and other major cities of India.
Meanwhile, another significant achievement was her mastery over a one-stringed instrument. The `gayatri tampuru' , presented to her by a connoisseur, was electrified and modified by her father Muraleedharan. The kulapati of Carnatic violin Sri Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan was mesmerized by her veena recital and gave it the name `Gayatri Veena'. She has performed several concerts with the instrument.
For the past 7 years Viji has been playing it at the Chembai Sangeetotsavam at Guruvayoor .She played at the prestigious Soorya Festival last year Her preoccupation with music has unfortunately not been encouraged by the State and her college and Vijayalakshmi's parents plan to move to the bigger city of Chennai or Thiruvananthapuram for greater exposure and for more training facilities.
As temple performances are hardly rewarding financially, Viji has had to sing and play film tunes to keep her going. Today she has a repertoire of almost 300 ragas and double the number of compositions. Viji loves listening to concerts of MS, Madurai Seshagopalan, Balamuralikrishna and Maharajapuram Santhanam. Her favourite ragams are-Hindolam, Shubha Panthuvarali, Sivaranjini, and Madhyamavati. Of late Viji has turned to Hindustani "

A few video clips are at :

Vaikom Vijayalakshmi:
Download link: http://www.mediafire.com/folder/pwb2h570jpsf2

When it rains all birds fly to shelter. But eagle is the only bird which flies above the clouds to
avoid rain .
We are birds and these people are eagles! Is this not true ?

venkatakailasam

[Babu]

Are there any wheel chair friendly sabhas in Chennai with no steps to climb? This is indeed a problem for physically handicapped persons to visit sabhas and many places they would like to visit. I wish there is more awareness while designing new facilities or modifying existing facilities including clinics and hospitals.

Regards

[erode14]

Dear Rajesh,
I am not an opti'mist' always. I am opti-clear (opt-tickler) too...

[VK RAMAN]

Napolean comments is interesting. Watch out bureaucrats and ministers!

[erode14]

http://erodenagaraj.blogspot.com/2011/1 ... du_03.html

"Mridangam artist Erode Nagaraj, disciple of veteran Umayalpuram Sivaraman, turned down quite a few offers to perform this music season. “It's not that I do not want to play, but the thought of negotiating with several fleets of stairs or crawling up to the stage is dreadful. Sabhas simply do not have the will to construct suitable ramps,” says the sought-after accompanist..."

http://www.katturai.com/?p=970

"எத்தனை சொல்வது, ஏமாற்றுவதில் வல்ல ’எத்தனை’ச் சொல்லி என்ன பயன்..."

[cmlover]

Your sarcasm is heart-rending!
The loss is ours! Rasikas should boycott sabhas which fail to provide basic facilities for the handicapped artistes.
Even if they make a marginal increase in charges nobody will complain if the benefit goes to improve the 'access' problem..
Theey should start advertising sabhas as:
Handicap Friendly...

[arasi]

The elderly, with their limitations in movement, can only get a glimpse into the problems that the physically challenged face. Every steep step or uneven step we take make us get frustrated and blurt out about the indifference of the builders, owners (renters) of these venues which we frequent.
The less we write about it, and the more we express our concerns to the sabhas in one voice, the more they will hear us, and perhaps do their bit, hopefully.
Naada Inbam, though it isn't a mega sabha, has a user-friendly ramp. Among the big sabhas, The Music Academy's renovated mini hall has one. I do not know of others.
A place like Tirupathi (no lack of funds there!), was a nightmare for Erode
Yes, aravarasE, ettargaL uLLa ulagam idu...

[radha bhaskar]

I am happy to share that during the december fest, our sabha had two regular rasikas (women) in the age 80 plus, very sick and who could be moved only with the help of wheel chairs. Since we do not have any steps to the hall and also because any vehicle can be driven right till the entrance o f the auditorium, it was easy for them to get the wheel chair in. Since they requested us, we also gave them the seats nearest to the entrance in the first row, although it was earmarked for the VIPs.
It was really moving to see one of them, a couple where the husband though quite old was in much better health compared to his wife who could hardly move or respond to anything. Yet, that man brought his wife to Mudhra's concerts almost daily in an auto and with the help of our volunteers and myself, they would get down, open up the wheel chair and come into the hall. I could not sense any reaction in that lady after the concert because she could not speak but her lit-up eyes seemed to convey that the music had definitely done her some good. Sometimes, I would also ask my volunteers to go out and fetch an auto for the couple after the concert got over. For me, the couple's conviction in listening to live concerts amidst several hurdles was totally touching and I so we did whatever we could to help them.
Erode Nagarajanji also came to one concert in Mudhra where Sivaraman Sir played and he also saw that lady and so he will be the right person to comment on this!

[erode14]

Dear cml and arasi,

Thank you. Hope you read the contents in the links fully. The one in the second has a kavidhai too

[erode14]

Erode Nagarajanji also came to one concert in Mudhra where Sivaraman Sir played and he also saw that lady and so he will be the right person to comment on this!

Yes it was fine and user friendly, thanks a lot. I would have loved it more if I had played in mudhrA too

The mAmA and mAmi were enjoying the concert well too. Since many times the wheel chair is handled by senior citizens, even a single step would be a difficult task for them to press the handle and lift the front wheels to get in. Please, suggest a ramp for that.