ఇది ఏ కొమ్మ పువ్వో !!!

Published in TANA souvenir March 2015

http://patrika.tana.org/20th-conference-souvenir/#p=227

Ye zameen chand se behtar....

If you are someone who loves music as much as you can live every minute with it (if life permits),  if you are someone who in your heart of hearts always live in that imaginary musical world that you have unknowingly created and if you have boundary less infinite love for a musician, no you do not need to be a music connoisseur. Just a devoted lover. Then this blog post might be worth a read since there is a greater chance that some of you might connect with this - more so at musical emotional levels.

I felt ecstatic that moment in my life - Sep 6th 2015 - a date that I will remember and cherish for years to come. I have had a chance to physically see and hear my all time favorite singer THE ONE AND ONLY - THE VERSATILE - EVER CHARMING - EVER YOUTHFUL - ASHA BHONSLE jee live on stage.

She entered the stage with such grace such vibrancy that you are sure to go WOWWW as you see her walk up to the front of the stage. Her voice was so deep, so clear, so sweet, so mischievous even now and of course so musical even as she talks to the audience and shares her experiences. Not that we all expected her to perform for a 2 plus hours musical concert at 80 plus. Am sure all fans were there just to see and hear her live in front of the eyes even if it were for few minutes. Auditorium was packed tight with 95% occupancy.  Her intro was her own signature song BGM for "Churaliya hai tumne.." while she started the concert with one of her most popular number of none other but O P Nayyar composition from 1958..."Aayiye meherbaan...baithiye jaaneja". You can't escape not visualizing the naughtiness and mischief of Madhubala in Asha jee's voice. WOWWWW...what an entry that was. Clad in a beautiful pink saree she swept away all the hearts at once - thrilled and amazed crowd got glued to her until she took her first break.

72 years of singing leaving her place untouched with the Guinness book of world records. Recollecting her times with her father , sister and family as a child she says "Main kuch bhi gaati hoon. dus saal ki umar se gaa rahi hoon. bhajan se lekar helen kaa gaana tak. Bus munni nahi gaaongi...naahi shoba ki jawani (she meant shiela ki jawani LOL)" and laughts it off. She was vibrant, charming, energetic, witty, naughty and elegant all at once.    

When you think of her, how many songs come to your mind that you want to hear at that moment? Countless numbers of those thousands and thousands of bollywood hits bringing her voice as innocent as it needs to be, as flirtatious as it can be, as heartbroken as it should be, as naughty as it has to be or as reverent as it occurs to be. 

Read somewhere that Asha jee had collaborated not just with film composers but also with Indian classical musicians, like Ali Akbar Khan and with Westerners from Boy George to Michael Stipe of R.E.M to the Kronos Quartet. Now think of these unforgettable numbers - from classical to ghazal to folk to club song - Piya bavree from Khoobsoorat, In Ankhon ki Masti from Umrao Jaan ( It is sooo hard to pick one song from Umrao jaan indeed) , jhumka girare bareli ke bazaar me from Mera saaya, timeless classic dum maro dum, never before never after song "Mera kuch samaan tumhare paas pada hai " from Ijaazat as it can be this list is endless. 

The more I keep thinking of her the more I want to listen, the more I listen the more I want to explore, the more time I spend the more I get into a trance. Yes I must say I am entranced in her voice her singing her style and her Charisma. 

Asha jee simply hypnotizes her audience/listeners not just with her singing versatility but her exceptional energy levels. "Agar main nahi gaati to main hee nahi hoti" she says. She is born for music or may be music is born for her. Needless to talk about her versatile singing talent. What I am trying to share is that lovely persona that charisma that fans get mesmerized by. Recollecting her association with her family and of course Panchamda's influence on her she shared many such stories to keep the audience stay connected with her. Beautiful melody "Do lafzon kee hai dil ki kahani " still echoes in my ears with the Kashthi wale ki kahani that she shared. As she paid tribute to her loving sister the LEGEND Latha jee with "Lag jaa gale ke fir ye haseen raat ho na ho" there was sudden silence in the auditorium with moist eyes. One cannot escape that magic. 

Must and should mention about her 11 member musicians team, they were all amazingly superb under the direction of Nitin Shankar. Fantastic support elevating the mood of each song. A remarkable and most unforgettable experience was with her Umrao Jaan ghazals (the aalaap that marks the beginning of Dil cheez kya hai aap meri jaan leejiye and the anthara part of In Ankhon ki masti ke ) which she rendered in completely new flavor showcasing her immense and deep knowledge and abilities. I want to transform her lines when she sings "In aankhon ki masti ke mastane hazaaron hain" and say aankhon ka toh hum zikr nahi kar sakte lekin inki aawaaz ki masti ke mastane hazaaroon hain....hazaar kya lakhon mein hain

With each break she returns beautifully dressed with a different saree each time the last one being a silver shimmer saree. Vivaciously Asha jee comes back on to the stage picking up one of the most haunted numbers Dum maro dum followed by Piya tu ab to aaja which can be easily lip sync'd to Helen's performance played on the screen behind her. It was simply mind blowing. Let me remind you again Asha jee is now 83. 

If ever I want to hear her soulful singing I get stuck to one of her soulful rendition of Gulzar  - especially when she sings these lines - "Ek sau sola chand ki raatein , ek tumhare kandhe ka til", "ek ijaazat dedo bas jab inko dafnaaoongi main bhi wahin sojaaoongi" - unforgettable from "Mera kuch saamaan tumhare paas pada hai" This song remains in my heart forever. 

I want to now borrow Qayyam saab's ghazal from Umrao jaan to say - 

yaad aapki kabhi dastak kabhi saragoshi se

din dhale yun aapki aawaz bulaati hai hamen

zindagi jab bhi aapki bazm mein laati hai hamen
ye zamin chand se behatar nazar aati hai hamen

May GOD give you longer life and happiness Asha jee. With lots and lots and lots of love wishing you a very very Happy Birthday.

Want to say something....nothing...

Long gap it has been. Yes. But you know, just happened. It's been 4 months of no blogging. Usually when you are learning something new you do not want to take pauses or gaps just so you don't lose that rigor, that freshness, that magic, that kick. Interestingly for me this gap has created a better stage and more interest and fun in writing. Thanks to the few books, articles, blogs that I read during this time. Wish and hope I continue reading and writing with this new energy.

I have heard this many many times before and read it in all positive, philosophical, spiritual kind of books, articles, lectures, speeches and more that "One should let go of the past. Live in the Present and have Faith in Future." Sounds perfect and impressive and motivating. Secrets of "success" for many Successful people seems to be this "mantra". But, cannot discern how can we achieve that state of "letting go of the past"?  While I do understand that we cannot hold on to everything we have experienced in life and so we keep moving on in life. 

However, forgetting bad experiences but remembering the lessons learned? Forgetting negative images of life but keeping in mind the situations which caused those? Forgetting unwanted people in life and remembering what they brought into our lives? How is the "Forget" part possible with the "Remember" part? 

Living in just Today is definitely a blessing for anyone, if they can achieve that. It's imperative and momentous that we live THE moment, feeling the breeze (warm of course now that its summer :) ), hearing the birds chirping-singing-rushing busily to attend their chores for the day. Walk with the stream of the day. Warming up with sunshine, getting wet in rain and retiring for the day at nights. I feel like with all this, there is that sensitivity and emotional element as humans in us all. The connection between the senses, the brain and the heart. Which often throws us into some memories in the past, reminding us of something or someone or some day in the "Past" that holds some association to that THE moment.

Now, talking about the Future. WOW. This word is sometimes exciting, challenging, hopeful, courageous, enthusiastic, intrigued, inspired what not. And sometimes this same word seems like uncertain, perplexed, disillusioned, despair, distressed, paralyzed etc. 

Anyway, this is what I actually wanted to say, you lay the foundation today so you can build the home tomorrow. You sow the seeds today so you can see the seedlings tomorrow. You read the book today so you can take the exam tomorrow. Where is my "Today" vanishing from my tomorrow when it becomes the past. 

Like they say, "There's so many different worlds, And so many different suns, And we have just ONE world but we live in different ones". 

Whether you are an Atheist that has faith in self than some invisible force called GOD, or a neutral Agnostic, or a Theist that prays every day to GOD and says you are my Savior. Who so ever we are, one thing in common to us all is, we have this immense trust, unyielding faith and unabridged hope on Tomorrow.

For it has been proven time and again , Tomorrow always brings a New and Bright Sunshine. 

All the love, affection, attention I get I embrace. All the ignorance, dejection, indifference, dismay, deprivation and desolation I get I endure. All the strength, energy and motivation I get I entwine FOR that is my real Courage for my Tomorrow.

So friends I want to say... no, actually I am not saying it, but I am sharing from somewhere I read this...

ACCEPT THE PAST, EMBRACE THE FUTURE.

What's my FACE?

Finally after the "typical" winter I have this luxury to enjoy warm sunny days as a privileged Texan so early on in the season.( Yes I know, sadly, cold winds are ready to blow this weekend) So, today was another such warm days making me all set for a long 4 mile walk.

My usual routine coffee break( I carry coffee with me ;) ) looking through the silent blue waters reflecting the magical blue sky,  sitting by this beautiful lake in my community. I adore the lovely swans calmly and quietly enjoying their ride with their loving companions. Feeling the cool breeze which is occasionally becoming gusty wind, I am distracted by the delightful wooded site with falling acorns ensuring to break the silence of  the moment. Makes me feel calm and relaxed. So as I sit leaning backwards with my hand support, there, I see my shadow. Forgetting the delicacy the moment has to offer I suddenly quit enjoying all this and looking at my shadow I said....

What's my FACE? What is it? What is it that makes me - ME? - "WOMAN" in ME.

Even though it seems like I am lost in another world with the nature's beauty around me, yet "I" suddenly think about my yesterday, worry about my tomorrow and forget about my "Today". THE MOMENT. After all, this is THE MOMENT I should live in. In reality all our yesterday's are our track records and today showcases a reflection of yesterday paving way for tomorrow.

"I" become a part of the roller coaster mechanical ride of life , no matter how many turns and how many rides, desires seem unquenchable. Chasing my dreams of achieving bigger and smaller things in life, "I" run and run and run. Some successes and some failures. Like Tagore says it, some of My desires appear like mirages, away from my heart, I stretch my hands to catch them, To heart they never come back.

"I" am the daughter, the mother, the sister, the wife, the friend, the lover. "I am" the glory, "I am" the disgrace. "I am" the achiever, "I am" the failure. "I am" the lucky charm and "I am" Jinx. "I am" beautiful, "I am" ugly. "I am" intelligent and "I am" not at times.

"I" become innocent  at wrong times. "I" am the smartest at the right times. "I" wear Chanakya's cap when in need. "I" become Mandhara at fateful times. "I" am fearful at weak moments. "I" become Fiery at brightest moments.

Parts of the world "I" rule. Parts of the world rules me. Parts of the world I am placed on a high pedestal. Parts of the world throws me in garbage. No love, no fear, no sympathy, no care, no gentleness, no "HUMANITY" exists in parts of the world which merely looks at me as only a body with flesh and blood. From Satya Yugam* of complete morality to  Treta Yugam* to Dwapara Yugam* to now Kali Yugam* of no morality "I" see my decline along with my rise.

I believe, after Maha Vishnu' s** incarnation of Dashavatharas***, it's now righteous time for "Raja Rajeswari Devi" ( The Supreme goddess of power as per Hindu Mythology ) to bring her Kaalikaa swaroopam
 ( fiery form of Goddess to kill Rakshasas on earth ) -  her divine form to the earth and bestow the powers into Women for the Vilaya Tandavam ( the dance of decimation that delivers the good from the evil)

My anger, my frustration, my courtesy, my politeness,  my authority, my command, my confidence all happen because I am human. My sympathy, my trust, my forgiveness, my forgetfulness, my hatred, my love and its fearless expression all are driven by one single word "COMPASSION".

Compassion because the only creation of the universe that has the power to give birth to a LIFE is called "Feminine Power".

I desire, wish and pray that WORLD should remember this thought every moment and always it's the "Feminine Power" that needs to be honored and protected and preserved - Respect "THE WOMANHOOD".

Let me conclude my blog today with this quote, just few lines from Tagore's poetry...

"O Fiery and Fearsome Where forgiveness is but a weakness 
May I be ruthless at your command
Let my tongue lash out like a sword Flashing words of truth at your cue
Let me protect and preserve your honor 
When I take my place at your seat of judgement The one who does wrong
And the one who lives with the wrong May they both be scorched and seared
By your contempt and scorn"


( * - Explanataion for Yugas can be found here -Treta_Yuga)  
(** - Maha Vishnu explanation can be found here -Mahavishnu)

(***- Dashavataaras explanation can be found here- Dashavatara )