Raag Hansadhwani

For more than a week now, I am breathing Raag Hansadhawani.

I had ordered 5 volumes of "Abhinav Gitanjali" - A book written by Pandit Ramashreya Jha "Ramrang" , a musicologist/vageyyakara of repute in Hindustaani classical music which I received during the beginning of the year.

It's a great treat to read this book. Each raag is discussed at length. A collection of "Bandishes" in each Raag follows this description.

I took up Raag Hansadhwani which is discussed in Vol 1. The reason being, one of my favourtires Ustd. Rashid Khan sahab, has delivered a Raag Hansadhwani bandish called "laagi lagan sakhi pati sana" in Teentaal (madhyalay) with absolute melody and precision.

Though the composition presented in the book differs slightly from the version than Khan sahab has rendered I learnt the book version of it in 2 days time. I spoke to my Guru Mr Gaekwad and had him teach me this again for the last two weeks.

The bandish goes like this

Laagi lagan sakhi pati sana
parama sukha ati aanandana

Angsughandana chandana mathe tilaka dhari
Mriganayana anjana pawana te
Amara honita pati kaaj sukhana

Hansadhwani being a audav-audav raag with the swara set

Sa Re, Ga Pa Ni Sa
Sa Ni Pa Ga Re, Ga Re Ni Pa Sa

is extremely karna-priya (pleasing to the ears).

Egg or Milk !

For a couple of days now, there is this ridiculous argument as to whether the school children should be given Egg or Milk for the mid day meal programme in Karnataka.

Agreed that India is a democratic country and everyone has the divine right to speak and make a fool of himself but can the government exercise such a right ?

There are certain issues which require urgent attention such as Infrastructure (bad roads in Bangalore, Power crisis etc) rather than the choice of food for mid-day meal programme. It is evident that Government lacks the basic knowledge of prioritizing issues or atleast it feigns having any knowledge. Every step has a hidden motive (a tacit agreement) attached to it.

Amrita Varshini

Buying a house was such an eventful day of my life. I am thankful to my wife who convinced me to shoulder this financial burden. I was always hesitant towards this "once-in-a-lifetime" decision.

My parents have done such a wonderful job of getting all the required (endless!) legal documentation in place.

It took a long week to complete this and am eternally thankful to the bank staff for making this look like a herculean task.

Deciding on a name was not that difficult.

I like the name "Amrita Varshini" (Shower of Amrita - The panacea liquid). There is a Carnatic music raaga by the same name and I love it.

Raag Bhairavi

Since morning, I started singing Raag Bhairavi - A Meera bhajan which goes like this

Kahiyore prabhu aawan ki
aawan ki manbhaawan ki

Aap na aaye likh nahi bheje
baan pade lalchaawan ki

Ye do naina baat na maane
nadiya bahe jaise sawaan ki

Ka kahoon kuch bas nahin mero
Pankh nahin ud jawan ki

Meera ke prabhu kab re miloge
cher bhai mere daaman ki

daaman ki manbhawan ki

I have practiced this bhajan about 25 times today and my wife says "you sing very well". Flattery ? , I think for a moment, but then I know my wife never lies.

From Kuldeep's Desk

Another day has gone by!

Wo saal kam kar raha tha mere
Mein apni Umr badha raha tha !

How true are the lines written by Gulzar..I think in solitude.

Depression has completely embraced me. It happens to me sometimes. This time it was because of a Kannada novel called "Vamsha Vriksha" (The Family Tree) written by a prolific, highly admired, gifted Kannada novelist S.L Bhairappa. It' s been my old habit to complete a novel as soon as possible by reading it thru - end to end - with total devotion. I do not generally concentrate on anything else during this emotional journey through a bunch of characters.

The story is highly emotional and had brought tears in my eyes on a couple of occasions. The last event of the novel wherein an elderly person embraces Sanyasa was so disturbing to my mind that I have been out of sorts after this reading.

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From Kuldeep's Desk

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