Sunday, December 25, 2005

Day-01--Exploring Indian Classical Music

There are few things in which India can always feel pride and from my point of view Yoga and Indian Classical Music are top on this list.
Whenever I got an opportunity to explore these fields I never missed it and last Friday was one such day. The occasion was the Classical Music Workshop organized by TCS maitree. The workshop was in the form of the Q&A session type (which I disliked as I was expecting some live performances) and will be conducted by one of the most venerated idol in Indian Classical music, Kishoree Amonkar.
I heard lot about the singer which devoted her whole life for the Classical Music but I never had a chance to get the glimpse of her ingenious ever before. I reached the NCPA at 6.30pm and got in on time. The program began at 6.45pm with the explanation of the format of the workshop over the next 3 days.
The day's topic of discussion was 'True Nature of the Indian Classical Music'.
There were many to ask questions to Kishoree Tai and some of them also included followers of the Classical music so the discussion went into the finer details of the Classical Music which was difficult for me to swallow. I can just some up some points (believe me I noted them on the notebook to show the other spectators how serious I am in Classical Music!!)

1.Classical Music is a science of Notes.
2. The classical music can only be mastered by true study of the notes.
3. True music is just a expression of what we feel.

Meanwhile a relevant question popped up in my mind and I shown some courage to request the mike (How can I miss a chance to impress the others around me !!!)
"I am asking this question as a representative of the today's young generation....
The young generation is seemed to confused in many areas of their life and music is also not exception to this
If today's youth has to look at the music on one side there is great tradition of the Indian Classical Music which they feel difficult to digest or understand and on the other side easy to perceive today's modern music......so the youth is ending himself in embracing the later one.
Can you give some advise to such youth so that they can understand and appreciate the Classical Music equally" (Was that a question or the speech???)

Not to surprise I had to repeat once what I want but the assistant sitting beside her appreciated my question saying it's most relevant question with the today's state of music.
The great lady of Indian Music answered my question as

"The Indian classical music required Sadhana so it's not to surprise one who don't have a intense desire will not understand it"
She also gave example of the Spirituality and told nothing can be achieved without the hardword and devotion in both of these fields.
"The today's youth see shortcuts and quick way but it will not applicable to the Classical Music"
"I don't insist you on following the Classical Music only.....If today's youth found JAZZ or others forms of music more appealing go and follows it but never follow it blindly or superficially whatever you choosed do it with full devotion and dedication and then you will come to know the real joy of the music."

Fully agreed mam.....
"Really agreed mam.....today we want everything quick and instant and no time to dedicate our life for the something that is eternal like Classical Music....not to surprise what will get can never been compare with the Great Classical Music otherwise why a young Chinese had traveled all the way from Singapore who don't even understand the language in which you sing but he proved one point that all the music have only one universal language and that's the language of notes.......and every one will agreed that this language is at its best when it come to Great Indian Classical Music. "

Thursday, December 15, 2005

FIVE POINT SOMEONE........Toooooooooooo Gooooooooooooooood !!

Last weekend I picked two books from the bookstore and one of them was Five Point Someone.
If you ask me how I fetched it the reason was simple........it cost 95 bucks only (Original copy.....pirated you should ask for Rs. 40 only) so I just thought it will be a good deal even if the book will not turn out as GREA. But believe me it's worth Rs 999 !!!
First I read it on the late Sunday night and the first 5 pages was enough for me to judge the worth of this book.
The way Chetan Bhagat wrote this book is just incredible. I just feel that I had one more DIL CHAHATA HAI experience.
Let me tell you about the story
This book is about the 3 guys who screwed their 4 years at IIT.A true (I hope its true at least) picture of the IIT portrayed in this book change my perception about these institutes (Not to hide I struggled for 2 years to get into it) and also made me to recall my college days.These guys realized that the IIT system is something that only makes you to forget each and every thing around and mug the books to keep you ahead in rat race of the grades.
These guys decided to beat the system by behaving the way they want to enjoy their life. They care less about their grades and became more careless in studies.
The result was they always finished with the grade around the 5 and proudly called themselves FIVE POINT SOMEONE. Up to this point their life was going OK but after that they crossed the limits by tiring to steal the exam paper from the HOD's cabin. But they got caught Red Handed in this operation and that resulted into the suspension for one term. This caused the biggest twist in their life and one of them could not bear the trauma of this and tried to suicide. This guy luckily survived and found himself bed ridden over next 3 months. During this low time their life one of their Prof stood by them and tried his best to allow them to perform the research work during this time. The guys pulled their socks and proved their ability through their work. The dean excused them and granted their term and finally happy ending on the story.
Full credit goes to the writer who wrote a book, which you can read like watching a movie. Reading a book after 12.30 Pm and that also after the day ' s hectic work is hardly one prefer but this book over last week made me to scarify my sleep and to stretch me further before I went to bed.
One more thing this is the book, which tell you how one can screw their normal life and hardly anything to pick from rather than to enjoy some funny experiences these guys had.
(One more thing you will get in bonus and that is Smartness to hook a girl….)
So if you are looking for some wisdom out of this it will not be right pick for you. But if you want a fun reading JUST GO AHEAD and pick it as early as you can.

The next one on the list is
1. The Monk who sold His Ferrari
2. World is Flat
3. Freedom is not free
4. Good to Great.

Sunday, December 04, 2005

I am BACK !!!!

After long break due to the CAT and the project load I was away from the blog last 3 months.
Now I am back with rigor to share the happening with you.
About the last 3 months....
As usual slog over CAT preparation.......Assault in the MOCKCATS.......Skipping all hobbies like trekking and reading and mugging the formulas and wordlist......The D-DAY on 20 Nov and now endless wait for the results and speculations.
That's what the mundane life I am going through last 3 month. Last week had a break and seen Diwane Huai Pagal and Harry Puttar with friends. Outing after so much long time....
This weekend almost wasted. Yesterday gone with the extended work and today half of the day had wasted in TGIS(Thnaks God It's Sunday) style.
While roaming around in MAYAJAL I read two nice blogs
1. One of Gaurav Sabnis my college senior and IIM-L alumna one who fought the IIPM courageously and got massive support from the all blogers.
2. About the story of Manjunath. One more culprit of the corruption in India.

Hats off two both of them!!!

Also created separate blog on Final Destination : MBA. Do visit it.

Now will be going to enjoy the Sunday evening.....Shopping at shoppers stop and visit to Crossword is on the list.