Travelling by train is always a pleasure as one can see many things. But nature and its varied constituents are what one gets to appreciate and marvel at largely. The lush green paddy fields, and men and women working meticulously. Animals like cows and goats grazing on the fresh grass in peace. The white cranes with their long- pointed beaks on the other hand, standing like statues and supervising everything like bosses… The vast blue sky and formidable mountains showing up occasionally. The coconut palms, banana and other trees greeting the passersby here and there. The rivers, lakes and human settlements close by. These are scenes one would not want to miss as they speak of all thing’s countryside. Where life is by far slow and untouched by urban development yet.
Making new friends is another thing I like about travelling in trains. Stories gathered and shared with different people, make the long journey both lively and interesting. It is also entertaining to see sellers with all kinds of food stuffs walk back and forth and conducting their businesses briskly. Hot Idlis, Vadas and Pongal packed neatly in aluminium foils. Small packets of nuts like masala cashews, roasted peanuts and green peas displayed neatly in large bamboo baskets. Cold drinks, chocolates, biscuits and water bottles brought in large trays. Guavas and other fruits tempting as well. The TTR’s get their share of food for free and flash a big smile each time, as without their support, nothing would be possible!
It is a different experience while travelling in trains and I have missed this for long. But for the trip to Tanjore and my wish came true finally. That morning, the porter carried our luggage’s and I followed him – up the escalator and then walked a little, until we reached our platform. It was neat and clean. There were steel and concrete benches to sit down. There were also dustbins every 100 metres and the buggy ferried passengers back and forth. My parents got down at the respective coach where I waited already, and we boarded the Chozan Express after some time. We arranged the suitcases thereafter and settled down in our seats comfortably. It was a six- hour journey and we passed by a number of stations– Tambaram, Chidambaram, Kumbakonam, Papanasam, Sirkazhi, to name a few, each having its own history and popular with the people. While travelling by air makes reaching faster, yet it is travelling in buses and trains which leave one with everlasting memories. I had the good fortune of experiencing it in my childhood, when we visited Madurai during vacations and spent time at my paternal uncle’s place every year. It was by bus mostly and even though my memory is faint now, I guess it was super fun and all. The photo albums are proof of it as well. It was a different exposure while visiting my maternal aunt’s homes in Mumbai and Vadodara. My brother and I were a bit older and train travels were exciting and enjoyable then.
Once while travelling to Vadodara, people boarded the train in large numbers in some station and the compartments became jam packed. It is frightening and also amusing to visualise the situation even now. The unreserved people (without tickets) were unruly and occupied every inch of space available. They stood and sat everywhere and left no room to even breathe! They also stared at the fellow passengers as if they were some specimens from another world. When I think of it now, they seem to have come from remote villages, with very little or nil exposure of the outside world. I can’t remember much and how the journey ended afterwards. Travelling to my other paternal uncle’s house in Kolkata also gave unforgettable memories. While attending my cousin brother’s Upanayanam ceremony especially, we had a whole compartment to ourselves and my Athai (father’s eldest sister) who was a good singer, sang couple of Hindi cine songs. At the time, a few college goers from the next compartment had also joined and turned it into a musical evening, where everyone enjoyed. I had also taken the train to Mumbai for my sales meetings with Abbott Laboratories and enjoyed passing through the tunnels each time. The scenery near Lonavala and Kandala were picturesque always.
I almost missed my train to Chennai due to a heavy traffic jam in Mumbai once. I was travelling from Colaba to Andheri after attending the training program by taxi then. However, I reached the station just in time and ran on the platform with the luggage as the train began moving right then. My aunt who had brought my ironed clothes and dinner, also ran after me. There was no time to say her goodbye and I threw my luggage into the nearest compartment, which was a second AC coach. Then having got inside, I walked towards the 3rd AC coach and settled down in my seat shortly. I was in tears by then as this was unbelievable and also felt cinematic. Also, I came to know how bad the traffic could be in Mumbai that day. Above all what made me unhappy was not being able to say goodbye to my aunt who had had brought my stuffs with love and care. But that was how the day had turned out and nothing could be done. I calmed down, wiped the tears and leaned back on the seat. Just then the TTR brought a bag full of clothes along with food. My aunt had handed over it to him and saw that I received without fail!
After a few days of exploring the city, we were back at the Tanjore station one afternoon. But with the train delayed by half-hour, we passed the time looking at things which were familiar to us now- sellers with different items on trays, passengers alighting from another train bound to Trichy, the buggy ferrying passengers as usual. We also noticed the Goods train moving slowly on the other track, perhaps carrying coal or food grains or iron ore etc. It was fascinating to see them in my childhood and taught how railways helped with the movement of various kinds of goods. Mostly everyone slept that afternoon. It was a different set of people and the compartment appeared full. In the evening, the middle berth was pulled down and everyone sat in their respective places. Introductions were followed by interactive conversations on various topics thereafter– history, politics and so on. I was happy that my parents found good company. Myself and a co-passenger named Tamil occupied the side seats and chatted as well.
I pulled out the luggage’s one by one and rolled them out towards the Exit. Egmore station would soon arrive and I looked forward to going home like most. I thought of the past few days in the meantime. It was a good break and gave us the opportunity to explore new places. It was also nice to meet new people, whom we would rarely see again. And now that the holiday was over, we would go back to our routines soon. There would be no more interesting conversations like the one I heard between the grandfather and his little granddaughter in the train. She had read out the ‘weather report’ over the phone enthusiastically, much like the news reader on television and entertained him. Or the constant ‘snoring’ which came from the nearby compartment. It had continued throughout the journey and disturbed my sleep. Fortunately, I found the person before getting down and it brought some happiness. He was in his early sixties, wore white shirt and dhoti, and continued to sleep even after all woke up. Or the girl and boy whom I saw now, holding each other’s hands and unwilling to end the journey. There was love and yearning in their eyes. These and many more untold stories shall continue, as long as the trains ran…
The street where I grew up was a quiet and peaceful place. Where the Rain and Copper pod trees were in full bloom and provided shade during peak Summers. It was also underneath one of these the men stood along with their carts and ironed the clothes every day. During the rainy season, one saw the carts inside the independent houses close by. The men stood below the terrace and did their work meticulously. Though the houses weren’t uniform yet they were all unique in sizes and shapes. Also, there were only two apartments in the entire street and we lived in one of them. It was the street where middle class families lived and built their future. It was also where a few Doctors, Lawyers, and Bankers lived in big spacious homes. Our street boasted a huge ground and children from nearby areas came over and played often. But thorny bushes covered the whole place initially and with a bit of push by the residents, the corporation revamped it afterwards. Now, this took time and we all played on the street until then. It was a small group of boys and girls and we met every day. There was Mounika and Vamsi her brother, Arun and his brother Siva, Jogi and little Meghna. Sometimes Deepti and Dinesh also joined us. Paapu’s grandparents lived in an independent house next to our apartment. She and her brother too joined whenever they came down from Cuddalore for the vacations. We played catching game and hide and seek. Then the Cricket fever took over the boys and they formed teams. Sometimes older boys and uncles too joined them. Badminton was equally popular; my brother and I played often. Sometimes we conducted running race and saw who was the fastest of all.
Once the ground was ready, all the playing happened over there. Even then there wasn’t much improvement and one saw huge stretches of sand everywhere. But at least it could be used and brought happiness for all. The big Banyan stood on one side and remained in its place as always. Later on, grass was laid on the other side of the ground and we played Badminton over there. The street was also where old folks met occasionally and chatted for some time. It was where scooters, motorcycles and cars passed by regularly. It was also where I’d had first learnt cycling and rode to school every day. It was where Tridax Procumbens and other wild flowersgrew abundantly. Also, where dragon flies and butterflies flew around merrily and gathered nectar. It was where cats and cows roamed about freely. It was where dogs slept underneath the cars or nearby houses and marked their territories. It was where peace and silence filled the night. It was the street which gave us an address. It was where people knew each other. It was the street which saw births and deaths. It was the street which celebrated festivals. It was the street which saw people come and go. It was the street where construction works hardly happened. It was the street with no businesses around. It was the street meant purely for dwelling. It was the street that gave us a sense of belonging. It was the street where no vehicles were parked outside. It was the street with minimal or nil development. It was the street from where we walked, rode and drove to different places.
There were only a handful of shops in the neighbourhood. Periaandavar stores on twelfth main road was where we ordered our monthly provisions and a staff delivered it home every time. Next to it was Super stores and sold fancy items mostly. The other shops included vegetables, then vehicles repair and a hair salon. Behind this were few more shops like ration, meat, tea stall and so on. We also walked or cycled to nearby Lakshmi stores on Eleventh main road, purchased eatables as and when required. Next to it was a vegetable shop and we bought some times. Further up one came to a crossing called Shanti Colony and on the right side, there were some shops. Mangalam medicals from where we bought medicines now and then. Then another department store and a vegetable shop which we rarely visited. The last was a video lending shop and we rented video cassettes occasionally. To the left side was a small Vinayakar temple and an auto stand. The men did a small pooja every day and waited nearby to pick up rides. There was also an old man who eked out a living by repairing cycles. He sat on the pavement along with his tools and I usually took the cycle for filling air or putting puncture. Further up one came to the main road and also called as second avenue. The road was broad, buses and other vehicles moved back and forth to various places in the city. To the right side one saw Dave complex and it housed couple shops. Prima bakery was an important part of our lives and we bought cakes, puffs and other eatables regularly. Then there was Blue Star, an important landmark and again one saw shops like stationary, tailoring, hair salon, photo studio, hardware, eateries and so on. There were few banks, good hotels, hospitals and schools in the locality. There were clinics and places of worship too. We visited the big market in Shenoy Nagar and stocked up the fridge with vegetables every week. As for clothing, we visited Purasaivalkkam. For jewellery, it was T. Nagar. There were limited showrooms and businesses went on smoothly. There weren’t many flyovers and the traffic was under control too.
Fitness became a new craze once I joined College and I jogged along Shanti colony road until the end. It was once or twice a week in the mornings, as I’d to leave for college afterwards. It involved walking up to the bus stop again and also being far, that was all could be managed in the short time. Sometimes I went up to F block second main road over the weekend. The road was neat and clean. It was a long stretch with no potholes anywhere and made an excellent place to exercise. If a contest was held for the best road, I bet it would’ve won against all others in the locality. This was possible because of Exnora’s initiatives with respect to waste management, environmental issues and so forth. After marriage I moved to another locality. Though it was called the main city, the area was congested and the street where we lived also appeared quite narrow. And as if this wasn’t enough, a few lorries and auto rickshaws were regularly parked on the road side. Fortunately, we moved back to the place where I grew up after a year. The flat we purchased was on the same neat and clean road I’d had jogged some years back. Though exercise took the backseat after my delivery, I noticed many jog and walk every day. They were on a mission and health seemed to be top priority in their lives. There was this lady in particular, who gave a new definition for walking and went super-fast always. She was unbelievably thin and in shape. It looked like she walked at least fifty times up and down the road and without feeling tired. That was also when I realised it wasn’t necessary to jog and one could lose weight by walking. Of course, following a proper diet was important too.
We relocated to Singapore in 2008 and lived for eleven years. It was always called the cleanest country on the planet and we felt fortunate to see with our own eyes now. The beautiful parks, clean and green surroundings, uniform HDB blocks and stunning condominiums, the list went on and on. We were also amazed to see people adhering to rules religiously. Be it obeying traffic signals and crossing the roads. Or standing in a queue and waiting for their turns patiently. Or keeping the country litter free responsibly. However, this wouldn’t have happened without the great leadership of Lee Kuan Yew, the first Prime Minister and founding father of modern Singapore state. Amongst the various initiatives for national progress, he’d envisioned the island country as a ‘garden city’ always. He believed nature lifted up one’s spirits and living in concrete jungles destroyed the same. He also set up the Anti-pollution unit with the sole aim of providing clean and green environment for the poor and rich alike. This also made them unique from other third world countries after their Independence. He believed offering first class standards would aid in boosting businesses and tourism too. All of which came out of his own mouth, nothing more or less. But for any endeavour to succeed, it required the unwavering support of the people and was truly given by the citizens then. Later on, we also gathered such values were inculcated from childhood in schools and it had helped transform the nation gradually. This truly captivated us and we began following the same afterwards. We threw the wastepaper and other rubbish in the dustbins always. And if ever there wasn’t one outside, we brought it home and put in the dustbin later. It was a small contribution towards keeping the city and country clean from our side. Then many years later the ‘Swachh Bharat’ campaign turned this into a reality to some extent.
Being closer to India gave the chance to travel and we spent time with our loved ones during school vacations. At the same time, we also observed the rapidly changing face of Chennai now. Firstly, there were more shops and restaurants than before. There was also no need to visit T. Nagar; purchase jewellery and silk sarees anymore. It became crowded, especially during festival and marriage seasons and made shopping difficult every time. But with the opening of new branches, shopping became easy and also saved time. Likewise, small apparel shops had mushroomed everywhere and there was no need to visit Purasaivalkkam. Alongside the usual provision stores, supermarkets were on the rise and offered everything under one roof. Then shopping malls had come up at different places and offered a whole new experience. There were a wide range of shops, food courts, cinema and games for kids. Side by side stand-alone showrooms with international labels lured the customers in the city. There was the sudden explosion of vehicles in the market, especially cars and one saw different brands on the road. There were many flyovers to ease the traffic too. The metro rail project was also underway and it would soon connect all the places. Thus, there was development in all spheres and the city looked like any other foreign country now. Since our house was let out, we hardly went that side. But it didn’t stop us from visiting the neighbourhood and we noticed rapid expansion there too. The once silent and peaceful Shanti colony road was full of shops from end to end now. While it offered convenience of all sorts, we also found the area to be congested in general. Parking of vehicles became a big problem and the breadth of the road reduced further and further.
Relocations are never easy and we were back in our own soil in 2019. It might sound strange but my own native appeared foreign then. The truth was we’d had gotten used to a certain way of life and missed that greatly now. The clean and noise free environment, systematic life and ease of travelling by MRT everywhere. Then the park connector where we exercised regularly, dinner parties with friends or just catching up with one another. In contrast everything was new back home and we’d to start all over again. It was crazy and we didn’t like anything. On the other hand, there were things which made us laugh and also ponder every now and then. For instance, motorcycles, water cans and even cars being parked on the pavement at times. Then beggars especially women with sedated babies in their arms and seeking alms at the traffic signals routinely. They lived in the space below the flyovers or pavement with their families and meagre belongings. The garbage bins overflowed always and the stench was unbearable at the street corners. The worst was some jumping traffic signals and going on the wrong side of the road senselessly. But we got used to it with time as there were other things of value our motherland offered. Family, love and the feeling of oneness which couldn’t be experienced anywhere else.
I’d missed living in my own house and the dream came true finally. Though the years had passed, nothing really changed and the apartment looked the same even now. Somehow my husband was against renovating the flat, though my son and I had other ideas. The old shoe rack made of concrete and tiles could go away from the hall. Likewise, the cupboards in all the rooms could be replaced with the latest designs, a modular kitchen in place of the old one, an elegant T.V. wall cabinet and so on. This would definitely give a facelift for the house and we waited for the right time to execute the plan. On the other hand, it also brought back sweet memories from the past. I’d had conceived my son here and therefore it was sentimental in that sense. He’d had moved around the house as a toddler and his screeches had reverberated everywhere. Other than Covid-19 and finding a proper helper, things were sort of under control now. However, renovation works in the second-floor apartment and the demolition of the adjacent bungalow spoilt our peace few years later. The noise was too much and also the work went on for months, including in the nights sometimes. There was no choice and we brought in the police to tackle the nuisance, especially for the adjacent plot. They gave a stern warning and the workers stuck to the 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. routine. Sometimes it extended up to 9 P.M. and which was fine with all, as long as the work didn’t continue afterwards. After three months the work stopped in the second floor and gave us some relief. But it continued in the adjacent plot and we couldn’t do anything.
Gradually shops began popping up on our road now and then. In addition to the medical shop, there were Chai shops, restaurants, fancy store and so on. There was also an ice cream cart and mobile food trucks selling fast food items. The business went in full swing and the place appeared crowded in the evenings. In contrast vegetable vendors stood with their carts here and there in the mornings. They also conducted business near the Bougainvillea Park, at the end of the road. There were vegetables, fruits, flowers, fast food items and so on. Earlier, apartments were meant for residing but that was changing slowly now. Due to lack of office space, some companies rented the apartments and it proved beneficial for both parties. In our own apartment, two owners had let out their properties to banks for many years. Then the Doctor who ran a clinic nearby, expanded his business too. Apart from the medical shop, a small eatery and cool bar were added to his establishment now. Then a big eye care hospital opened up their services nearby. So given the scenario, a lot of vehicles were parked on the road side and it caused traffic congestion every day.
Like small companies, restaurants too began operating in residential areas. On the right side of our apartment was a restaurant already and we learnt there would be another on the left side now. So, we were sandwiched basically and it felt awful. This changed the face of the once neat and peaceful road altogether. It looked more like a commercial than residential area now. In the avenues behind us, one noticed Eateries, Yoga Centres, Fertility clinics and so on. This wasn’t just in our neighbourhood but happened everywhere. It was strange no ‘free’ space was available anymore in the city. The poor conducted business on the roads and pavements. The rich had their way of turning every old building and plots into commercial use. Therefore, F block on second main road became the new ‘venue’ for businesses now. From where this idea came forth, I don’t know. It also became clear people weren’t bothered about the peace and happiness of those living in the neighbourhood. Anyway, money played an important role and only the amount varied. As for government officials, they were happy as long as it helped make some extra bucks. They shut their eyes to the goings-on and took no action on either of the parties!
Why can’t there be a system here? If one questioned the government officials, they blamed the poor for disobeying the rules. Ask the latter and they blamed the government for lack of opportunities. If that’s all they could do to eke out a living, then why can’t the government permit the same in a particular place? Say like the farmer’s market, where people could go and buy stuffs in one place. Stop the expansion of supermarkets in the city and encourage small businesses instead. Build as many centres as needed and run it in a systematic way. Make the poor obey rules or cancel their license otherwise. Likewise, stop the rich from annexing plots and spaces. But provide areas to conduct business in an organized way and not wherever they liked. This way everyone prospered and there would be some balance in the society.
It’s also high time people stopped using personal vehicles and travelled by the Metro to various places. With a metro station in our area, it’s a shame to see many using personal vehicles to reach offices and elsewhere. Even during the weekends, one can see lots of vehicles parked on the road. Not that the trains are running empty, many use regularly and it’s also economical. But what about those who never take the metro? The rich and poor, educated and uneducated alike. The mindset of people should change from now. When pubic transport system is available, more people should use it and help the government monetarily. It’s plain as paper and one can understand the benefits easily. Also, a bit of walking back and forth to the station is good for the body every day.
How I wish to go back to the good old days now. Where the pavements were free of vehicles and people walked safely. Where the roads were devoid of vendors; people rode and drove to places freely. Where businesses were few in number and functioned in select areas only. Where vehicles were less and traffic was bearable. Where needs were limited and happiness was found in simple things. Where people followed rules to an extent and the leaders weren’t as corrupt as today. Where plots and old buildings remained in the respective places and weren’t used for commercial gains totally. Where there wasn’t rapid urbanization like one saw today. Where life was slow and one had time to enjoy everything.
Pleasant weather as it’d rained last night and there was light drizzle in the morning too. The parrots and crows were all screeching and made their presence known now and then. The squirrels were actively in pursuit of food or playing with one another. The little kitten meowed constantly and happens to be the latest addition in our apartment. He/she sits underneath the cars and takes shelter that way. Two days back she screamed a lot when we started the car and luckily I found her in time. Asked my son to turn off the engine and she quickly ran off to the next car. Poor thing and must live this way for sometime. I hope the mother is around; acts fast and provides a safe place for her to live soon. It’s nice to have these creatures around. To observe and know the world doesn’t just belong to us..
On the other hand, the plants are all growing well. It’s a pleasure to see the money plant dangling beautifully from the Neem tree from across our hall. The tree is quite tall and leans on our apartment for support. She has started flowering again, like the small mango tree in the front.
In Raji aunty’s backyard, the sweet limes are growing well and the banana tree has begun bearing fruits. The Sapota tree also produced plenty of fruits for past two months. Just that the old couple are out of town and unable to witness the beauty now..
The other trees look fresh and healthy too. Spending few minutes in their company is calming for the mind truly..
I’m reminded of this poem by Lord Byron:
“There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep Sea, and music in its roar:
I love not Man the less, but Nature more,
From these our interviews, in which I steal
From all I may be, or have been before,
To mingle with the Universe, and feel
What I can ne’er express, yet cannot all conceal.”
I hadn’t used all the flowers my helper Jamuna, brought yesterday and so strung them today. Nandiavattams for Krishna Bhagavan, which is pure like his heart.
The yellow trumpet for Vinayagar, vibrant and attractive like him. They were in clusters and I held a few as it felt nice.
A lot of things happened before I left for my music class every time. I don’t mind calling them ‘preparations’ as that would be the right word given the scenario! On music days, I usually woke up at 5.15 am and went about with the chores. Then Jamuna came at 7.30 am sharp and did her work. It’s important she stuck to the time as anything later than that would be of no use to me! Unless it was okay for her to complete leisurely, go to my neighbour’s place thereafter and get an earful from them. So, Jamuna came on time and made it easy for all. After she left for the day, I sat down and practiced, both vocal and Veenai for some time. Because it’s important to go through the lessons again and not fumble in the class afterwards. Then breakfast and a shower followed. After dressing up and finishing the pooja ritual, I packed my music books and meetu box in the pretty embroidery bag. It was bought in Rajasthan during our trip two years back. I’d also gifted a nice yellow embroidery bag to my Guru then. With the clock ticking, I did the regular checks quickly; saw if the gas was turned off, the balcony doors were shut and so on. The final act was booking an auto rickshaw using the Rapido or Ola App. So far finding a driver hadn’t been a problem but last time it took way too long and cancellations happened from both sides. For me it was longer waiting time and the driver, the fare… So, after wasting much time and my pressure levels reaching as far as the skies, I paid the extra twenty bucks reluctantly and found one at last. Some might call me a miser but that’s okay because I was already paying a considerable amount for the trip. The additional amount was nothing but looting the customer and a regular affair with all the auto fellows in my place! Anyway, I gave him the OTP number and got inside the auto. I sighed and sat down with the bag next to me. Traffic would be hellish at this time and I wondered how we were going to beat it! The driver went slowly and we hadn’t reached the end of our road yet. Which was odd as other than a car in front, there were no other vehicles on the road. Because the signal at Roundtana hadn’t turned green yet and if that happened, then there would be a swarm of vehicles and make travelling difficult. But it wasn’t the case and I wondered why he was so sluggish now. Then the car behind us honked and conveyed the same loudly. That he was going like a bullock cart and needed to go fast! I used the opportunity and told him as well. Because it was a long journey; I’d to try and reach somehow.
After crossing Chintamani signal, the driver checked about the route with me. I was glad he’d asked because the previous week the driver went by another route and I ended up reaching late for the class. Actually, I wouldn’t say late because my Guru had asked me to come early as a student was absent that day. I told her about trying as one couldn’t know about the traffic and as expected, it’d flopped that morning. It was a terrible day as after getting into the auto and quickly realising we were going slower than a bullock cart, the driver revealed his auto indeed had a problem and hence went slow! I was pissed off and questioned why he’d had accepted the ride in that case. For which he’d apologised duly and even though I felt like smacking him, I told him to drive as fast as possible. Then instead of following the map, he took another route suddenly and it made me very angry. Because I was clueless as to how the traffic would be that side. So, we reached Chetpet and the unexpected happened. The traffic was diverted; we went all the way up to the signal and then took a U turn. We were on Harrington Road again as it was one way now! Naturally I’d screamed and asked why he wasn’t aware of the ‘diversions’ which happened due to the metro rail works! For which he apologised again and I’d nothing else to say, other than pray and hope we reached without any more delay. With the vehicles moving slowly, we went under the Chetpet bridge and came on to the other side. Then continued towards Haddows road and beyond. This roundabout and wasting time could’ve been easily avoided had he taken the route towards Chetpet bridge from my home! So, I was careful not to repeat the mistake again and advised the driver to go via chetpet bridge this time.
We drove at a constant pace and halted at the signals now and then. Surprisingly the traffic was bearable and I didn’t foresee any problems. Still reaching by 11 am was out of question and I passed the time by looking outside. Which was a regular scene and nothing new. Bikes racing ahead and manoeuvring through the slightest gaps cleverly. Auto fellows in a rush and honking constantly. Ambulances cutting through the sea of vehicles with their sirens. City buses and cars overtaking and making their presence felt. It was irritating after a point and I thought my head would explode. Which was when I opened the app on the phone and began reading for a while. A children’s book and found it to be quite hilarious. I laughed every line and it took away the tensions gradually. A few ladies and men who saw from their bikes, perhaps thought something was wrong with me. But I giggled all the way and was unbothered about anything. Sometimes I hummed a song or passed the time looking at the chaos outside. But this time I chose to read a book. It proved to be better company than anything else in the end.
I’d finished reading a few chapters from The Secret Garden that afternoon. So far, the story was good and I also liked how Frances Hodgson had written it. There’s a reason why a book is called classic and I understood this now. It not only took one back in time but also made us appreciate many things. The language was fine and the sentences were well-crafted. The moor, characters, garden details transported one to Misselthwaite right away. Also, if it was so captivating for an adult, I wondered how it would be for a child. So, I made a mental note of the points and decided to employ them in my own writing next time. A short break followed and I sat at the study table quietly. Writing a children’s book had been in the mind for long and I thought of some themes now. However, nothing interesting popped up and I felt restless. Normally I ate something during such times. It resulted in an idea or two afterwards. Sometimes I bit my finger nails for inspiration. But this time around I removed my toe nails in frustration. Not with the nail cutter and broke each nail with my finger like a pro. It gave a different type of satisfaction to get the job done and without having to move my butt to fetch a nail cutter.
So, I went about the business with care. It was pretty much like using the nail cutter, except for my fingers did the job now. Which were adept and precise like any other tool. Only the over grown nails had to be removed, nothing more or less and this I kept chanting silently. Because if I screwed up, then a larger part of the nail would be cut off for no reasons and land me in pain afterwards. It had happened before and I was cautious not to repeat this time. So, I broke the nails one by one and left out those that were hard to break. They were being stubborn and I moved on to the next toe quickly. However, they would be trimmed off with the nail cutter eventually and made even like the rest. Things had gone by smoothly and it made me happy. Until I cut too much of the little toe nail and spoilt everything.
I held the little toe in my fingers and examined closely. The nail was broken haphazardly and remained stuck in a corner now. I sulked and pondered as to how this could have happened. Perhaps I was in my own world and lacked focus at that point. Anyhow it’s the little things which gave maximum discomfort and I was keen to set it right no matter what. So, I moved the nail slowly couple times and tried loosening the grip. But it was stuck firmly, as though someone had applied a strong adhesive then. Shortly I noticed some blood and felt a sharp pain. I tried a couple times and then gave up. I had to bear with it and there was no other choice. Until the wound healed completely and it was easier to remove the nail afterwards.
Moving around with a toe nail stuck awkwardly isn’t a joke and I suffered a lot. The first of course was while covering myself with the blanket that night. Naturally it grazed against the little toe and nail thereafter. I cried loudly as though it would take away the pain instantly. Nevertheless, it was a reminder and I decided to be careful afterwards. The second time was while putting on the leggings after a bath in the morning. I had forgotten about it totally and pulled up the thing to the waist. Only to scream and witness a tear or two falling down my cheeks shortly. Then it happened while wearing the sandals next day. The pain was inexplicable and I danced around helplessly. I had received enough lessons already and didn’t want to mess up anymore. The little toe nail was top priority and I saw it wasn’t disturbed afterwards.
Two days later the nail accidently touched the adjacent toe and it created a hell of a lot of pain. It became more difficult as I had to carefully push it back in place often. This was another kind of suffering and I hadn’t experienced before. Or perhaps I had and forgotten by now. When troubles came, they came in all forms I thought. And they left only after sucking out all the energy of the person. By and by the nail lost its grip and moved more freely. But still the wound hadn’t healed totally and it was hard to remove the nail. It also hadn’t reached a point where I could stop being obsessed and live normally like before. Because the pain was a constant reminder and I couldn’t take it off my mind completely. Patience was the need of the hour and I waited for it to heal. Then one night before going to bed I noticed the blood had gone and so was the pain. I plucked off the nail with a little twist shortly. What a relief it gave afterwards and must be experienced only individually. I then threw it in the dustbin and went back to sleep.
I’d suffered such bruises from time to time. Sometimes by accidently bumping against the cot or table. Cutting the finger while chopping vegetables or a slight burn when handling the cooker. Then while biting the finger nails or removing toe nails manually. Although they were all minor bruises, yet each was painful in its own way and took time to heal. Which could have been easily avoided if I was careful. However, that seldom happened because we all made mistakes knowingly or unknowingly. Now that the nail is gone, the lesson would be forgotten soon. Up and until another happened and the story repeated again.
Ever since the squirrels set up their house near the AC compressor, they’ve been busy every day. Running about and playing cheerfully, drinking water from the outlet, searching for food and so forth. One day I noticed the mother squirrel searching for food. This went on for some days and she was desperate I could tell. Later on I saw her in the company of the little one. All observed through the glass window of our bedroom now and then. Sometimes they stood near the window, their tails wagging and looked at me expectantly. I wanted to give food but had restrained because it would be difficult to drive them away afterwards. Then one morning my son and I saw the mother squirrel feeding the little one. That was the turning point and I’ve been giving food since then. Marie biscuits, bread, oats biscuits etc. Each day a different item so they won’t get bored..
Then came the surprise one day and I spotted a Iizard in their place. The squirrel came up to a certain point and then went back. She checked if the uninvited guest had left every now and then. So the first time I’d offered Marie biscuit, it was shared by both the squirrel and lizard. It appeared the latter also wanted his share! On the other hand the squirrel didn’t mind and was more interested in reclaiming her dwelling. Life isn’t easy for other beings and they too experienced various problems. I was unhappy with the situation and hoped the lizard would leave as soon as possible. Fortunately the lizard left after a day or two and the squirrels were back home again. They squeaked in joy and I felt the same too.
I love to have a dog as pet. But it’s a lot of work and don’t think I can do proper justice. So this is one way to show I care for animals and birds in general. Whenever they’re hungry and unable to fend for themselves, I feed them and help without fail. I’ve fed a pair of Javanese mynahs and their chicks, spotted pigeons and ‘miss charming’ the cat before. There’s no way I could enjoy a meal knowing well they’re in need too.
As part of the yearlong celebrations of the 250th birth anniversary of Shri Muthuswamy Dikshitar, I was blessed to visit Mayavaram and Tiruvarur with VEENAVAADHINI SAMPRADAYA SANGIT TRUST for three days. It was also my maiden pilgrimage visit with my Gurus Smt. Jaysri Jeyaraaj Krishnan, Shri. Jeyaraaj Krishnan and students of the esteemed music school. On 21st March’25 we took the Madras Manarkudi Express train at 22.55pm. Prior to this, I’d had left to Geetha Maami’s house and met another friend Prabha. Then we all had dinner together and left to our Gurus house by car. We took their blessings and carried the Veenai instrument along with us. Then headed to Bhavani Shankar Sir’s house nearby and picked him up. Surprisingly the traffic was light that evening and we reached Egmore station before time. Then carrying the luggage’s and jostling past the swarm of people, we made it to the respective platform. We waited until the rest of VV family arrived afterwards. In the meantime, we chatted and some of us helped ourselves with cups of hot coffee. Which was nothing but instant coffee powder mixed in hot water and with very little or no milk at all. Not disappointing one bit because we knew this already. We then walked up to our coach and got inside shortly. Kept the luggage’s underneath the seat and sat down finally. It was a fun night with cracking jokes and plenty of laughter. The travel and heat made us drowsy and we fell asleep afterwards.
We reached Mayavaram around five-thirty next morning. After alighting from the train, we proceeded to the car park, where Mr. Mahalingam the tempo traveller driver warmly received us. He helped with loading the luggage’s inside and drove us to Adhi hotel close by. After refreshing ourselves, the next destination was New Kaliakudi hotel where we’d good breakfast and the rates were also nominal. Mayavaram or Mayiladuthurai was part of VV Pilgrimage program. Upon enquiring Jaysri mam explained the inspiration was from Dikshitar’s journey as a pilgrim. Thus, our Gurus decided to retrace his footsteps along with their disciples and sing his kritis in front of the respective deities. This in turn helped the students to learn many rare kritis, understand their meaning and get a full import of his magnificent compositions. They’ve successfully completed twenty trips so far and visited different places. Mayavaram is a small town and about 250 KM from Chennai. It was ruled by the Cholas, then came under Vijayanagar Empire, Thanjavur Nayaks and so on. Though part of Thanjavur initially, later on it became part of Nagapattinam. Major occupations included fishing, agriculture and weaving. It was also the abode of some ancient Hindu temples.
Our first visit was to Mayuranathaswamy Temple and dedicated to Lord Mayuranathaswamy, a form of Shiva. The main idol is lingam and the presiding deity is called Mayuranathar. According to Sthala purana, once Lord Shiva felt offended by his consort goddess Parvathi. He then cursed her to be born as a peahen. When Parvathi repented her actions, Shiva reduced this sentence. So, she prayed at Mylapore and Mayavaram and end of which, was ridden of her curse. She came to be called Abhayambal. The temple is one of the paadal petra sthalams i.e. Shiva temples glorified in the medieval Tevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Thirugnanasambandar. The temple was built by the Cholas and the Gopuram is about 194 feet in height. The krithis rendered by Gurus and disciples in front of Ambal Sannidhi were Sadasraye in ragam Chamaram. Then Abhayambha nayaka Harisayaka in ragam Anandabairavi, Shivan Sannidhi. Both were nectar to the ears and reverberated throughout the temple. We went around and took some snaps of the grand gopuram, long passage and so forth.
We visited Parimala Ranganathar temple next. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, it is one of the Divya Desams i.e. 108 temples of Vishnu revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandhams by the Alvars. It’s also one of the pancharanga kshetrams and along river Cauvery. The presiding deity is Parimala Ranganathar made of 12 ft (3.7 m) green stone and seen in a reclining posture. His consort is Parimala Ranganayaki, also called Chandrasaapa Vimochanavalli and Pundareekavalli. The sanctum houses the images of river gods Cauvery and Ganga, as well as Santhana Gopalakrishnan. Lord Brahma is sculpted on the wall. The temple has shrines of Yoga Narasimhar, Rama, Anjaneya, Surya and Chandra. The five Pancharanga Kshetrams in the order of their locations on the banks of river Cauvery are: Srirangapattinam called the Adi Ranga, Srirangam known as Adya Ranga (the last temple), Appalarangam or Koviladi at Tiurppernagar, Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple Mayavaram and Vatarangam at Sirkazhi. The Sarangapani temple at Kumbakonam is mentioned in place of Vatarangam in some references. The Krithi rendered by our gurus and disciples was Parimala Ranganathan in Hamir Kalyani. The temple was neat and beautiful carvings adorned the many pillars.
We proceeded to Vazhuvoor Veeratteswarar temple afterwards, which is one of the eight ashtha veeratta sthalams. Legend has that at each of the sthalams, Lord Siva performed brave deeds and vanquished all evils. This is also where HE vanquished the rogue elephant that had been set upon Him. It’s believed the sages of Darukavanam focussed mainly in penance and Vedic rites. Their wives were egoistic too and they all ignored the Lord. To teach them a lesson, Lord Shiva took the form of Bhikshatanar- the naked, wandering mendicant and Lord Vishnu accompanied him as Mohini. Both arrived in Darukavanam. It appeared the wives of sages were attracted to Bhikshatanar and this in turn infuriated their husbands. So, they performed the Abhichari yagam. Out of this came various negative forces- a snake, tiger and rogue elephant. Lord Shiva overcame the snake and wore it around his neck. The tiger was killed and its skin became his waistcloth. When the elephant was released, Lord Shiva took on a diminutive form and entered it through the trunk. Once inside, He regained his original form, came out tearing the elephant’s skin, and draped it over himself. This gave Lord the name Krittivasar (Gajasamharamurti). After realising their mistake, the sages came and prayed here. The legend of Bhikshatanar is beautifully carved on the eastern gopuram and can be seen on the lowest tier. The other feature of this temple is the idol of Gaja-samhara Moorthy. The Krithi rendered by Gurus and disciples was Marakoti Koti Lavanya in Arabhi ragam. One also saw beautiful paintings on the ceiling of the temple and they depicted the purana stories. The pond was huge and water appeared clear green. With the sun shining gloriously, reflection of the gopuram and trees were seen on it. We headed back to the hotel and rested for a while. While some of us had lunch, others skipped it because of the heavy breakfast.
We visited Vallalar Temple in the evening. The main deity is Vathaanyeswarar and his consort Gnanambigai. The temple is Guru parihara sthalam and also known as Medhaa Dakshinamoorthy temple. Story goes that Rishabha deva who carried Lord Shiva on his head, became proud and thought he was superior than others. So, to teach him a lesson Lord Shiva kept a strand of his hair on Rishabha’s back. However, he was unable to bear the weight and realised his mistake. He fell at his feet and asked for forgiveness. Lord Shiva not only forgave but also blessed him with abundant knowledge. Hence, HE came to be called Vallalar because Vallal in Tamil means one who gave abundantly. The temple is small and well maintained. We went around and had good darshan of all deities. The Krithi rendered by Gurus and disciples was Vathaanyeswaram in Devagandhri ragam.
Our last visit for the day was Amrithakadeeswarar Abhirami Temple in Thirukadayur. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva who manifests as Kalantaka and his consort Parvathi as Abhirami here. Legend has it Lord Shiva destroyed eight different demons and the eight Ashta Veeratanam temples were built signifying each of his victories. This temple is counted one of the eight where Shiva is believed to have appeared as Kalasamharamurthy to save Markandeya from the death clutches of Yama. It’s also believed worshiping in this temple will give longevity to couples who have reached sixty or eighty-one years of age. The temple architecture dates back to 10th or 11th century by the Cholas. Built on a vast land, it boasts five courtyards, imposing gopurams and mandapas. The temple is also where Subramanian the staunch devotee of Goddess Abhirami earned the name of Abhirami Bhatter from King Saraboji. His composition of one hundred praises of Abhirami called Abhirami Andaadi or song to Abhirami is chanted and popular till date. It was a busy evening with lots of devotees and one saw marriages of elderly couples as well. Our Gurus who had celebrated Sashtiapthapoorthi last October, exchanged garlands and made it memorable again. The Krithis rendered by Gurus and disciples were Sankaram Abhiramim in Kamala Manohari ragam. Abhiramim in Bhushavathi ragam before Ambal Sannidhi. We headed to Annamithra hotel afterwards. Though the items were limited, the taste was fine and we finished our dinner.
On the second day we vacated the hotel and headed to Kshetrapalapuram quite early. Contrary to the fearsome looking Lord Bhairava, a smiling Bhairava manifests in Sri Kalabhairavar temple here. He’s believed to remove obstacles, cure ailments etc. in life. The story goes that Brahma being the God of creation felt supreme and became arrogant at one point. He spoke ill of both Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. However, the latter couldn’t bear the insult anymore and immediately created Bhairava. Who was from his own shadow Rudra and fierce looking. So, he cut off one of the five heads of Lord Brahma according to Shiva’s instructions. Now Lord Brahma repented his actions and fell at Lord Shiva’s feet, who forgave him wholeheartedly. However, he couldn’t remove the Brahmahathi dosha which fell on Bhairava. So, the severed head of Brahma turned into a skull, got attached to one of the fingers and couldn’t be removed from his hand. Upon approaching Lord Shiva for a solution, he learnt the only way to get rid of the sin and be absolved was to roam the entire universe with the skull stuck to the finger. Seek alms till he reached the holy city of Kaashi where the sin would go away. So, the years went by and Bhairava wandered everywhere. Finally, he reached Kaashi and as expected, the skull fell off the finger and he became free of the Brahmahathi dosha.
Another story goes that Bhairava continued to travel in order to get rid of the dosha fully. He looked for blood as biksha and it was to be collected in a Kamandal. However, he couldn’t get it anywhere. He then met Lord Vinayagar at Thiruvalanchuzhi where he manifested as Swetha Vinayagar. He prayed and sought his guidance. Then threw his Trishul and it fell at Kshetrapalapuram, an isolated place and surrounded by many trees. He then sat down and prayed to Lord Vishnu. Who appeared and put a drop of blood from his finger. The Kamandal became full with blood and Bhairava was ridden off the Brahmahathi dosha. He bathed in the water tank nearby; his Trishul returned back and his appearance too changed. He had a smiling face and the fearsome look disappeared now. The water tank was thus called Shoola Theertham. Lord Vinayagar came in the form of a lad now and took his blessings. As HE was incarnation of his father Shiva and free from all doshas. The place therefore came to be called as Kshetrapalapuram because Lord Vinayagar appeared in the form of a boy. The temple is also called Anantha Kalabhairavar temple. The Krithi presented by Gurus and disciples was Srivatukanatha in Devakriya ragam. It’s a beautiful composition and was enjoyed by all.
We had breakfast at Kaliakudi hotel and proceeded to Lalithambigai temple in Thirumeeyachur. It’s believed to have been built by Kochengat Cholan. The presiding deity Lord Shiva is called Meghanathaswami here and his consort Lalithambigai. Ambal is seated on the Sri Chakra Raja Simhaasana, with her folded right leg placed on the left like an Empress. It’s one of the paadal petra sthalams and mentioned in the Tevaram. Ambal graces her devotees from a separate sanctum. Lalithambigai Temple is the first Sakthi peetam and hence called Adi Parasakthi. According to legends, demon Pandasura harassed the Devas. They in turn surrendered at the feet of Parasakthi for protection. Devi rose from a Yaga Gunda and mounted on the Sri Chakra Ratha under the name Lalithambika. Then waged a war against Pandasura and destroyed him. Her fury did not subside afterwards. So, under Lord Shiva’s instructions, she came down to Earth as Manonmani. Then performed penance and shed her fury. The sculpture of Kshetra Puraneswarar is beautiful. He’s holding the chin of Ambal and appears to be pacifying Her. One the other hand SHE appears to be angry from one side and smiling and soft (santha swarubini) the other side. Illamkoil Sakalabhuvaneswarar temple is present within the premises. There’re also shrines of Dakshinamurthy, Vinayagar, Brahma and Vishnu, Durgai, and Rishabaroodar. One can also worship Naalvar, Saptamatrikas, Pancha Lingas- Agni, Appu, Akasa, Vayu, and Prithvi, and Nagalingam here. Lord Hayagriva composed the Lalitha Sahasranama in this temple and taught it to Agasthya Maharishi. The temple is also considered to be the birth place of Garuda, Vaali, Sugreeva, Yama, Saneeswara, Aruna, the charioteer of Surya. It’s a huge temple and well maintained. The Krithi rendered by Guru was Lalithambikaam in Devakriya ragam before Ambal Sannidhi. I was fortunate to sing along with her too. We also received the good news of our Gurus bagging the TTK award from The Music Academy for year 2025/26.
Our next visit was Maha Saraswathi Temple at Koothanur. This temple is believed to be more than 1500 years old. The village was donated by the Chola King Raja Rajan (II) to a Tamil poet named Ottakoothar who worked in his court. He built the temple for goddess Saraswathi and sang praises in her name. The place Koothanur derives its name from Ottakoothar. A long queue of school students waited under the hot sun that afternoon and sought her blessings. There was also a shop which sold gel pens, books etc. which were bought by all and given to the priests. Who performed special poojais keeping them at the Goddess feet and returned them back. The Krithi rendered by Gurus and disciples was Saraswathi Vidhiyuvathi in Hindolam ragam. We saw the Goddess close up and sought her blessings.
After a good meal at Hotel Vasan, we travelled again and reached Lakshmi Mahal- V inn, in Tiruvarur. The visit to this holy place was part of the 250th birth anniversary celebration of Nadajyoti Muthuswamy Dikshitar. The Inn was few meters away from Thyagarajaswamy Temple which was a colossal and overlooked the huge temple pond, Kamalalayam. The rooms were neat and spacious. The ‘samarpanam’ by all of us for the 250th birth anniversary of Shri Muthuswamy Dikshitar was just a day away. Therefore, myself and friend Prabha utilized the afternoon and practiced the krithis well. We’d the same pitch (five and half or G sharp) and hence planned to present them together. However, this being my maiden performance on stage and in the presence of audience, there were butterflies in my stomach now and then. We got ready and left for Sri Syama Sastri’s house in the evening. Born in 1762, he mostly sang in praise of Goddess Kanchi Kamakshi. Although he’d composed about 300 songs, only 60-70 are available now. It’s believed he didn’t have many disciples to propagate his songs and there was no printing press then. Also, his compositions needed to be studied and savoured. He composed a new form of svarajati musical genre. The set of three famous svarajatis or jewels were in ragas Bhaivari, Yadukulaamboji and Todi. All were in Mishra Chapu Talam. Beautiful paintings of the Doyen adorned the walls and the svarajati rendered by Guru and disciples was in Bhairavi ragam. After the Aarti, we took some photographs, both inside and outside the house as a group. We left for Saint Thyagaraja’s place afterwards. A small Tulasi maadam stood outside and despite the renovation, one observed the original architecture of the house was still intact. The pooja room was on the immediate left; the saint’s photo frames were kept inside and aarti done every day. One also noticed a spacious hall, high ceilings, wash area outside and so on. A huge painting of Lord Raama, Seetha, Lakshmana and Anjaneya appearing finally on seeing his devotion was hung on the wall. Then the brass statues of the trinity of Carnatic music stood on a table on the far side. The Pancharatna krithis was hung on the wall above. Tyagaraja regarded music as a way to experience divinity. His compositions focused not only on the technicalities of classical music, but also on the expression (bhavam). He is also known for composing kritis that depict ninda stuti (lovingly/flatteringly scolding the divine). He was always immersed in his devotion to Raama and led an austere way of life. The krithi rendered by Guru and disciples was Raghu Naayaka in Hamsadwani ragam.
We visited Thyagarajaswamy temple later in the evening. Shiva is worshiped in the form of Thyagarajaswami, also known as Putridankondar. His consort Parvati is worshipped as Goddess Neelotpalambika. She is also worshipped as Goddess Kamalambika in a separate shrine and regarded to be one of the shakti peethams. The temple is classified as a paadal petra sthalam. According to legend, the Chola king Muchukunda obtained a boon from Indra and wished to receive a lingam icon of Shiva, depicting the latter dancing on the chest of Vishnu. Indra made six other images and tried to misguide the king. But the king chose the right image and consecrated it in Tiruvarur. The Muchukunda Sahasranamam specifically refers to the deity as Anapaayamahipaala, and as Rajaveshadari (one who played the role of a king). The temple complex occupies an area of around 17 acres with the Kamalalayam tank to its west, which occupies the same area. The temple has nine Gopurams, 80 vimanas, twelve temple walls, 13 halls, fifteen large temple water bodies, three gardens, and three large precincts. The major gopuram of the temple is seven-tiered and raises to a height of 36 m (118 ft). The two main shrines of the temple are for Vanmikinathar and Thyagarajar. The sthala Vriksham (temple tree) is red patiri (trumpet flower tree). As per folk lore, Tiruvarur is mentioned as the capital town of a legendary Chola king, Manu Needhi Cholan who killed his wicked son to provide justice to a cow. The temple has a sculptural representation of a stone chariot, the king, cow and his son under the chariot on the northeastern wall. Muthuswami Dikshitar had sung eulogies of the temple deities of the Thyagarajaswami temple. Saint Thyagaraja was named after the deity of this temple. The krithi rendered by Gurus and disciples was Muchukunda varadha nottuswaram in ragam Shankarabharanam. We walked around the huge temple and took photos at various places. The different gopurams lit up beautifully gave a divine feeling in the evening.
On the last day and after having breakfast at Saint Tyagaraja’s house, we left to Muthuswamy Dikshitar mandapam. It’s the place Nadajyoti was born on 24th March 1776. His compositions, of which around 500 are known, are noted for their elaborate poetic descriptions of Hindu gods / temples. They capture the essence of raga forms through the vainika (veena) style that emphasizes gamakas. They are in a slower speed (chowka kala). He is also known by his signature name of Guruguha which is also his mudra (and can be found in each of his songs). He composed the famous Kamalamba Navavarna Krithis, filled with exemplary sahityas on the deities of the Sri Chakra and was the main highlight of his compositions. These navavarnams were in all the eight declensions of the Sanskrit language and are sung as a highlight of Guruguha Jayanti celebrated every year. He continued to display his prowess by composing the Navagraha Krithis in praise of the nine planets. The sahitya of the songs reflect a profound knowledge of the mantra and Jyotisha sastras. The Nilotpalamba Krithis is another classic set of compositions which revived dying ragas like Narayanagaula, Purvagaula and Chayagaula. The Kamalamba Navarana Krithis were sung by Gurus and disciples in the morning. The trip concluded by offering some of his krithis as ‘samarpanam’ by us students in the evening. Our Gurus concert followed thereafter and they played many krithis on the Veenai. For instance, Tyagarajo Virajate in Atana and Sri Subramanya Namaste in Kambhoji ragams to name a few. The principal, staff and students of central university attended and praised their efforts. It was also telecast in Jaya T.V. and covered by local newspapers. Over all the program was well-received by both young and old people in the city.
It was a blessing to be with my Gurus and friends at this time. Also, an incredible experience to visit some ancient temples and where Nadajyoti Muthuswamy Dikshitar Himself had composed many exquisite krithis and sung before the deities. Likewise, it was a blessing to visit Saint Tyagaraja’s and Sri Shyama Sastri’s house. Then sing and do ‘samarpanam’ of krithis in Sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar’s house and which has been turned into a mandapam now. The contributions by such stalwarts in art and music stand testimony to India’s rich cultural heritage. Therefore, it is our duty to preserve and handover the treasures for the generations to come. It also goes for temples and their imposing architectures, which particularly stand out in South India. Many beautiful compositions of Nadajyoti were rendered by my Gurus and disciples by sitting right before the deities sannidhi in the temples. In some temples they stood and rendered too. I’d the opportunity to sing Lalithambika Chintayaamyaham krithi in Devakriya Ragam along with my Guru/ mam and it was an unforgettable experience. I thank my gurus for this wonderful opportunity which helped gain insights into Sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar’s massive body of work. I also came to know the dedication with which my gurus run the music school and impart their music knowledge to all students. My prayers for their long and healthy life. It was also fun to be in the midst of my friends. Who were like family and made me feel comfortable throughout the trip. I hope to learn and visit such places in the years to come.
SavithaWrites 