An Arangetram with Passion and Perfection by Young Bharatanatyam Dancer Shradha Anand

 Dancing is like dreaming with your feet.  For every Bharatanatyam artist, Arangetram is a celebration of the art, trained over several years.

It is the public graduation of art and the artist.  Acceptance of the audience towards more professional aspirations.  Dance is one of the most beautiful forms of expression, inspiration, focus and perfection.  It needs a strong devotion and commitment to the art.  Focus on the intricacies of the art to the minute details.  It is a collaboration of the training from Guru, music that encompasses itself with the dance, the percussion that supports the rhythm on the stage, the sounds and lighting, the very stage of performance and catching the attention of the audience.  

Shradha Anand

Any Arangetram for that matter would be a successful one only when this collaboration is coupled with ardent love for art, support from family and friends, a perfect understanding between the guru and sishya, and selection of the right theme for dance that suits the dancer who is to perform.  When all of this come together with the blessings of Lord Nataraja coupled with songs of Thyagaraja, Annamacharya and many other musical gods, and full support of parents, mentoring every moment and supporting the artist to accomplish, the end result can only be a marvelous performance that is lauded by everyone. 

Yes, we are here talking about one such amazing arangetram showcasing the talents of SHRADHA ANAND,  disciple of Parvati Ravi Ghantasala and also daughter of devoted and amazing parents Mrs Geetha and Mr. Anand, student of Kala Pradarshini.   An summer evening, on a Saturday, 24 May 2014, Shradha astonished the audience with her enthralling performance of Bharathanatyam, at Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan, Mylapore, Chennai.

Smt Kalyani Rajaram started with a wonderful narration of the dance programme coupled with Nattuvangam by Smt. Parvati Ravi Ghantasala assisted by her accomplished disciple Divya Suresh.   Vocal by Sri Koushik Champakesan was an added bliss to the evening making it a memorable combination of dance and music.  Kesavan’s  mridangam and Kalaiarasan violin and and flute artist were pushing the audience to an transitional form of music.  We should give credit to makeup artist Sri Murugan who did an amazing appearance of Shrada and costumes were designed and made by one other than Shradha’s mother Geetha painfully and patiently over the last 3 years.   Capturing every moment of this ecstasy by photographer Dhilip and videography by Ayyapan and design by Vinayaka made the performance complete. 

Guru Parvati Ravi Ghantasala

The words of chief guest Sri. K.N.Ramaswami, Director of Bharathiya Vidhya Bhavan and Smt. Prema Satish of Natyanjali, only made it a blissful acceptance of Shradha’s perfection of the art and her focus both in arts and academics.   Her whole family was there and friends jumped in joy watching her performing the toughest of dance moves with ease, thanks to her yoga guru who made her so flexible

Now let me write a bit about the evening that mesmerized for full 3 hours with her beautiful and electrifying performance.   Starting with Natrajar Anajali , Adi Talam, with Nattai ragam with a traditional compostion, Shradha started with her beautiful performance.  She looked bit nervous on the first song, however, as she started to perform Murugar Kauthuvam in Shanmughapriya ragam with adi talam, composed by Gangaimuthu nattuvnar, she was taking the stage and audience under her control.   The posture of muruga really made us for a minute raise in devotion to the Lord himself.   Then came the beautiful tanjore quartered composition in vasantha ragam with rupakam talam presenting Jathiswaram.    The best of the best was Amma Anandadayini  varanam with gambheeranattai ragam in adi talam composed by none other than the leend Dr Balamuralikrisna.  For a minute, as Koushik kept singing, I felt that Dr Balamurali himself is singing …and reminding us of the 3 beautiful hours of Balamurali we experienced in LA.   

The vibrant kalaingnarthanam made the audience not to blink even for a second, in a view not to miss the moments of joy that is displayed on the stage.  .  Sahana ragam bhajan on Sri Rama by Saint Thyagaraja brought the audience to a feeling of trance with her dance.   Shradha was felicitated by one and all along with her guru Parvati and parents.   Sri Muralidharan’s composition of punnagavareli ragam padam made Shradha dance in her beautiful peacock costume made by her mother specially for the occasion.   The last but not the least Thillana performace in Nattabhairavi ragam and adi talam composed by Veenai Krishnamachari was a perfect end to the blissful evening.  Shradha’s slowly but satisfyingly ended the arangetram by paying her due respects to Lord Natarajar,  her Guru Paravati Ravi Ghansala, her  stage and audience and to her parents.  

A standard tenth student of PSBBM Gerugambakkam with a score of 10CGPA, Shradha proved a talented youngster in both academics and arts.    Her parents ran from pillar to post to ensure that every single person in the audience is received and entertained with respect and thanks.   The Programme ended with a beautiful and mouth-watering food spread to the people whose hearts were already filled with joy watching young Shradha and not to forget the beautiful bags her mother made as mementoes to all with invitation and also the goodie bags with traditional coconuts and blouses.  It was so grand like a wedding with passion.  This wedding is between an artist and art in its purest form.

To us personally, it was an evening of bliss, happiness and joy as Shradha happens to be my daughter’s best friend as well.   We wished her with whole heart that she should achieve all her dreams and make her parents and family proud.   She is definitely a wonderful person with a great attitude and respect to elders and for sure will shine in life for the best of herself.   Love you Shradha and all the very best dear!

Good Bye Dear Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh

Dr. Manmohan Singh will be leaving the Office of the Prime Minister, of the largest democracy in the world in 48 hours from now.  The Country has seen him as a great economist,  a good politician and unfortunately as he retire from his political whirlwind, there is less that this country appreciated in him and more it hated.  However,  when the time came for him to bid adieu to 7, Race Course Road, New Delhi as India's first Sikh Prime Minister, a truly highly qualified politician in Indian diaspora,  a balanced Libran born on 26th September 1932,  my heart aches.  As the world shouts at its peaks that we had a Silent Prime Minister, a dormant politician and a chamcha of the Gandhi family,  the shadows of the scams and silence truly have covered the other side of this humble and honest man who ruled our country for long good 10 years. 

Dr Singh is not a doctorate given by some university as a honor degree.  He earned it with efforts at Oxford.  He did not reach the seat of Prime Minister by luck or for fancy.  He climbed the political ladder step by step.  His experience in United Nations, in the Ministry of Foreign trade,  being Chief economic advisor and also as RBI Governor and heading the planning commission before getting in the ministerial spectrum.  

Thanks to then PM P.V. Narshimha Rao, another whirlwind politician and a shrewed decision maker, who took bolder decisions for the economic progress of this Nation.  It is so sad that the present generation do not even know about the achievements of PVN period that brought in a boom  of economic reliance and opened up gates for foreign investment which boosted our trade and industries.  The combination of PVN and Dr Singh changed the country's fate during the severe financial crisis in early 90's.  The liberal financial reforms changed the destiny of the Nation from being an agriculture based country to a technologically advanced country where the skills and competencies were given greater importance.  From being a self-reliant country to a vastly export oriented Nation generating revenues from global markets transformed the growth of this Nation.

 The Nation that was ravaged by the times of Mandal Commission, Reservation based riots and suicides of young Indians,  got a relief when Dr Singh took over the reigns of the Nation as a Finance Minister in 1991 in PVN's Cabinet.  Less would he have imagined that one day he would take over the hot seat and stay there under fire for 10 long years.   After the strong opposition that set in against Sonia Gandhi becoming Prime Minister after UPA won in 2004 elections, Dr Singh became Sonia's choice.    

Several reforms under his leadership took its wings and reached the common man.  Amongst which RTI definitely needs a mention.  UID, Rural Heath Care, Employment Guarantee and nuclear agreement with United States were surely his plus points during his tenure.  However,  his tenure saw the most traumatic conditions as well.  The government was day in day out haunted by the scams in all the streams of governance.  Corruption and Terrorism took different forms and sizes beyond control.   Dr Singh from being a  transforming leader was pushed to become a silent manager.  From being an aggressive governing head, he was forced to silently  withstand the turbulence within his own government and became a silent spectator. 

Dr Singh dream of creating a role of active politics for betterment of human affairs.  Thinking the unthinkable and making bold decisions keeping the larger growth of the country in mind, Dr Singh definitely made an impact on our economy.  What ever the media may call him, how much ever Press may degrade him and the jokes on Internet create him as a joker,  the truth is that he was a humble man, a honest person, a great academician,  a wonderful thoughtful leader, pushed to be a selfish politician unfortunately and overall a great human being.  For such a diversified Nation like India, it is not easy to manage several ups and downs and Dr. Singh did it with his own charisma

History may record him as a Silent Politician who was a mockery and a puppet in some one's hands.  But the truth will also be realized sooner than later that he was an example of integrity, a man of tolerance, and a leader who had healthy relationships with world leaders and built a strong relationship of understanding and harmony with neighbouring Nations.  Managing insurgencies on all sides, handled terrorism within the country, dealing with a long list of scams and still coming out clean is no easy task.  The biggest mistake probably he had done would be to go silent and immune as the scandals shocked the Nation.  The government would have collapsed many times costing the election commission exchequer further more losses effecting our economy had he gone on a mode of taking strict actions against his own ministers and parliamentarians who have tarnished the image of his government and him as a leader who has the competency to rule and a strong political power.  Being aware of the irregularities and corruption charges and still staying quite was his draw back that made him called as the weakest Prime Minister India could have.  However, despite all this, he quietly did his duties.  He silently went ahead with his reforms and governance.  He did not speak in favour or against of anyone.  He remained calm and himself.  Which is not a sign of a good leader but a great manager.  

At the age of 81, his decision to retire from active politics and giving away for new generations to come in, we would surely miss the wisdom of a great leader.  Every ruler will have his pros and cons.  Dr Singh should be remembered for the best he has given to our country.  Hope he will have a peaceful retired life.  And also wish that the chaos towards the end of his political era should not haunt him in his old age.  We should give him the due respects as some one who managed this Nation for a decade keeping the image of India strong, high, proud and in the growth trajectory in the world map for several causes and reforms .  

May god give Dr Man Mohan Singh a peaceful retired life,  good health and happiness.  May his time give him an opportunity to write why he should not be called a weak prime minister so that we would know his thoughts and as his conscience speaks up the truth.   May the wisdom he shared be appreciated and May he have a life with real internal strength and integral peace at least now that he is out of the hot seat.  God Bless!

Why do we hate Death ?

DEATH -  The one word that often brings immense pain and trauma.   It creates the saddest of human emotions and disappointment.   All of us knew the fact that for every living being, there is an end.  The death is the final end point of our tunnel called life.   Death is hated in any form.  The natural, unnatural, timely, untimely, sudden, ill-health, killings, suicides, during birth, during war, during doing nothing and doing something. 

Death is not an unusual thing and it is the phenomenon we watch day in and day out.  Newspapers, TV channels,  messages and every mode of communication in every day life transmits this news of some death or the other to us.  However, when it happens to our loved ones, to those who know, those we adore, those we think passed away unfortunately,  those we think they deserved some more time in this Earth,  we feel the loss more.  We feel being itched by death like nothing else.  We feel that we are the only one's suffering and we fail to accept the reality.  The composer is lost, tears and sadness rules and the sense of hopelessness creeps in and going beyond our control to manage our own thoughts and feelings.  Why?  Because, we will not be seeing them again.  We will not feel the comfort of their existence around.  We will not feel the warmth and love they share and many a times, they just cannot be replaced.  

Words of philosophy on death is shared, we celebrate the good lives that they lived, we cherish the moments of happiness with care in our memories and pictures, every thing that they touched, created and experienced becomes all the more precious.  We feel at we were blessed to have them in our journey of life.  To be with us till their time came.  To be guiding us, to be protecting us or just living with us as a closed one.  Be it as a parent, sibling, child, relatives, friend, colleague, neighbor or an associate.  We cherish their existence in our lives at some point.  When the graph of points of existence is longer and close to the line of our life, their existence matters more to us.  It creates a deeper impact on how we continue after their line of life ceases to exist. 

Fluctuations of life is very much a normal process.  Ups and downs are the life line.  But, we hate death like it should not happen.  We hate it so much that we don't want to hear about it, we don't want it to happen to our own people and we don't want it to happen in any unnatural sudden way.  It is because of the deep attachment we have to the human form and body, than to the soul. The realization that we do not have the form to feel and see is the bitter truth that we don't want to recognize.   At times, the pain is so immense, that we want to go with the deceased.  It creates a sense of vacuum, a sense of loss and a sense of no purpose.   For all this, time is the only healer.  Exceptions to this is also there.  Few people will never come out of few deaths.  Their minds and thoughts get stopped with the person gone.  To them, they continue to live feeling the divine presence of the person they loved and continue with life.  The inner chambers of them knew that it is a depressive condition.  Most times, very normal for those who are emotionally very attached and are equally sensitive.  

Those who exhibit strong emotions in public may also be grieving in private.  Those who make a hue and cry and battle themselves to the core during death of a loved one, may actually get to move on faster in life than the other kind.   Grieving, crying and feeling the sense of loss is all ok and very much normal during death.  Hence, controlling this human emotions is not a necessity.  Same time, sooner the realization dawns on us about death and its reality, we will learn to move on.   It is easily said than done.  

In the moments of grief, the memories are the biggest solace,

In the moments of death, the footprints are strong to walk in,

In the moments of loss, the courage to smile is the biggest thing

In the moments of fear, the time is the only best healer

In the moments of anxiety,  the company of loved one's helps

In the moments of silence, the Prayer comes as a God's blessing

In the moments of loneliness, the thoughts are the gifted company

In the moments of delicate moments, remain calm and pray 

In the moments of departing loved one's, wish their souls Rest in Peace!

Having Lost my best friend's daddy last night to a sudden death, it made me go back to introspect deeper into death .  Recent losses of friends Srujana, Satish Velayudam, Prabhu San, and many of my friends aged parents disturbed me alot.  Equally the death of Major Mukund Varadarajan and many other soliders fighting for the safety of our borders is a cause of concern.   I have seen death in my hands at the age of 15, when my dad slipped into eternal sleep in my arms on a winter morning.   Ever since, I know the various impacts death can have on those people who are left behind .....and this is just a reminiscence of the same.

Rest in Peace Uncle Valluri Radha Krishna Mohan uncle.  Will miss you for ever.!

Why do we Pray? - A Prayer - A Self-Study - A healer!

Why do we pray?  An innocent child once asked me.  I replied, we have to pray so that God keeps us safe and happy.   She countered asking ‘ Will God not know to keep us safe if we don’t pray?’  .  I blinked.  God created us and we are his children.  We are made the way he made us to be born, raise and lead each of our lives the way we were created.  Each one of us was created with certain limitations and blessings.  We count our blessings and regret for our limitations.  To over come such limitations, we pray to god to heal us, to refine us and to re-make us.  Our situations and circumstances are the results of our own actions and thoughts.  However, there are various external things that contribute to what we are pushed into.

Example, though we are driving in the right direction, in the correct speed, following all rules,  a drunken driver coming in the wrong way may push us to an accident that changes our life in a split second.   A minor earth quake may shake off the very house we built with care.  A holiday may destroy the whole life with a cloud burst similar to that happened in Uttarakand floods.  An evil terrorist may gun down a self-less soldier fighting for our Nation.  Anything may happen.  Life is so trivial.  Death is not the only suffering.  The very passage of life, the bridge between each one’s birth and eternal sleep is defined by our own destiny or fate.  Those who do not believe in destiny,  may think that what ever is to happen will happen.  This is also destiny.  Then why do we pray?

Prayer gives us a sense of hope.  We have God who would listen to us without questioning back our intentions or expectations.  We can crib, cry and beg God for anything that we want in life.  Though he gives us or not, the hope and faith, that we have asked and will get makes us go through positive vibrations.  These vibrations are so important that we keep ourselves with positive thinking.  The affirmation makes it important to concentrate on things that can make our lives better.  We cannot change our destiny.  But instead of brooding over a tragedy, or a making a misery out of a disappointment, we need to be internally strong and make the best of the opportunities out of our adversities.  Then alone life will find a meaning.  And for this Prayer helps.

Prayer heals.  The way we pray, we let all our emotions come in true form in front of the God’s altar.  We thank God for blessings.  We fight with God for putting us through test, we feel that we have him to hear to us and heal us within.  There is a promise felt in a prayer.   We hear answers when we question things with God.  We feel solutions around us for every problem.  We hear the responses within.  Our mind comes into equilibrium of thoughts when ever we get derailed from the path set before us.  Prayer is the key to this process.    Daily prayers make us strong because of the vibrations they create.  Prayers control our emotions, especially negative emotions like anger, hopelessness, revenge, frustration and falsehood.  Prayer makes us feel that God will take care of charge of things that are not in our control.  Prayer also gives us a strong hope that God will punish who are not righteous to us.  Prayer makes us think with common sense and calmness of mind.  It gives us a time in solitude to introspect our own selves peacefully.  Prayer is nothing but an assurance to one self that things will be alright and there is a supreme power guiding us.  Sometimes, the supreme power is very much within you. 

I leave it to God, when it is beyond me!

And the Miracle does happen!

Remove People from Life ! Who No Longer Matter!

I have come across people whom I desperately want to dispense from my life.  At the same they seem to be integrated into my life so much that I am unable to leave them and move on.  What happens at such instances?  We are forced to compromise.  We are pushed to deal with them with fake smiles.  We are burdened to bear with them including their stupidity, pretending, fakeness and insults.  Sometimes, it becomes so unbearable that we spend most of our valuable time thinking of them, how to keep away from them and how to not getting effected by them and their activities.  Unfortunately the more we try to keep away, they seem to be coming closer in life that we are unable to avoid. In spite of multiple instances of anger, frustration, hue and cry, insults and ego clashes, these people try to patch up.  It is not forgiveness but due to pure selfishness.  Because of some relationship that they think is practically wanted in life for reasons best known to them.  How to get rid of such people?   

The mere presence of such unwanted people makes life miserable.  We spend our energy towards negative thinking of keeping away and not thinking about them.  Honestly, we will be better without them in life.  Wrong influences, provocations of anger and anxiety, circumstances leading to depression and suicides thoughts, bad influence on our day to day activities or any such things are an indication that we have to keep away from people who are responsible for such things in life.  There is nothing wrong in staying away from evil and moving ahead with level-headed, down to earth, like minded people who can make our lives cheerful and successful.   It doesn’t mean that we have to run away from people who face failures or struggles.  It means that we have to run away from people who become repeatedly responsible for our failure and struggles.  We learn from them.  These lessons of life are as important as to how not to be some one!  How not to be an irritant in some one’s life?  How best it is to keep away and redefine our own lives?  This can be our closest relative, a dearest friend for long time or an immediate neighbor or a colleague.  As long as the influence is not negative, hope is not hindered and faith is not disturbed, we can endure. The moment we feel that we are pushed into a thread of trouble that would entangle us towards sorrow and misery, it is always better to stay away than keep on bearing with such people.   Saying ‘I am sorry! I am moving on from you!’ is much better than silently crying,  with thunders of pain gathering inside you, frustrations that are inexpressive and suffering that is suppressed.  Yes, you have just one life to live.  And it is nothing wrong to make it right.  Right the way you want to live. With happiness and peace.  With love to yourself and do what you want.   Learn to live your life. For yourself!

My happy visit to Idhaya Vasal Elders Home, Aarthy Charitable Trust, Pallikarnai Chennai

This Post, I will set the picture speak for itself!