Sawai Gandharva 2008 - An Experience

India’s most popular Classical Music event, ‘Sawai Gandharva Sangit Festival’ was held in Pune from 11-14 December 2008. 56 years back, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi started this event as a remembrance of his guru, Rambhau Kundgolkar, better known as ‘Sawai Gandharva’. This year was all the more special as; Pandit Bhimsen Joshi is awarded The ‘Bharat Ratna’, the highest civilian award of independent India. Pune has produced some great personalities in the field of music, literature, dance and drama, now it will boast for its resident ‘Bharat Ratna’. Classical music is a very specialized form of art, even a listener of this form of music needs a certain degree of musical sense. Panditji’s award is also a sign of never fading patronage provided by Puneits over all these years to this form of music.

The event started with a performance by ‘Tukaram Daithankar’, the popular ‘Shehanai’ exponent. He started with raag ‘Bhimpalas’. This starting performance was just a trailer of the musical treat being given over next 4 days. After that, Pandit Krishnendra Wadikar and Pandit Suhas Vyass exhibited their vocalist’s skills. Pnadit Vyass ended his performance with a Bhajan, ‘Ek Sur Charachar Chayo re’ (Let one musical note fill the universe) – a dedication to Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. Next was the great santoor maestro ‘Pandit Shivkumar Sharma'. He started his performance with raag ‘Durga’. Panditji’s pleasant appearance, with white-roundish hairs and long-black kurta, was as lovely as the sound of each musical note coming out of his trapezoidal instrument. Even when he was tuning his instrument, 10000 odd crowd was patiently weighing each an every note, till it fits into its own frequency. As Panditji started hitting the wooden mallet onto the stretched metal strings, the magic box was open and there was a gift for all. He was bouncing-sliding-tapping the mallet to sound different musical effects. His hand movements on the wooden box, was as if he was painting a musical picture, filling it with darker notes in one corner and fading it away in other corner. His pahadi tune, transformed the whole backdrop into snowy mountains and flowery valleys of Kashmir. His performance was well synchronized by Yogesh Samshi on tabla. Pandit Ajay Chakrawarti ended the first day with Raag ‘Bhairavi’.

Though the festival is predominantly dedicated to classical music, Anuj and Smruti Mishra blessed second day with a ‘Katthak’ performance. These young siblings performed rachna’s such as ramastuti, krishnastuti and murali-rachana. While dancing, they dramatized one of the Mahabharata’s events at Kurukshetra. Everybody was stunned when they performed Bhramari - a continuous 103 revolutions. The crowd was at their feet. Everybody experienced few speechless and motionless seconds. It is because of such performances, that the festival is a prime attraction for so many fans over so many years. Vocalists Prasad Khaparde, Shrikant Deshpande and Mohan Darekar also had their performances. The session ended by a great singer from Gwalior gharana, Mrs Malini Rajurkar. Gwalior gharana boasts its roots way back to ‘Miya Tansen’.
They say---
‘Tansen’ was because of ‘Akbar’… And
‘Bhimsen’ is because of ‘Punekar’…

Every year Sawai festival, presents young, burgeoning talents to the music lovers and the youngsters always come up with a delightful surprise. One of such performers, Arshad Ali, had performed at Sawai at the age of seven. This time he was back, at the age of twenty-two. He presented raag ‘Multani’. He was followed by raag ‘Shree’ by Pandit Madhup Mudgal. Instrumentalists are always popular among all music lovers. Violinist brothers Ganesh & Kumaresh enthralled the audience with a perfect rendition of Carnatic sangeet. Ghatam and Mrudangam accompanied the violinists. On an audience request they presented a Pahadi dhun. The day was blessed by the presence of ‘Bharatratna’ Panditaji. Because of health reasons he was sitting in a car just beside the stage. His mere appearance spread a wave of excitement among the crowd. Will he-will he not sing, was the most anticipated question over next two session. Crowd was at there feet, paying their respect and wishes to this great vocalist from Kirana gharana. Great performers just keep of coming one after another in this festival. Pandit Rajan and Sajan Mishra followed next. The duo from Banaras Gharana has performed all over the world, pleasing audience with their mellifluous singing. While singing raag ‘Bageshri’, they influenced audience, with a kind of aggressive and sometimes soothing, voice modulation. They were building their concert appreciating each other. The accompanist Mauli Takalkar was felicitated for his 81st birthday. He plays a kind of side rhythm, called Tal or Zanj, mostly accompanied in Bhajan. So to say, this is such a small instrument, with hardly any improvising capacity. Mauliji was a part of Pandit Bimsen Joshi’s thousands of live concerts and recordings for last 33 years. Really, every small bit helps.

The last day of the fest was in two sessions. This only morning session gives an opportunity to listen morning ragaas. Vinayak Torvi started the session with raag Ramakali. His devotional song ‘Zala Mahar Pandharinath’ deserved worth mentioning. Flutist, Pandit Ronu Mujumdar followed next. The sweet sound of flute filled the air with a divine bliss. There is such a power in all these instruments and their melody is that, the concept of musical medicine needs to be explored to the next level. SangeetMartand Pandit Jasraj was next on stage. In turmeric yellow kurta and white dhoti, he was looking as divine and as refreshing as ever. His students accompanied him. Vijay Ghate was on tabla and Mukund Petkar was on harmonium. Simultaneously while teaching his students, he was displaying a classical display of Hindustani music. It’s because of his Gurukul style of teaching that has produced the likes of Sanjiv Abhyankar, Kala Ramnath and Sadhana Sargam. Pandit Jasraj felicitated Pandit Chandrakant Kamat, a tabla player, for his numerous years’ of contribution to the classical music. Pandit Jasraj himself said that Pandit Kamat has helped him getting established in this field. I think we always respect an artist for his humanism more than his artistic skills, isn’t it?

Last session performers were vocalist Madhuri Dange and Shrinivas Joshi.
Along with them was Tejendra Mujumdar on Sarod. Innovation keeps the art alive and experimentation keeps the artist agile. ‘Madhy-lay Tal-wadya Kacheri’ is a group formed by Akhilesh Gundecha. They performed an orchestration of several rhythm instruments like, Pakhwaj, Dholak, Banbu, Matka, Hudka, Tabla, Daf, along with Sarangi. Claps and uproars by the crowd signed off the successful experimentation. The most sought after vocalist from Carnatic music Mrs Aruna Sairam was very impressive with her raag ‘Vrundawani’ and raag ‘Todi’. She paid her tribute to Pandit Bhimsen Joshi by singing one of his Abhang ‘Tirth Vittal – Kshetra Vittal’. Dr Prabha Atre, one of the titans of Kirana gharana, ended the four-day festival, with a mesmerizing performance. Everybody missed Pandit Bhimsen Joshi’s Bhairavi. This pahadi singer has given so much over all these years, that now when he needs rest, nobody would complain.

During my primary days, I had tried to learn classical music. I did try learning classical music on flute. During my college days, I did try my fingers on Guitar. These days I am trying my hands on my new Synthesizer. I am not sure if I can become an instrumentalist of any standard. But after listening to over 30 hrs of classical music over 4 days, I am sure I do hold some pedigree to be a good listener of classical music. It is the combination of great musical exponents and a crowd of connoisseurs that make this festival an astounding success. May the fest live for years to come!!

Mandar Joshi
Credit Suisse 20 Dec 2008

Why Not Share Our Thoughts

It’s been a terrible week for the whole financial industry. Lehman Brothers collapsed; Merrill Lynch is about to jump from the cliff. As Fed is settling issues with the Mortgage Lenders 'Fannie Mae' and 'Freddie Mac'; they are about to face the worst month ahead, thinking about WHO is next?? Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are the only Wall Street survivors. History shows that the countries like UK and US have been thru the cycles of economic upheavals, weathered the scars of World Wars and all kinds of manmade disasters. They have pioneered the calamities and experienced a phenomenal growth. They have enough experience and guts to wear Scars on their chests. I am sure they will sail thru.

If I can make this statement, “ US Sub-prime crisis is the first phenomenon which has engulfed not only the originating countries but the whole world ”. Don’t be surprised if there are job cuts in Lehman Brothers Mumbai. Off-shoring has given edge to all FII and foreign financial solution providers. But their business model is based on Hit-N-Run strategy. Let the crisis hit and they will run overnight. This sentiment is quiet evident from ever volatile Sensex and Nifty. This crisis has come knocking our doors with many of us working directly or indirectly in financial domain.

During my London visit, I have experienced the uncertainty looming around ABN-AMRO employees during ABN-RBS M&A. I have seen people Crying-N-Crashing over the pint of beer. I have seen Northern Rock going bust and people queuing outside NR’s ATM to withdraw there hard earned money. At the same time I have spent many Friday evenings sitting in a pub right in front of Lehman Brother’s twin tower building, having a pint in hand and imagining working for LB’s. It is impossible to digest that a bank having a 150 years history going in tatters like that. Over last few years, as a novice, trying to understand the financial markets and now working for a financial institution, I have all my sympathies with all those who might loose there jobs as an aftereffect.

While bombarding the terrains of Bagdad and Kandahar, Uncle Sam easily overlooked the spread and use of Financial Weapons of Mass Destruction (FWMDs) in his own backyard. This so called financial engineering is no less than rocket science. Financial scientists have created these dynamites in the form of complex financial instruments. Dynamite at least kills once and for all; these FWMD’s are going to rob minds and souls over next few days.
Being the first Indian generation to face an economic crisis of this length and breadth, we have a lot to learn from these stories. We have to prepare ourselves mentally as well as financially to tackle the crisis of this scale. Being an emerging superpower, we have to go thru the travails. One should earn during booming economy and learn during economic depression. We are kids in the financial domain, we have to build our competency and may be, overrun these foreign giants sometime in future. After all an Indian is running the City Group.

Financial market provides a channel for distribution of money from lenders to borrowers. Money just keeps on floating between parties involved in a trade. It is some bodies’ loss that feeds some bodies gain. Money keeps on exchanging pockets. Unlike in manufacturing industries, where there is a generation of asset, these are the real breeding grounds for Money. The economies that are build on manufacturing boom; will surely weather this financial crisis. Lord Krishna has described the importance of ‘Agriculture’ in 3rd Verse of The Geeta. “Nobody can survive without food, hence everybody should contribute to farming. Hard work keeps your body fit, mind agile and sole at peace. Working out in the field builds Observation skill, Perseverance, logical interpretation and future vision. Harvesting is an astounding difference between the Man and an Animal.” I never realized the meaning of this verse, until Now!!

Mandar Joshi

Credit Suisse ( 16 September 2008)

My First Pilgrimge: Pandharpurchi Wari

'Vitthal' alias 'Panduranga', a black god, god of common people, the farmer, cobbler, weaver, just all and everybody. Saint 'Dnyaneshwar' and Saint 'Tukaram' were great followers of 'Vitthal', born in 13th and 16th century respectively. An annual pilgrimage carrying chariots (called 'Palkhi') of 'Dnyaneshwar' and 'Tukaram', starts from 'Alandi and 'Dehu' ('Samadhi' place of both the Saints) walking 250 Km over 15 days, reaches 'Pandharpur', to meet 'Vitthal'. The tradition is going on for ages. The purpose is simple, to get immersed in revering god 'Vitthal', forgetting all sects, clans and castes and achieve a step closer to the ultimate goal of life, 'The Moksha'. Pilgrims are called 'Warkari' and the pilgrimage is called 'Wari'.

I happen to participate in one leg of 'Wari', from Lonand to Taradgaon, some 10km stretch, with 'Saint Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi'. My intention was clear, to involve in the thrill of the pilgrimage, to be a part of an age-old tradition and to add another experience in my repertoire. Philosophy is always tough when you read it from books. This annual pilgrimage is a practical; you can see the 'Bhakti' and 'Shraddha'; hear 'Mantras' and 'Abhangas'; and sense the 'Moksha'.

Saint 'Dnyaneshwar' was a born intelligent. In those days all Veda and 'Bhagwat Gita' were written in 'Sanskrit'. Knowledge of Sanskrit and hence the 'Veda' was restricted only to 'Brahmins', the upper cast. And hence forbidden to 'Shudras', the lower caste. Saint 'Dnyaneshwar' at the age of 18, translated 'Bhagwat Gita' into Marathi, the common language. Devine knowledge of 'Gita' was now accessible to everybody. The epic is called as 'Dnyaneshwari'. Dnyaneshwar entered into 'Samadhi' at the age of 21, at the place called 'Alandi'.

We started our journey from 'Lonand' at about 2'O clock. There were about 1-2 Lakh 'Warkari'. Synchronization of the crowd was amazing. People were walking in small groups (called 'Dindi). Pilgrims were dancing and walking to the rhythm of 'Mrudangam', chanting 'Shkolas' and singing 'Bhajanas'. No body seems to have cared about the scorching heat. 2 horses were leading in the front. One of them was empty saddled. Saint 'Dnyaneshwar' is believed to be riding that horse. Many people were bare feet. Women were carrying 'Tulashi' (the sacred plant) on there head. I could see many youngsters round about my age.

All pilgrims eagerly wait for this annual feast. They dedicate 15-20 days every year just for the sake of god. Forget all their sorrows and daily choirs, and immerse into 'Namasmarana'. Most of them are peasants and daily wagers. There faith in the god is just unflinching. These days 'Adyatma' is becoming a fashion, and Demigods are becoming richer. We are in a crisis of 'Belief'. This pilgrimage gives out a very simple message, treat everybody equal and visualize god in every person. Just one leg of this pilgrimage has given me a lot of satisfaction and a peace of mind. These memories will linger in my mind throughout the year.


Check out the snaps.
http://picasaweb.google.com/mandarsj11/WariASimpleExperience

Mandar Joshi

Tata Consultancy Services (7 July 2008)