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Works of great Indian musicians relevant in difficult
times: PM
New
Delhi: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today
said that the works of the great Indian musicians
and saints can help the country overcome impact of
hatred and terror attacks. Addressing a gathering
at a function to launch the book 'MS and Radha', Dr.
Singh said that such works reflected the values of
the Indian civilization. "Our country has seen a lot
of violence. It is in times like these that the great
musicians, the great saints and the great 'rishis'
of our country, their life and their work becomes
truly relevant to take to the ordinary people," said
Singh. The book has been co-authored by renowned exponent
of Carnatic Music, M.S Subbulakshmi's daughter, Radha
Vishwanathan and her grand niece Gowri Ramnarayan.
Subbulakshmi was one of the first musicians to introduce
carnatic (south Indian classical music) vocal music
to western ears. Her concerts became instant successes
with the New York Times describing her ensemble as
'a revelation to western ears'. Not only the ordinary
listeners but even the great music maestros said that
listening to Subbulakshmi's music gave them peace
of mind and has been an unforgettable experience.
"It was something which is very difficult for me to
even express the whole ambience of that period that
I spent in their house listening to music and listening
to other great musicians. It has been a priceless
experience in my life and about her greatness," said
Ravi Shankar, a sitar exponent. One of India's most
respected and renowned classical singer, recipient
of the country's highest civilian honour, M.S Subbulakshmi
was an acute diabetic and died in 2004 at the age
of 88 of bronchopneumonia and cardiac irregularities.
The legend, known for her trademark forehead smeared
by three rows of vermilion, sandal powder and ash,
grew up in a family of musicians and cut her first
disc when just ten years of age. Her debut as formal
classical singer came at 17 when she performed to
a packed house at a music academy in Madras (now Chennai),
where she spent most of her lifetime. The young singer
went on to make a name as a singer-actress in regional
cinema but it was the "Meera", a film based of the
life of young girl who falls in love with Lord Krishna,
despite being a human and devotes her life to him,
in 1944 and the raging popularity of its music that
catapulted her to dizzying stardom. Subbulakshmi gained
the status of saint-singer and won amongst others
the adulation and respect of Mahatma Gandhi. Subbulakshmi,
who gave millions of rupees from her concert earnings
to charity, had not given any public performances
since her husband died in 1997.
-Dec
11, 2008
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