I'm a big big girl... :p

I can't even remember the first time I heard this song. It was ages ago. On the radio. I think! And for some reason it's coming back to me ...

Economist? Me?!

I feel there has been utterly and completely no use of me having studied economics. None at all. I went on an insane shopping spree yesterday. I am embarassed to even list all all the stuff I bought. I really felt like that girl from 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' when she goes to buy that green scarf - where even the mannequins begin talking to you! Oh and as for things like debit/credit cards, they are not meant for people like me. I practically bankrupted myself! So not good. But well, I just couldn't help it!! It was just one of those days when I found clothes I liked, in my size (which is a very big deal when you're as small as I am), in colours I like and styles I wear. So like I said, I just couldn't help it. Plus I was accompanied by my darling cousin L who very patiently convinced me that "it's looking good Didi, I think you should definitely take it."

At times like these I really do love my friend :p They were 'proud' of me (haha). And said it's ok since I 'hardly' splurge on 'myself'.... which isn't entirely untrue you know!

L came over to stay on saturday after all of us attended another music concert, this time by the Isha Foundation. I won't say much except that the music was good. And yummy chaat afterwards!

Basically, good weekend. Especially the crazy banter between RG & L :D

IPTA - Lost Songs of the Freedom Struggle

IPTA (Indian Peoples Theatre Association) has been in existence since the 1940s, with the aim of expanding the scope of participatory democracy beyond the political processes at the parliament. While it has been involved in dance, theatre, music, and photography, the songs composed and sung by IPTA stalwarts during the independence struggle got lost somewhere along the way.

I first heard of IPTA during my undergrad years, and later at JNU where alot of students were involved I knew were involved withit. I was surprised to know that one of our own faculty members, infact from our department, has been researching these songs for the past 3-4 yrs. She recently performed at IIC/IHC etc, and today the ensemble played at college too - Dr.S.D., Deepak Castelleno on guitar (and banjo!), and Tapan Mallik on the Cello.

The songs were in Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Malayalam and Telugu. They centered around themes of both resistance and celebrations - the 1940s & '50s - the Bengal Famine of 1943, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the Telangana movement in Andhra Pradesh, the Second World War and the communal violence in the wake of the Partition of India. They were beautiful.

Probably because of their simplicity - both, the lyrics and music was such that it just resonated in your heart. She sang a beautiful "heer" (a Punjabi song) on the Bengal famine, in a manner that it is apparently sung on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. It was just so haunting. She also recalled singing Mekhdoom Mohiuddin's 'Jaane waale sipahi se puchho' at Khalsa College right after the Anti-Sikh riots in the country (1984) and how the music had a cathartic effect on the people gathered there.

At the end of the show she asked Deepak & Tapan to play some music which the audience had to guess. All of us strained to figure out the soulful music that played and gradually halfway through it everyone began to stand up - it was the national anthem! Now the thing is, the latter half of it was the Indian anthem, and the first half was the Pakistani national anthem (the part we couldn't figure out) - I cannot tell you how lovely the entire composition was. Have been trying to find it online but no luck so far. (Madan Gopal was the composer).

Muuuuuzik

Sweetness. The music scene in the city has finally begun again.

Attended a performance by Pt.Birju Maharaj and his son Deepak Maharaj today. The son is Good! And Panditji was as adorable as ever. Also at the same programme, Pt.Shiv Kumar Sharma played the santoor - I've never heard it live before, and I loved every note he played. Both were accompanied by Pt.Yogesh Samsi, who has been trained by the great Ustad Alla Rakha.... yes the evening was very very delightful.

SPIC MACAY inaugurates it's season this 27th with Pt.Hariprasad Chaurasia :) I am reminded of last year when RG & I went all the way to north campus for it... am hopeful we both will find the time for it this time too...

Delhiites just CAN'T switch off their cellphones at music concerts. Just Can't.

Too sleepy to write more.

...Hindustani naam hamara hai...

Happy 62nd independence day! It is going to rain today. Atleast there's one FM station playing songs to suit the mood. So you can taste a little bit of A.R.Rahman's 'maa tujhe salaam' for starters ...

A R Rehman - Maa T...

I remember talking to the lambu yesterday about why eventually I would like to settle down in India. Sure there are plenty of moments when this country/city drives me insane. The States presents the exact opposite in terms of conveniences, infrastructure and I suppose even a better civic sense. Those could be sufficient conditions for a good life but I don't feel they are the always the necessary ones.

How free are we today? We've come a long way since 1947. But as MG said, every freedom also requires some discipline. Possibly we're not as disciplined? (More on this later.)

Anyhow, I like it how 15th August reminds me of reasons why I love being in this country.

The sounds of ghunghroos, of a shehnai, of a koel...

the crowds that make the country work (and sometimes get in the way!)

the colours - reds & oranges for every festival and weddings... And the palette you get to witness in places like Rajasthan.

the emotions - for everything ranging from cricket to politics to religion

the plethore of sights, traditions, festivals, seasons, history - how for almost everything there's a celebration bringing together dozens of extended family members. I like the kites that dot the skies today. The best part is that everyone participates, irrespective of the size of their bank account. The size of sweet boxes and kites might differ, but they are there all the same.

Yeh Jo Des Hai Ter...

Aug'15th brings the same feelings I get every time I see an army truck, every time I pass by India Gate, every time I hear my most favourite independence-related song - "ae mere pyare watan..."

Ae Mere Pyaare Wat...

I remember how at school, every independence day they would recite Tagore's famous words -

Where the mind is without fear and the head held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is led forward by Thee into ever-widening thought and action;
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

Today does something to my insides. I can't really express it. I can only feel it. And so, from our country, Happy 15th August to you.

15th Aug @ College

All through my school and university years I never ever understood what the Independence Day celebrations were meant to signify. I remember having to stand through seemingly endless morning assemblies at school. The numerous speeches about the freedom struggle, Gandhiji etc. year after year would just seem so boring. It felt as though people couldn't get enough of preaching to us. Later, in University I don't think I attended a single Independence Day celebration.
All that changed last year, once I began teaching. Maybe it's because being on other side of the classroom brings you closer to some of the action. I like it how the flag pole is draped in garlands of Marigold flowers. And how the rose petals fall through as the flag unfurls. (In school I recall how the flag would get stuck and just not unfurl!) Standing erect for the national anthem. But more than that, it's this one feeling I've experienced only at LSR - a place which truly celebrates freedom. Where every 'speech' is geared to appeal to the sensibilites of both, the students & teachers - both primarily women. I'm proud of how the NCC cadets occupy a place of pride at the flag hoisting ceremony. I find it almost freaky when the indian music society sing 'bharat humko jaan se pyaara hai' and I can feel goosebumps right down to my toes.



Where I can see every single traditional dance from the country and yet not get enough of the diversity. Where my eyes well up with tears when they play the NDTV movie 'Remembering Kargil'. And where I can scream, shout, hoot and clap along with the students as I see a slideshow of images (Oscars for Slumdog Millionaire - Meera Kumar the country's first LS speaker - the solar eclispe - Abhinav Bindra's Gold at the Olympics - pictures of rural empowerment etc) set to the tune of A.R.Rahman's 'Ma tujhe salaam'.

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(The video's beautiful too.)

Those two hours of assembly stayed with me all day long. I felt proud, of being a woman in my country today.
P.S. went to CP later with JS. Did shopping. Ate chowmein. Got a call from lambu engineer, he's in town. Might meet up tomorrow.

gaane...

Been humming two songs all week long. After a very long time, Dire Straits' Romeo & Juliet - I won't get into which lines are my favourite since it's practically every single word! The other one is 'Used To' by Chris Daughtry (of American Idol fame...). Discovered it on the i-pod, and it's quite...hummable.

rains and a bollywood song

The monsoons are finally upon us. I have gotten drenched twice, so far. I know there will be several more times in the days to come.
There's something about Delhi when it rains. It's as if the mood of the city changes. The roads become cleaner, the trees are greener, the air is cooler and the skies just so much more clear. It's also sweet how radio channels play the most amazing songs to match the season! My ALL time favourite is this quite-old-but-still-nice one....

सावना बरसे, तरसे दिल, क्यूँ ना निकले घर से दिल
बरखा में भी दिल प्यासा है , यह प्यार नहीं तो क्या है
देखो कैसा बेकरार, है भरे बाज़ार में
यार एक यार को इन्तज़ार में

M came for lunch yesterday. We had a usual catching up session. Talked and cribbed and laughed and planned....

Flute...

Played my flute today. Had been wanting to, for a while now.
There's something about music that totally gives me a break from everything else. I loved reutrning to the familiarity of that instrument. I've been playing it since school. And I took out some really old music pieces which we would play at I** with Mr.P****. It felt great to be able to belt out some of those melodies