Introduction
During last few months I was disturbed by various factors that is going around. Some of the issues and the sensation of the media on those issues really disturbed me. The sensationalisation on certain issues and discussion/ debates on certain issues made me to think that as a country and as a responsible group that we started focussing on individual and conclusion is made on certain individuals. Further I was also equally disturbed by approach or attitude of some people made me to ponder on one question. As a scoiety and as a country "Dont we have one credible person whom we can follow or who can inspire us".
It is not that I am sceptical on present situation or I disturst every person but somewhere the events made a telling impact on me and on my thoughts and what sort of people we are leaving for posterity. Some of the emails which were circulated in public on stupid episode which had perversion at its worst made me to raise only question" Dont we have one person in last 20 years who can inspire us not only for the talent but also in humility/character and fought against odds and became great".
It is said some people are born great but some people achieve greatness by their sheer hard work and their character. I was applying my mind and I recollected some of the events which I heard from my father and from some of my relatives in my younger days and also some articles that I read. I am always inspired by this person not only for the music but the noble cause to which this great person has contributed and also her achievements and despite her achievements lead a simple life and has contributed to this society in her own way.
I am one of her followers who is not only inspired by her singing of Thygaraja Kirthis/Annamachaya Kirthis/her Chant on Suprabatham/Meera Bhajans and her ever green songs like Vaishnavo janatha and Kurai ondrum illai etc but also on the value system and humility value practicised despite being great..
I am proud that I am born in the country which can boast of great people like her and I am equally proud not only to hear songs but to see her in person in 1982 when she came to attend my uncle's 60th birthday. Yes Truly inspirational person not only in Music but in Character, Values and who achieved greatness by sheer focus. It is none other than MS- The great.
M.S. The Great
M.S.Subbalakshmi (MS) is a renowned singer and one of the gretest musician India had ever produced. A true Bharat Ratna who richly deserved accolades not only for her Music but certainly a person who is truly inspirational for this generation to follow. I have no such talent or qualities nor i have 1% of her character even to talk but I thought i should write few lines only because in today's scoiety when everything is converted into commerical and hypocrisy, but here is a person who attained great only by hardwork and her focus on music. I had read various articles since 1975 including coloumns in Illustrated Weekly, India today, The Week but I wanted to read more. I bought book "M.S.- A life in music". A great book depicting some of the events and her life in realistic manner which made me to admire this person more. Her Chants of Vishnu Sahasranamam, Suprabatham, Kanakadara slokam are so sweet and so calming that keeps your day in so positive and in right spirit.
M.S born in devadasi family and brought up in society that had inherent difficulties and considered as insurmountable in those days, yet she fought against the odds and became ambassador of Carnatic Music. The song "Bruhi mukundethi" though she sang in "Meera" film but became a poular song in all her music concert. Her song 'Kurai Ondrum illai Kanna" which was written by Rajaji for her UN Concert became a pouplar song which is rendered by all musicians.
Her rendition of "Jagathotharana"and "Bhagyadha Lakshmi Bharamma" makes Lakshmi and Lord Krishna to come to our homes to hear such a pleasing voice.
In addition to this her Chartiable project to poularise Annamyya Kirthanas( Annamacharya) and her single minded devotion to popularise Annamacharya kirthans is a great service to the music world. Similalry her rendition of Bharatiyar Songs, concert on Ramana's Jayanthi and her concert before Paramacharya were all music rendered which will last till this world last. Bharatiyar in one of his song wrote a line " Inba then vandhu payuthu kadhinele" ( Honey is flowing into ears). May be this is absolutely apt for MS songs.
I used to think how a person is so gifted and made a mark in this world of Carnatic Music. Certainly there were great singers too but she was cut above the rest. The only one reason "She is just focussed on music" and nothing can detract her.
Just think. A plenty of powerful people like Nehru, Pant, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and all the luminaries were always to eager her music. Mahatma Gandhi requested her to sing song in his Bhajans and her "Vaishnavo Janatho" is greatest number for Mahatma Gandhi. But despite so many powerful people were her admirers and always looking for her music and being connected to Rajaji yet it did not distract her attention from music. The reason is simple. Determination, focus, character and above all a great humility value.
My late father used to narrate an incident and which I used to hear from others too. Once she was asked to sing Bengali song in a concert in Kolkatta .Before the concert she had asked for a translator who can translate Bengali song into Tamil and also to give the meaning. After knowing the meaning she rendered that song in concert. The review next day in local news papers were so great and people acknolwedged the Bhavam and Sweetness of the song. It shows only one i.e to get focussed on what you do.
The glow at her face and the sweetness of the songs all has come because of the dedication, humility and above all respect for the humanity.
The biographer on MS concludes on MS in simple lines " She honoured the ancientness, anchored her art on a spiritual base and absorbed the best in others while developing her own distinctiveness. She always remained consicous of the need to take music as wide a world possible. More than her contemporaries, she reached beyond her home town, beyond her home state and beyond even her country to become a universal ambassador of Carnatic music. It was no small achievemnt for a person who had virtually no schooling, could not speak any language with confidence other than her native toungue and was sorrounded by social obstacles traditionally considered insurmountable. She triumphed by just being herself"
Conclusion
In my view every person who is born in India should be proud of born in a country where MS is born and every Indian should follow the basic principles of MS which will make not only us proud but will also make country proud.
During last few months I was disturbed by various factors that is going around. Some of the issues and the sensation of the media on those issues really disturbed me. The sensationalisation on certain issues and discussion/ debates on certain issues made me to think that as a country and as a responsible group that we started focussing on individual and conclusion is made on certain individuals. Further I was also equally disturbed by approach or attitude of some people made me to ponder on one question. As a scoiety and as a country "Dont we have one credible person whom we can follow or who can inspire us".
It is not that I am sceptical on present situation or I disturst every person but somewhere the events made a telling impact on me and on my thoughts and what sort of people we are leaving for posterity. Some of the emails which were circulated in public on stupid episode which had perversion at its worst made me to raise only question" Dont we have one person in last 20 years who can inspire us not only for the talent but also in humility/character and fought against odds and became great".
It is said some people are born great but some people achieve greatness by their sheer hard work and their character. I was applying my mind and I recollected some of the events which I heard from my father and from some of my relatives in my younger days and also some articles that I read. I am always inspired by this person not only for the music but the noble cause to which this great person has contributed and also her achievements and despite her achievements lead a simple life and has contributed to this society in her own way.
I am one of her followers who is not only inspired by her singing of Thygaraja Kirthis/Annamachaya Kirthis/her Chant on Suprabatham/Meera Bhajans and her ever green songs like Vaishnavo janatha and Kurai ondrum illai etc but also on the value system and humility value practicised despite being great..
I am proud that I am born in the country which can boast of great people like her and I am equally proud not only to hear songs but to see her in person in 1982 when she came to attend my uncle's 60th birthday. Yes Truly inspirational person not only in Music but in Character, Values and who achieved greatness by sheer focus. It is none other than MS- The great.
M.S. The Great
M.S.Subbalakshmi (MS) is a renowned singer and one of the gretest musician India had ever produced. A true Bharat Ratna who richly deserved accolades not only for her Music but certainly a person who is truly inspirational for this generation to follow. I have no such talent or qualities nor i have 1% of her character even to talk but I thought i should write few lines only because in today's scoiety when everything is converted into commerical and hypocrisy, but here is a person who attained great only by hardwork and her focus on music. I had read various articles since 1975 including coloumns in Illustrated Weekly, India today, The Week but I wanted to read more. I bought book "M.S.- A life in music". A great book depicting some of the events and her life in realistic manner which made me to admire this person more. Her Chants of Vishnu Sahasranamam, Suprabatham, Kanakadara slokam are so sweet and so calming that keeps your day in so positive and in right spirit.
M.S born in devadasi family and brought up in society that had inherent difficulties and considered as insurmountable in those days, yet she fought against the odds and became ambassador of Carnatic Music. The song "Bruhi mukundethi" though she sang in "Meera" film but became a poular song in all her music concert. Her song 'Kurai Ondrum illai Kanna" which was written by Rajaji for her UN Concert became a pouplar song which is rendered by all musicians.
Her rendition of "Jagathotharana"and "Bhagyadha Lakshmi Bharamma" makes Lakshmi and Lord Krishna to come to our homes to hear such a pleasing voice.
In addition to this her Chartiable project to poularise Annamyya Kirthanas( Annamacharya) and her single minded devotion to popularise Annamacharya kirthans is a great service to the music world. Similalry her rendition of Bharatiyar Songs, concert on Ramana's Jayanthi and her concert before Paramacharya were all music rendered which will last till this world last. Bharatiyar in one of his song wrote a line " Inba then vandhu payuthu kadhinele" ( Honey is flowing into ears). May be this is absolutely apt for MS songs.
I used to think how a person is so gifted and made a mark in this world of Carnatic Music. Certainly there were great singers too but she was cut above the rest. The only one reason "She is just focussed on music" and nothing can detract her.
Just think. A plenty of powerful people like Nehru, Pant, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and all the luminaries were always to eager her music. Mahatma Gandhi requested her to sing song in his Bhajans and her "Vaishnavo Janatho" is greatest number for Mahatma Gandhi. But despite so many powerful people were her admirers and always looking for her music and being connected to Rajaji yet it did not distract her attention from music. The reason is simple. Determination, focus, character and above all a great humility value.
My late father used to narrate an incident and which I used to hear from others too. Once she was asked to sing Bengali song in a concert in Kolkatta .Before the concert she had asked for a translator who can translate Bengali song into Tamil and also to give the meaning. After knowing the meaning she rendered that song in concert. The review next day in local news papers were so great and people acknolwedged the Bhavam and Sweetness of the song. It shows only one i.e to get focussed on what you do.
The glow at her face and the sweetness of the songs all has come because of the dedication, humility and above all respect for the humanity.
The biographer on MS concludes on MS in simple lines " She honoured the ancientness, anchored her art on a spiritual base and absorbed the best in others while developing her own distinctiveness. She always remained consicous of the need to take music as wide a world possible. More than her contemporaries, she reached beyond her home town, beyond her home state and beyond even her country to become a universal ambassador of Carnatic music. It was no small achievemnt for a person who had virtually no schooling, could not speak any language with confidence other than her native toungue and was sorrounded by social obstacles traditionally considered insurmountable. She triumphed by just being herself"
Conclusion
In my view every person who is born in India should be proud of born in a country where MS is born and every Indian should follow the basic principles of MS which will make not only us proud but will also make country proud.
