Hello everybody! Wishing you all a nice day. This is the seventh video on ‘Spinning into a Career’ which gives an insight into Ruchi’s attempt to learn music and an insight into N.L. Parande’s career.
Her brother, sister and parents do not like her practicing. They rebuke her and complain. Her mother says that academics are more important than music. The harmonium purchased by her is used by her brother and sister to play. They simply fiddle with it. Her dad tells her, ” Unless you develop an affection for humankind, you will not be able to sing melodiously.” Paradoxically, it turns out to be true. The music teacher comes to their house to explain to her parents that she needs to practice music at home to improve her singing but it is in vain. Members of the house play the T.V. and radio loudly to miff her.
Ruchi has to sit down on the mat holding the tamboura for playing the base notes. Whenever she notices her music teacher touching her feet, she puts on an expression of scorn on her face. He breaks the habit. Music provides an innate joy to Ruchi. Frustration in her is swallowed by devotional music. Most of the khayals and thumries in Hindustani classical music deal with separation of a woman from her spouse or fiance. Ruchi desires to become a great singer and a philanthropist.
On the way to the music class, she crosses the Krishna river which is well connected by a bridge to other parts of Bhimpoli. Ruchi is enamored by the running water of the river and the serried trees that make a green outline of Krishna Nagar. The lane has several twists and turns, leading to the music class. There are independent bungalows. Each of them is surrounded by a compound having mango trees, coconut trees, and fruit trees. There are various beautiful flower plants. During Diwali, the bungalows are brightly lit. Colorful rangolis and paper lanterns of various shapes can be seen. The lane divides into two at the point of exit, one on the right and other on the left. Ruchi takes the left turn to reach her music teacher or guru’s house.
The guru prohibits her from entering the class if she does not apply red kumkum powder on her forehead. Her music class continues with the teacher repeating the same lessons.. The teacher is old and takes a day off when he is not well. He tells Ruchi, ” Give up your raag ( anger) and then turn to raag ( of music). Kirti envies Ruchi’s voice. In her father’s absence, she coaches Ruchi. Mistakes are met by a hit on the head. Ruchi tolerates it because she wants to learn music.
N. L. Parande’s life is somewhat cinematic. N.L. Parande is the son of a rich man in Dhawangiri. He lived in a mansion. His father died suddenly. He lost his mother at birth. His uncle, who took charge put him out of mansion, when he was five years old. He remained outside the house, shivering with no food. It started raining. He took shelter in a place under the shed. Someone gave him tea. He heard someone singing Hindustani classical music. The music lured him. When the singing stopped, he tapped the door. The singer, who was a maestro, was in front of him. The guru was surprised to see the small boy drenched and shivering at his doorstep. “Can you teach me the song you were singing? I don’t have a house. My parents have died. I have been driven out of home by my uncle. I do not have money to feed myself. I live in the shed built on the pavement”
The guru looked at the boy with sympathy and asked him if he really wanted to learn. ‘Yes” the boy replied. “Okay, I will teach you if you sweep the floor and do the household work for me.” The boy agreed. The master called him the next day to take lessons in music. The master was strict about timing. The lessons depended on master’s whims. He might not give lessons for weeks. The master gave him money for sustenance with which he bought some tea and cheeselets or shankarpali,
Thank you for listening. We shall continue with the story of N. L. Parande in the next video. Till then, Goodbye!
Video can be viewed on You Tube by typing ‘Spinning into a Career’ by Usha Raman.
