Ram Sundar Ranganathan explains the Mahatma’s philosophy with warmth and expertise
The cool breeze and the light rays of the morning sun welcomed music-lovers as they flocked to the MCG open-air amphitheater in Gurugram to discover the ‘music of the spinning wheel’.
Hindustani singer Ram Sundar Ranganathan was accompanied by veteran Gandhians Vinod Kumar Handa (who turned 91 on October 2) and Kamaljit Sangwan at a concert organized by Kalagram in association with the Haryana government and the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) to celebrate Gandhi Jayanti. . Gandhi Hindustani Sahitya Sabha Spinning Charkha.
Both the sound of the spinning wheel and the beauty of the morning ragas were explored in the unique concert.
A Grade ‘A’ artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan, Rama initially trained in Carnatic music before pursuing Hindustani music under Shanti Sharma of the Indore gharana. He was further trained by PT. Tejpal Singh was the chief disciple of Ustad Amir Khan, the founder of the gharana.
Introducing the theme of the concert, Rama spoke about the importance of the 11 vows that Gandhi used to guide him through life, including truth, non-violence, asteya, aparigraha, and how music and the spinning wheel were his were an integral part of philosophy.
The time was perfect for Gujari Todi, when Rama created the serene atmosphere of the raga with a penetrating alap, outlining ‘Truth’, and sung ‘Satyameva Jayate’, which his master used as a mid-rhythm bandish in three talas. I sang in This was followed by a Rubaidar tarana in the same raga, composed by Ustad Amir Khan in Antara (second part of the composition) with a Persian ruba’i (verse), which describes the essence of Sufism, similar to the theme of the concert. Is.
Along with Pt. Sarangi on Tabla by Bharat Bhushan Goswami and Akhtar Hassan, Ram performed Bandish, ‘Satyamev Jayate’, Behlava, Bol-Badat, Sargam and even Sargam and Aarkar of Tana’s. Along with decorating Tarana also displayed his skills. He explored ‘non-violence’ and other vows through several ragas and presented them with warmth and appeal.
During the concert, he also touched upon aspects that inspired the Mahatma, for example, thirukkural by Thiruvalluvar. Rama then rendered ‘Maitri Bhajata’ in Ragamalika. The last line of the song, ‘Shreyo Bhuyat Sakal Jannaam’, conveys the message that when one sees others as one’s own, ‘Atmavadev Paranapi Pashyata’, there will be no violence.
The Kabir hymn, ‘Awwal Allah Noor Upaya, Kudrat Ke Sab Bande’, was composed by his guru in Hemant’s vocals, and Rama reached the tar medium with ease. Kamaljit Sangwan then explained how the spinning wheel not only provides vocation to many people but is also a tool of meditation.
Rama took over with Bulleh Shah’s allegory of Charkha with Kafi and the original version of ‘Raghupati Raghava Rajaram’ written by Lakshmanacharya. He woven it thoughtfully with ‘Nadopasana’ composed by Pt. Vishnu Digambar Paluskar in Raga Jayjayvanti. To mark the 75th year of independence, Rama concluded with Sanskrit verses ‘Namami Dharani Mataram’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ in Raga Desh.
Delhi-based writers write on classical music.
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