Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Calling all Insomniacs, hispanic beauties and Japanese tourists !!


Today I went to attend an organ recital at the Westminster abbey along with a friend of mine from France. He is a keen follower of music and knows a fair bit of western classical music. I have learnt carnatic music for a few years but is a foetus when it comes to western classical music. We were sitting at a sprawling chapel, an area of the cathedral, in all its grandeur and eminence.

Part1:

The recital started with an introduction by the performer, a very learned gentleman with many coveted musical roles around the world. I was trying my best to aggrandize myself, knowledgeable and interested. The first piece, the prologue, seemed like initiating a foreplay with stately slumber for me. I looked around to see if anyone else is going through a similar intercourse with their instincts.. To my surprise 70% of the crowd were nodding away in glory of the peace at this Victorian cathedral, mind you in only the first piece.

Part 2:

The second piece was called 'fantasy' by J.S. Bach and it actually proved that the composer was indeed a genius. My body was vibrating with the rendition and I was carried away into a fantasy world. I began to wonder about organ recital etiquette. I was like the country commoner who didn’t know how to behave at an upperclass dinner. I wondered if nodding away in an organ recital was etiquette in utmost propriety. I still haven’t figured out if my assumption is true. It did truly make me wonder about attending such an event when they couldn’t focus on being awake, especially for an event that is as short as 30 minutes. To my utter dismay I then noticed that the women in the chapel were wide awake and pale. I did read quite a few faces, which were predominantly engrossed in something,not all music. Around the church I saw upright women with sagging men alongside. I wondered why that was happening.

Then it happened. My eyes set themselves upon a beautiful lady just a few rows ahead of me. The disinterest caused by the ignorance along with the magic of 'fantasy' was making me a poet. The Hispanic girl was perfectly chiselled with brown hair. Her cheeks were like ripe strawberries.

You are the cloud that covers a daffodil horizon,

Chandeliers of King Solomon,

The masterpiece that every artist yearns,

magical garment from God’s divine yarns.

You are the red of the setting sky,

green of the sparkling midday water,

The spring leaf that splatters the monsoon,

winds loving the grasslands in noon.

You are the cold waterfalls in a dark forest,

The deer decorating the vivid mother nature’s nest,

The sound of a distant sea bird,

The innocence of a white sheep herd.

Right then,the second piece got over.

Part 3:

When we were entering the cathedral, we saw three Japanese people walking in and asking the stern looking Christian security usher some question in Japanese. “Chow mein, feng shui?”. The security replied, “Organ recital! This way please”. I was clear that, it was only God and me that understood the conversation. For the uninitiated, “Chow mein, feng shui” means, “Can we go in and see the cathedral?” in Japanese. The Japanese tourists went along happily thinking that they can witness the magic of Westminster Abbey and be a part of History by stepping on the gravestones of great people like Shakespeare and Shelly, people who are widely revered in Japan. When the organ recital started they were squirming about in their seats, whispering chow chow mow mia pia bee jing hong kong. With my basic knowledge of Japanese, I understood that they were upset about their trampled plans and wanted to leave. After lots of Japanese whispers in the first two pieces, finally in the third piece, they did the eternal indecent act of leaving in the middle of an organ recital. I decided to follow them. (smart Indian). On their way out, the stern looking Japanese bloke told the security in Japanese, “Fung you, We wong seeng cathend, you bloong bastang , seng us watchong sleeping piang, you blong Britong, You cong to japang, I fung you , shong you bamboo violong and shove it on your assong and sell you in in marking. Thank young. Good bing.!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Spirituality.


India has been often plagued by violence among people that is caused by sensitive religious belief of individuals. Every man feels an emotional uproar when the call for war comes to defend his religion and its followers. I have myself felt this surge of emotions many times ‘helplessly’.

The current global scenario of wars is also attributed to the emotions that man attaches to religion. This human weakness is being harnessed by the astute leaders of men to shepherd the world into a way that meets their own instinctive needs. Little do the majority of the men in the world know that the war that they are waging on a mighty enemy is dampening the soil beneath them and is crippling their future. They are innocently blinded and this is occurring because the leaders of men are good at hiding the truth from their flock and guiding them through realms of heavenly fantasies that are really tensile bubbles of uncertainty in hell. They must wake up and demand their right for a fulsome life.

A fulsome life is a gift of God. It is the birth right of every individual in the world cutting across all barriers of continental, racial, economic, mental, health and religious status. I think the solution to all these problems lies in religion itself.

In simple terms, religion must teach us the way to lead our lives in all fullness, bliss and prosperity. For these objectives, religion must be pursued and taught to the highest possible standards and the most rightful manner. Human beings must humble themselves in the pursuit of religious wisdom and seek divine interference for understanding. This experience of complete surrender to the higher power (termed spirituality) will help refining the individual and coalesce him into the causal factors of a fulsome earthly life. Spirituality will lead us to a life in fullness, bliss and prosperity.

There is a gentleman called Dr. APJ Kalam, who will agree with my views on an idea for a better livelihood in India. In his book, “Ignited minds-unleashing the power within India”, he has explained the concept subtly in various parts for various situations. Here are a couple of excerpts from the book where he cites examples when spiritual people have showed the way to a fulsome life.

Excerpt 1: An example of Giving.
“In 1962, Dr. Sarabhai and Dr. Bhabha were looking for a site to establish the space research station in the equatorial region. Thumba in Kerala was found most suitable as it was near the equatorial region and was ideally suited for ionospheric research. The locality was however inhabited by thousands of fishermen living in the villages there. It also had a beautiful church called St. Mary Magdalene church and the Bishop’s house. As such the acquisition of the land did not move any further.

Dr. Sarabhai met the bishop, His Excellency Rev. Dr. Peter Bernard Pereira on a Saturday and requested transfer of property. The bishop smiled and asked him to meet him the next day. In the Sunday morning service the bishop told the congregation, ‘My children, I have a famous scientist with me who wants our church and the place that I live for space science and research. Science seeks truth that enriches life. The higher level of religion is spirituality. The spiritual leaders seek the help of the almighty to bring peace to human minds. In short what Vikram is doing and what I am doing are the same- Both science and spirituality seeks Almighty’s blessings for human prosperity in mind and body. Children can we give them god’s abode for a scientific mission? There was silence for a while followed by a hearty ‘Amen’ from the congregation which made the whole church reverberate.”

Excerpt 2: An example of companionship.
“News reached me that a Maulvi of a very famous 300 year old mosque was waiting in the mutt to take me to the mosque. The swamiji suggested that I visit the mosque.At this instance I remembered an incident in Paramacharya’s time, a decade ago, as told by the former president, R. Venkatraman. Mr. Venkatraman showed me the mosque very close to the Kanchi mutt. A few years ago, the mosque jayamath and the district authorities decided to relocate the mosque to some other suitable place as its present location was inconvenient both for the mutt and mosque. As a large number of people visit the historic mosque and there are huge gatherings at the mutt too, the traffic was becoming increasingly difficult to manage. The mutt would rebuild the mosque in its new location. Somehow this message reached the Paramacharya. He vehemently opposed the whole idea. He said, ‘In fact at 4:30 am, the call for namaz comes from the mosque, it acts as a wake up call for my divine duties.’ And also for many other reasons he was opposed to the relocation of the mosque. He made it clear to both the district authorities and the mutt. The Paramacharya went into mouna viradham-deep silence. Finally shifting of the mosque was stopped.”
These examples do suggest that people from different religions can coexist in their pursuit for a fulsome life. Spirituality is the answer. Religious texts should be read thoroughly by every individual after seeking divine help for understanding through prayers.

I have decided to read my religious text, The Bible. I will read it over and over again praying to God that every time I do, I can get better in my understanding of my life and its role in this world.

The curious case of me!!


Someone recently commented that my behaviour and mannerisms resembles that of an old man. I began to wonder about the traits that possibly were responsible for that stranger to have such an impression of me. In this ‘world’ that pisses me with its ever changing fashion trends, void-filled friendships, fast track romances and monetary reasons for existence, I would presume, it shouldn’t surprise me if anyone finds me a stand out specimen. Then again, why me? I am not happy that the person felt such. It shouldn’t have been like that. I must change myself; mould myself to the world of today.

What is wrong with me? Have I started assuming that I come from another era? How about “The curious case of JAYANT JUDILSON”? I googled to find out what possibly can be the required changes to bring in a more dashing and interesting personality.

Then I realised that I mustn’t bother. If someone thinks anything about me, and specifically, if anyone feels or thinks ill about me, the picture above this blog is all for you. Enjoy!!!