Excerpts from a lesson in humility
Last night, I headed to the Swami Haridas-Tansen Sangeet Nritya Mahotsav (an annual Indian classical music and dance festival). With zero knowledge/understanding of Indian classical music, I found a seat, not knowing what to expect. I was there primarily to listen to Anoushka Shankar but ended up witnessing legends such as Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and Channulal Mishra in all their glory. This is not a review of their performances (which I am thoroughly incapable of) but of how it became a lesson in humility. The hall started filling fast, with people sitting on the floor and the stairs all around. Tens of people were left standing, when something unexpected happened: The organizers (led by Uma Sharma) decided to allow audience to sit on the stage and laid out rugs for people to sit! In my concert-going experience, this is the first time I had seen this happening. Of course, the situation was mildly chaotic as those already settled also made a beeline for the stage, but this cha