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 charming gesture set the tone for the evening to come. Such was the beauty and humility of these maestros, that they invited their audience to sit with them. I sat there thinking about how this, this beautiful chaos would or if this would have been possible anywhere else in the world?

Anoushka Shankar on the stage, surrounded by the audience. 
Photo credit: Nupur Suri

Mr. Bhatt takes his position as the first performer and as part of his introduction, he asks the audience to bless him. One can do little but be mildly amused and thoroughly dazzled by such a request. Here sat a Grammy-winning, Padma Shri-awardee composer in front of a largely novice crowd and he seeks to be blessed by them. I am pretty sure that in an instant he had captured the hearts of the audience and he hadn’t even touched the Mohan Veena yet.

Pt. Mishra took the stage next and in him you could see a fine example of a person who was enjoying being himself right in that moment. For one of his songs, he invited Uma-ji to perform with him. Uma-ji made herself available on the stage immediately and graciously accepted the invitation to dance (mind you she is 74!). What more could we have asked for - two legends were improvising on stage!

 Mishra-ji’s interaction with the audience was enlightening and humorous at the same time. He introduced us to his art in a simple lighthearted manner akin to a mother breaking small bites of a roti for the child to consume. We sat their enthralled, following where the piper led us. He shared some beautiful nuggets of wisdom and I leave you with one such:

“Music is a prayer offered to God, within it lies the beginning and the end of all human existence The ‘Sa’ in the sargam stands for Saakaar (the one with form) and the Ni stand for Nirakar (the formless) and the remaining five swaras stand for the five elements of nature (Earth, Fire, Water, Sky and Wind). Music entails moving from Sa to Ni signifying that the purpose of life was to experience the form and achieve the formless.”

What an intimate experience! Photo credit: Madhurima Sil

After the event, Ms. Shankar posted this on her page: “I am sooooo humbled by last night. Thank you Delhi! People queueing from 5pm and taking every available corner of space, even on the stage with us! I feel I played one of my best shows last night, and I'm so grateful to my old home town for welcoming me the way you did!”

The Wanderer