On the banks of the mighty river, we learnt how to remain steadfast in our commitment to traditional gayaki. As we inherited a more than 300-year-old legacy, rooted in the holy city of Benaras, we undertook the mission to spread its beauty like the many tributaries of the Ganga.
The city’s multi-dimensional culture has been accommodative of musicians from both the north and the south. It has been the seat of research. It holds in its arms many beautiful elements of Hindustani music such as dhrupad, dhamar, chand, prabandh, thumri, chaiti and kajri.
The Benaras gharana offers a huge canvas that includes nritya, gaayan and vaadan (dance, music and instrument). Where else can you a find such a sangam!
The spiritual vibe of the city provides a perfect ambience for art. What is music without bhakti rasa, which Benaras helps you experience.
The house we grew up in resounded with swaras, and when we stepped out, it was the sound of chants. So we were soaked in music through the day.
The long hours of training under our father and uncle honed the voice to take on the rigours of the grammar and challenges of the changing times. They taught us how to express a musical phrase in myriad ways. Singing classical music is not just about keeping a set of taans ready and unleashing them on stage. It is the melding of imagination and learning. Only then your music will have the capacity to tug at people’s heartstrings...like the gentle waves of the Ganga.
Khayal became our forte because we enjoy poetry. It is a soulful exercise to take up a few verses and then develop them musically. You sometimes go beyond the inherent meaning to find new expressions.
Beyond technique
When rendering a raga, an artiste should look beyond the technique, to think how he can present it in his own way. All this comes from taiyari . Only on a strong foundation can you erect a building and design it according to your aesthetic sense. What you need are shraddha (dedication), samarpan (sacrifice) and jhukav (right bent of mind).
In this process, the guru plays an important role. Not just any guru (laughs), asli (real) guru. Not any of those who have set up shops across the city and peddling music to gullible young learners in fast-food-like packages.
Youngsters who are interested in pursuing this art seriously, should go to a guru who will groom them in a way that they understand the essence of music, develop the ability to interpret once they gain musical maturity and know the path ahead. Never approach a guru with a mindset of becoming someone or gaining something out of the art. If you have the skills, the art will take care of you.
Also no journey can be complete without struggle. If you read the biographies of past masters, you will know what they underwent to reach great heights.
Sone ko aag mein tapana zaroori hai (gold has to pass through fire to attain purity). Swar ka anand (joy of swaras) should be the aim of learning.
(As told to Chitra Swaminathan)
