A tribute by Dr Asha (Sivasree) Gopalakrishnan
Strains of veena gently pervaded the tranquil and solemn atmosphere; the occasion being a musical homage to the veteran vidushi late Smt. Kalpakam Swaminathan by her students on Aug 15th, 201, at C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer Foundation auditorium, Chennai. Mami's presence was very much, felt not only in her august photograph placed near the stage, but also in every vibrating note played or sung by her students. As a silent and respectful participant, I experienced a flow of thoughts in my mind, much like the cascading swaras from her veena, which I would like to pen down.
Mami's was a unique personality, a combination of exceptional merit and mellifluence; an embodiment of grace, grandeur and graciousness. She represents a lifetime of unassuming, unpretentious, self-effacing, self-sacrificing devotion to veena, uncompromisingly upholding the pristine purity of the illustrious tradition she has been fortunate to inherit at a tender age.
Her playing touches the realm of the transcendent. It can (if at all) be inadequately described as sedate, stately, vintage, unsullied, meditative, sattvic, elevating, soul- stirring. Her music conjures up all that is grand, majestic, sacred, graceful and beautiful in nature: the lofty towering snow clad peaks of the Himalayas, the unfathomable depths of the mighty ocean, the vast expanse of the grand canyon, the majestic gait of an elephant, the stately repose of the lion-king, the graceful walk of a delicate swan, wave upon wave rising incessantly in the ocean, the ever-flowing, purifying, nourishing, sacred rivers of India, the gentle breeze rustling through tall trees, the gradual blossoming of flowers and tender shoots in spring, the towering gopurams of temples, the gently waving lamps of the arati before the deity, the rhythmic rise and fall of the breath of Lord Vishnu reclining on Adisesha which is the ultimate ajapaa-japa, known, only to yogis - yogi vidita ajapa natana rango, as Dikshitar puts it.
This nadopasana of hers has unquestionably sustained her through her personal and professional life. Let her be a beacon light and inspiration for us to sustain and carry forward this legacy, this tradition of music, and seek naada-brahma.
The author is a student of Smt. Kalpakam Swaminathan. She may be reached at ashass@live.com
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Strains of veena gently pervaded the tranquil and solemn atmosphere; the occasion being a musical homage to the veteran vidushi late Smt. Kalpakam Swaminathan by her students on Aug 15th, 201, at C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer Foundation auditorium, Chennai. Mami's presence was very much, felt not only in her august photograph placed near the stage, but also in every vibrating note played or sung by her students. As a silent and respectful participant, I experienced a flow of thoughts in my mind, much like the cascading swaras from her veena, which I would like to pen down.
Mami's was a unique personality, a combination of exceptional merit and mellifluence; an embodiment of grace, grandeur and graciousness. She represents a lifetime of unassuming, unpretentious, self-effacing, self-sacrificing devotion to veena, uncompromisingly upholding the pristine purity of the illustrious tradition she has been fortunate to inherit at a tender age.
Her playing touches the realm of the transcendent. It can (if at all) be inadequately described as sedate, stately, vintage, unsullied, meditative, sattvic, elevating, soul- stirring. Her music conjures up all that is grand, majestic, sacred, graceful and beautiful in nature: the lofty towering snow clad peaks of the Himalayas, the unfathomable depths of the mighty ocean, the vast expanse of the grand canyon, the majestic gait of an elephant, the stately repose of the lion-king, the graceful walk of a delicate swan, wave upon wave rising incessantly in the ocean, the ever-flowing, purifying, nourishing, sacred rivers of India, the gentle breeze rustling through tall trees, the gradual blossoming of flowers and tender shoots in spring, the towering gopurams of temples, the gently waving lamps of the arati before the deity, the rhythmic rise and fall of the breath of Lord Vishnu reclining on Adisesha which is the ultimate ajapaa-japa, known, only to yogis - yogi vidita ajapa natana rango, as Dikshitar puts it.
This nadopasana of hers has unquestionably sustained her through her personal and professional life. Let her be a beacon light and inspiration for us to sustain and carry forward this legacy, this tradition of music, and seek naada-brahma.
The author is a student of Smt. Kalpakam Swaminathan. She may be reached at ashass@live.com
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