Tagore's 150th Birth Anniversary

TAGORE: Poet and Composer

Celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Ravindranath Tagore, a programme of songs with the theme of Mukti (Freedom) was held at Prithvi Theatre this month. Nalinee Madgavkar selected the songs and her group Nabashruti presented the programme of Ravindra Sangeet.

Whatever little contact I have had with Ravindra Sangeet has made deep impression by the melody, the feeling and the style of rendering. But the first glimpses of it came from film music. Anil Biswas, Hemant Kumar and Salil Chaudhari gave some very good melodies based on Ravindra Sangeet. Bengal has a rich tradition of soulful music and Ravindra Sangeet is part of the rich culture. Sachin Dev Burman also contributed by bringing some lilting folk tunes from that region.

I do not know how the programme went but they brought out a booklet of the song titled MUKTI. It is a well produced record of the songs presented in the programme, printed on good paper with good printing. Among the songs are: Ayi bhuvanmanmohini, Badal-boulbajay re ektaar and a few other. Songs are in Bengali in devnagri script with English translation.

I skip the songs for now and go to the third cover to quote some beautiful words of Tagore:

         Free me as free are the birds of the wilds, the wanderers  

                                        of unseen paths.

         Free me as free are the deluge of rain, and the storm

          that shakes its locks and rushes on to the unknown

                                                end.

         Free me as free is the forest fire, as is the thunder that

                  laughs aloud and hurls defiance to darkness.

WHEN KHUSHWANT CAME TO AHMEDABAD
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I would like to share some interesting stuff that I have read in the years gone by.

In the days when Khushwant Singh was editor of The Illustrated Weekly, he used to write a regular column "With Malice Towards One and All" that had a drawing of a Sardar in a bulb. The column became hugely popular, attracting bouquets and brickbats from the readers. Obviously Khushwant enjoyed the limelight; it was his best period in life as a successful writer as it brought fame and glamour to his name.

He enlivened his writings with witty anecdotes from his vast knowledge and experiences as a globe-trotter. There was hardly a dull moment reading his editorials.

In one of such anecdotes he wrote about his visit to Ahmedabad. He was invited to be chief guest at a college's (L.D.?) annual day programme. The trusties went to the airport to received the distinguished guest. One of them was the beautiful Mona Chinubhai.

None of the trustees had ever met Khushwant. So when a Sikh came out from the plane, they garlanded and welcomed him. The poor fellow was surprised and confused but hastily went to a taxi and left. Then the real Khushwant came out. The trustees were even more confused and worried than the Sardar they garlanded. Now they had no extra garland.

They narrated the incident sheepishly to Khushwant. Khushwant wrote about it: "I consoled my crest-fallen hosts, 'Never mind. we all look alike. we have an old saying in Punjab: Nathu Singh Prem Singh, One and the same thing.'"