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Music Therapy

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 05:05:28 -0800

William Congreve wrote:

"Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast,
To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak,
I have read that things inanimate moved,
And as with living souls have been informed,
By magic numbers and persuasive sound."

Music is God's best gift to Man, the only art of Heaven given to Earth and the only art of Earth we take to Heaven. It is believed that Music has therapeutic values and all of us know that Saint Tyagaraja sang of Music as the surest way to achieve Santham, Saukhyam and Mangalam.

That prestigious organization of Matunga, the Shanmukhananda Sabha arranged a two-day Seminar on Music Therapy, which was attended by almost a thousand persons. The Seminar was conducted by a distinguished panel of Doctors, Psychiatrists, Musicologists and Vocalists. The world-famous neuro-surgeon Dr Ramamurthi inaugurated the session. Papers were presented by T.V. Sairam, Raja Ramanna, Vijay Lele, Mythili, Pujare and Katti. There was a lively Question and Answer session on both the days.

Music transcends barriers

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 05:04:28 -0800

If there is any medium unfettered by the barriers of culture, race or language, it has to be music. A westerner need not know the nuances to enjoy Hindustani music or an Indian, Arabic to enjoy the foot-tapping strains of Habibi or Nari Nari. Music in itself is divine and will warm the hearts of any music lover's art, never mind the language.

What if you go one step further and are itching to discover the similarities between the kind of music you love and the music, which is growing on you, thanks to the place you live in? Then, if you are Shyamala Vinod Kumar, a Carnatic music teacher at Indian School Muscat, you put in seven years of solid research and unravel the oneness in two forms of music, in languages as different as chalk and cheese.

A Tribute to a Violin teacher

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 05:03:30 -0800

Readers could be interested to know of the services rendered to our Community by unknown and talented people. One such person belongs to the world of music and she is Smt Seetha Ramakrishnan who in suburban Mumbai at Andheri has taught violin for over 30 years. A special function was arranged, recently, by her students and well wishers to felicitate her. There were a large number of speakers who spoke with authority as musicologists. I spoke as a layman and as a parent of a student. Perhaps some on the Site could find this tribute worth reading.

We have assembled in such large numbers to felicitate and honour Violin Mami Smt Seetha Ramakrishnan ,on the happy occasion of her completing thirty years of teaching this divine art.

Building Relations

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 05:01:40 -0800

As the Cochin-Patna Express arrived at Coimbatore, it was 10 PM, Sunday, the 23rd September 2002. The bogie that I had to board was a different one. Unlike other bogies that carried different passengers to different destinations, all the passengers of this bogie had one common destination, the abode of the Lord and one common objective - worship. It was a holy mission to the famous temples of Orissa and Andhra under the auspicious of Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Thrissur.

As I boarded and settled in my berth, wondering how the hectic days ahead would be, I heard someone advising my fellow passenger in the opposite berth. "Annapurni, nanna pothikko". nalla thanuppu irukku" ("Annapurni, cover yourself properly; it is very cold"). I could not see the person called Annapurni as she had covered herself fully. Now she made some movements by which it became a total coverage. Anyway, thinking that after all I am not going to be in bad company, I too retired for the day.

Matunga Musings - Part 1

Wed, 08 Mar 2006 04:19:36 -0800

They call it "Little Madras". That's Matunga for you. Reputed to be founded by the hoary sage "Matanga", Matunga is chockfull of south Indians, especially the Iyers of Palakkad, Iyers of Madras, Iyengars of Srirangam and a sprinkling of Malayalis, Kannadigas and Andhraites. B.B.Matunga abuts Matunga on the west, south by Dadar; Wadala is to its east and Sion is on the north. A little away to the north separated by the central railway line is "Dharavi"-the largest slum of Asia -it is like a suppurating boil on the face of Matunga-a boil -yellow- full of pus about to burst with its Tamil population from the lowest level of society.

The 80 years old Paappa !

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 05:19:34 -0800

"Bhagbai, childless for nine years, had atlast conceived after endless prayers to Mariaai. The high caste village priest had advised to name the baby KACHARU, meaning dirt, so the devil would stay out of sight and the baby thrive." - excerpt from OUTCASTE by Narendra Jadhav

Under Contstruction!!!

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 00:22:03 -0800

Welcome to the new home of KeralaIyers.com.Keralaiyers.com is undergoing major renovation. Please note that you may not be able to access some of our services like Matrimony, Feedback section etc. We regret the inconvenience caused.

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