Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Chapter 24: In Which our Protagonist Posts More Photos and Tells about Guruji's trip to Pakistan
Greetings,
Guru ji just returned from Pakistan. It was his first trip there ever despite his being a major figure in South Asian classical music for many years, which illustrates the complexities of the Ind0-Pak relationship. This trip happened mainly because the Indian and Pakistani ministries of culture were organizing it. Guru ji went with Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia and a few other supporting musicians. They flew to the border and had to walk across and be driven to Lahore (Not exactly sure why that was but Guru ji was glad since he got the chance to meet more people along the way).
Below:
Tablas drying in the sun/dog drying in the sun
Guru ji's special diplomatic passport given for his Pakistan trip.
Lizard sighting
Guru ji just returned from Pakistan. It was his first trip there ever despite his being a major figure in South Asian classical music for many years, which illustrates the complexities of the Ind0-Pak relationship. This trip happened mainly because the Indian and Pakistani ministries of culture were organizing it. Guru ji went with Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia and a few other supporting musicians. They flew to the border and had to walk across and be driven to Lahore (Not exactly sure why that was but Guru ji was glad since he got the chance to meet more people along the way).
Below:
Tablas drying in the sun/dog drying in the sun
Guru ji's special diplomatic passport given for his Pakistan trip.
Lizard sighting
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Chapter 22: In Which our Protagonist Provides Visual Stimuli with Commentary
From top:
My favorite fruit here. I average two-a-day
Goor! Like maple syrup but from date trees. Sound tasty? Well it is.
Me standing semi-toolishly onstage at the Dover Lane Music Conference while Guruji takes his bows. I decided that jeans don't make the outfit and have resolved to wear proper kurta-pajama when I go onstage at Guruji's concerts.
A bunch of taxis doesn't make for a very interesting photo but the story is interesting. All these taxis are waiting for students taking a major exam. Then they'll drive them to the next exam at another location. The tests are so big that families pay for all-day taxi service to make sure the kids get around ok.
Babia's (my teachers' son, the Terror of Tollygunge jk, jk) pimped out ride
I think the video is self-explanitory.
Photos posted soon of Saraswati Puja celebrations.
Toodles,
Shantz
Monday, January 9, 2012
Chapter 21: In Which Our Protagonist Details his Semi-Eventful First Week in Tollygunge
Much the same yet quite different:
Guruji and Guruma have a new house (right next to their old house). After chronic flooding and finally a partially collapsed ceiling Guruji and Guruma have moved into a different building on the campus of Sangeet Research Academy. Its bigger and all, but everyone including myself has a lot of nostalgic sentiments for their previous abode. Ultimately however, the advantages can be easily surmised from my description of said previous abode.
I have encountered a small miracle upon arrival in the form of "All-Out," a little tchotchke (definitely had to google that spelling) that you plug into the wall which magically makes the mosquito hoards decide your home is a distasteful place. They used to descend en masse around 4:00 -unless you closed the windows- but I've only been bitten once and that was when I had the thing unplugged.
Jet-Lag is Good:
My body has been inclined to get up at about 5:30 to 6:00 since my arrival which was my goal when I was planning my trip. I've been able to get a fair amount of yoga and singing practice in before breakfast.
Shantiniketan:
I'm planning a day-trip with Babia (G and G's son) to Shantiniketan the home of India's first Nobel Laureate (1918 for literature), Rabindranath Tagore. He is a giant cultural figure in India (he gave Gandhi the title of Mohatma for example) and especially here in the region of Bengal where he was from.
Rain:
And lots of it strangely. Very unseasonal and super inconvenient for Guruji and Guruma since their annual charity picnic had to be postponed for two weeks. I'm sure it will be just as much of a success despite the hassle of rescheduling. (For certain types -who shall remain nameless- who were a little stressed about singing Indian music -for actual Indian people in India- at this picnic there was a certain degree of relief that the chance for two more weeks of practice).
Guruji and Guruma have a new house (right next to their old house). After chronic flooding and finally a partially collapsed ceiling Guruji and Guruma have moved into a different building on the campus of Sangeet Research Academy. Its bigger and all, but everyone including myself has a lot of nostalgic sentiments for their previous abode. Ultimately however, the advantages can be easily surmised from my description of said previous abode.
I have encountered a small miracle upon arrival in the form of "All-Out," a little tchotchke (definitely had to google that spelling) that you plug into the wall which magically makes the mosquito hoards decide your home is a distasteful place. They used to descend en masse around 4:00 -unless you closed the windows- but I've only been bitten once and that was when I had the thing unplugged.
Jet-Lag is Good:
My body has been inclined to get up at about 5:30 to 6:00 since my arrival which was my goal when I was planning my trip. I've been able to get a fair amount of yoga and singing practice in before breakfast.
Shantiniketan:
I'm planning a day-trip with Babia (G and G's son) to Shantiniketan the home of India's first Nobel Laureate (1918 for literature), Rabindranath Tagore. He is a giant cultural figure in India (he gave Gandhi the title of Mohatma for example) and especially here in the region of Bengal where he was from.
Rain:
And lots of it strangely. Very unseasonal and super inconvenient for Guruji and Guruma since their annual charity picnic had to be postponed for two weeks. I'm sure it will be just as much of a success despite the hassle of rescheduling. (For certain types -who shall remain nameless- who were a little stressed about singing Indian music -for actual Indian people in India- at this picnic there was a certain degree of relief that the chance for two more weeks of practice).
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