This weariness, forgive me, my lord! If ever, I fall behind in my journey. My heart trembles in a strange fear Forgive me that agony, forgive me my lord! This impoverishment, forgive me, my lord! If ever, I look behind; In the heat of the day, in the blaze of the sun, Your garland withers on the worship tray; Forgive me that dullness, forgive me my lord!
What more can we say about our country's darling son? In every way he has shown us the path, inspiring a nation by his ideal of sacrifice and service. More photos here, with descriptions.
Rabindranath said, "If you want to know India, study Vivekananda. In him everything is positive and nothing negative".
"We perceive his influence still working gigantically, we know not well how, we know not well where, in something that is not yet formed, something leonine, grand, intuitive, upheaving that has entered the soul of India and we say, Behold, Vivekananda still lives in the soul of his Mother and in the souls of her children.", wrote Aurobindo.
The monks of Ramakrishna Mission work tirelessly for the welfare of the needy. Their activities are carried out in various parts of our country on the basis of the principles of Shiva Jnane Jiva Seva ("Service to people as service to God") and work is worship.
Ustad Rashid Khan has declined to participate in this year's North American Bengali Conference. Here's what he had to say:
Dear Debashish da,
I am sorry to inform you that, I shall not be able to perform for your Banga Sammelan Concert to be held this year in.
My experience this year in April, in the US, was a nerve wrecking one. We are Artists, who have been awarded and felicitated by the highest offices in India and abroad. We represent the Culture Heritage of India but I am sorry to say that my experience there was such that I don't think I would want to go there for a second time and face such humiliation.
Hence, I would ask to be pardoned, and an once again taking this opportunity to thank you for having invited me to your conference.
Lots of love & regards to my audience and best wishes to everyone.
RASHID KHAN
You can read the letter on NABC website. Look under the left frame (International Performers).
Ustadji is one of the finest vocalists of Hindustani Classical. He comes from the Rampur Sahaswan Khayal Gharana,and was trained by the famous Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan. We spent whole nights waiting to buy tickets to his concerts at Nazrul Mancha, the Open Air Auditorium at Kolkata. I remember once we touched his feet after a concert. Ustadji is also a glaring example of the success of the Guru-Shishya parampara (which is a way of imparting tacit knowledge) in Indian Classical Music.
A whole day would be spent on practising just a single note. [Link]
Reminds me of a comment in Rock Street Journal: Santana (one of my favorite guitarists) can squeeze color out of one note. Malmsteen's unnecessary speed does not impress me much. Well said!
After hearing him, none other than Pandit Bhimsen Joshi (who comes from the mesmerizing Kirana Gharana) remarked,
"There is now at least one person in sight who is an assurance for the future of Indian vocal music."
Ustadji's rendition of the Yaman is one of the best I have heard till date. If you have napster, look it up. Also hear his Hamsadhwani, a very popular Carnatic raga known by the same name in Hindustani Classical. Here is a clip [10:10 - 7:20; there's a little conversation in between) of Hamsadhwani from Ritwick Ghatak's film 'Meghe Dhaka Tara' (The Cloud Strapped Star).
