Beauty with a tanpura

 Music has no language nor music has any limitations. It is all pervasive and all around. The natural music of nature and it's ties are so adorable and unwinding. A day spent with nature and its music make the mind rejuvenated and lively. Same is the matter with music played by a band or a singer or a group of musicians. Music is there to make us feel good. Many people especially elders feel children should learn music very early in life. Whether it is playing the veena, tabla, flute or the tanpura in South India and the dholak, damru, sitar etc. of North India. The painting prompt by unknown painter of a beautiful lady who is playing a tanpura makes us think about in so many different ways. Image of an entertainer who is transformed into a Nayika or a heroine is so adorable. She is decked up with very intricate jewellery from head to toe. Her slender hands are adorned with intricate mehandi designs which is so feminine. Her half closed eyelids give us an impression that she is engrossed with the music she is playing on the tanpura in her slender hand. She is a picture perfect in every angle and a treat to the eyes. Since the painting is by an unknown painter little is known about the painter except that he or she is excellent at the art.            

 India as we all know is home to innumerable artists, musicians, painters, sculptors and so on. Many went on to gain a lot of popularity for their talent and many remained in the back stage inspite of their excellence. I would like to share one such story that I had heard from my grandmother when I was a kid. The story came to my mind on looking at the painting of a beautiful lady with a tanpura in her hand.        .  .  

 Let us call the main character of this story as Ami . She was my grandfather's neighbour. She was a trained classical singer as early as when she was about 8 years of age. Of course she still had a lot to learn as music is an Ocean which becomes deeper as we swim more into it. Tanpura was an integral part of her musical journey. Unfortunately, her younger siblings broke her tanpura and amma got so emotional that she cried for days together. Looking at her plight a new tanpura was bought immediately by her parents. It was only whe. She got the news that the new tanpura was on its way from a distant place that amma became cheerful. From then on tanpura and Ami were never ever separated. It was like a part of her body and self. Ami was a pro at playing the tanpura and the strings would blend with her voice as if they were just waiting for her to sing. The duet was so rendering making the whole scenario so authentic and traditional. Ami just enjoyed the whole thing thoroughly and her smile reflected the joy she was feeling within. This was a routine affair etched in my mind as I am writing. That is when a thought comes to our mind that music is divine. The more we are into it the more intoxicating it become, but we need not regret it. As time went by Ami mastered the art of playing the tanpura and her classical singing too made her even more popular.      It was time for Ami to get married. Yes, her parents found a good match and fixed her marriage to a person who was well educated and earning very well. Ami would be very happy that is what her parents thought. Everything went on smoothly and Ami was married off Her husband being an Indian American took her to America where she would start a new innings of her life. But, Ami would be going to face something which would make her dumb for the coming years. No, nothing about her physical debilities she would not be allowed to play the tanpura as her husband disliked classical Indian music. He was more into rock and jazz music. Ami had to leave her tanpura behind and proceed to her new place of living along with her husband. A totally new culture and society was awaiting her presence. Her fAmily and friends were happy for her but Ami was morose one reason being that she will be moving away from her fAmily to a very distant place and the other most important aspect, she would not be taking her dear tanpura with her. A condition her husband had set, saying that if she carried the tanpura with her she may be tempted to play it as well. With no other option she left the tanpura and flew away with her husband to a new country. The tanpura was silent and so was Ami. She slowly tried to adjust herself to the new culture and environment as well as the new society and customs.       

   Before leaving for the new place after marriage Ami had requested her sister Charu to take care of her tanpura. Now, Charu very carefully wrapped it in a silk cloth and packed it in a wooden box and kept it in the prayer room of their home in front of goddess Saraswsti's idol. The box used to be cleaned every fortnight and Charu used to check if the tanpura was okay. Ami was getting the feedback about the well being of all family members including the tanpura!. But, after about 6 months Charu noticed that the strings of the tanpura were changing colour. They sort of got pale and she felt if left unused the strings may get rust. Charu did tell Ami about it and they both decided it was time to take decision about it's placement. Then they took the best decision about the tanpura. There was a music school near to their home. An elderly lady used to teach classical music to less privileged children also. She charged very nominal fee for these students and better fee was taken from well off students. When contacted she invited her to come to music school and see how the students are performing. She gave a hint about one girl who was an extraordinary tanpura player and classic singer as well. That was the best thought. Charu very quickly finished her work and drove off to the music school that was not very far away from her house. While driving many happy thoughts started ringing in her mind about she will be meeting a young Ami who almost seemed to her , hear say ofcourse that she was good with tanpura and singing . Charu knew that Ami will be equally happy on knowing that her best possession, her tanpura will be safe and playful with the right person.