Here is my interview with @TMVRaghav for the @ndtv (1) If the reason cited by the Vidvan to 'boycott' the sabhas (including the Madras Music Academy) for the last decade was the brahminical dominance or hegemony in the Carnatic Music circuit, by accepting the very award from the same organization (that he accused), is he agreeing that the brahminical hegemony wasn't there or is he saying that things have changed now (and how)? (2) Is it right to smear the character of an icon like Smt MS Subbulakshmi stating that her voice carried a certain sadness and that she was brahminised to be accepted? (when she hasn't made any such public statements to this effect and most importantly when she isn't around to accept or reject such thoughts)? (3) Whether one likes it or not, Carnatic music owes its existence to the compositions of stalwarts like Purandaradasa, Kanakadasa, Tyagaraja, Dikshitar, Syama Sastri, Oothukadu Kavi, Annamayya, Arunachala Kavi, Muthuthandavar, Ramadasu, Kshetrayya, Tirunal and many more. To make a livelihood from (singing) their compositions and then coming up with arguments like 'one doesn't need to believe in their sentiments', 'it is just music and lyrics has no value', 'bhakti is just an add-on' is simply, moral travesty. (4) If Dravidian ideology believers hail EVR (Periyar), it is their choice. But they will be ridiculed and pulled down by their ilk if they speak or sing glories about Sri Ramachandra. Turn the argument around. If a Carnatic musician sings on Sri Ramachandra, and follows it up with a rendition glorifying EVR (Periyar) who had the most uncharitable words for Hinduism, Rama, Sita, Ramayanam, Tamizh language, Tamizh Bhakti literature and had vowed to destroy temples, how do you expect a Hindu rasika to react? (5) A handful of musicians have simply said, 'I won't perform'. This is a non-violent way to register a protest. As for those who hold the placards of 'democracy in threat' should know that 'refusing to perform' is allowed in a democracy. As a Harikatha practitioner and also an upanyasaka (who was to perform on 01-Jan-2025), I have very respectfully withdrawn from performing. This, in my opinion, is standing in solidarity with the great composers of the Karnataka Sastriya Sangeeta Parampara. Period. With this interview, I conclude my media engagement on this topic/issue. As an upanyasaka/pravachanakarta, I have discourses to deliver, but ofcourse I am not adept enough to change the 'contours' of the bhakti world!
@dushyanthsridar @Kunthavi5 @TMVRaghav @ndtv Well explained. Succinct, hitting the nail on the head! Kudos to you.
@dushyanthsridar @TMVRaghav @ndtv @TMVRaghav just doesn’t get it!!!!
@dushyanthsridar @TMVRaghav @ndtv Fantastic Dushyanth ji.
@dushyanthsridar @indumathi37 @TMVRaghav @ndtv Respect to you for standing up for our culture 🙏🏼
@dushyanthsridar @TMVRaghav @ndtv Very well put forward!
@dushyanthsridar @TMVRaghav //when she isn't around to accept or reject such thoughts// But it is OK to slander Nehru , posting pics of him with Edwina , tweeting about him getting his linen laundered in Paris , getting his cigars from Havana , him dying of syphilis ,.... Right ?