Swara loved listening to Carnatic music. Born in an orthodox brahmin family, she was introduced to Carnatic music at a young age. Her mom wanted her to pursue a career in music but she was not interested. she attended music classes, only to please her mom. Memories of those times were flooding her thoughts. She started writing about it:
‘ I was six years old when mom enrolled me and Sumi in Carnatic music classes. I don’t even remember the name of the teacher because it was only for a brief period. We used to go for fun because she had a lot of toys in her house and we would cajole her into finishing class early and play at her house. I remember she had a toy horse that I used to sit on and rock wildly. We stopped going for classes soon after I broke that toy horse! Mom tried her best to get us back in the class but we were adamant. The next time mom tried was when I was in the fourth standard. I had a classmate, Devi whose mom was a Carnatic vocalist. Mom got in touch with her and she agreed to teach us.
Soon the deal was struck – twice a week after school, we would go directly to the teacher’s house for music lessons. Mom would bring tiffin and coffee in a flask for me, Sumi and Devi and we would all have it together at the teacher’s house. Gradually Devi and I became good friends. Then, my only interest in going for music classes was spending time with Devi after class in her house. Poor mom did this for two years, carrying our tiffin and bags, waiting at the teacher’s house and then taking us back home. The teacher much appreciated mom’s efforts and patience, so she was sincere on her part and tried her best to groom us – for mom’s sake. Actually we were both talented, had a good voice and could really sing well. What we lacked was interest! After two years we shifted to dad’s office quarters. We had to leave the school and stop music classes.
We soon moved to this place called Amballur, a small township. I quickly made a lot of friends and everyday after school, I would play for a couple of hours. One day mom found out about this veena player, also a vocalist from our neighbour. Mom wasted no time, she soon set up classes for us, much to our dismay! This veena player was a music teacher in a college. So he would come home twice a week, straight from his college. Mom would give him tiffin and coffee and then he would start teaching us. Sometimes classes would go on for two hours (this teacher was sincere too). I would pray that he shouldn’t turn up so that I could go to play, but devoted as he was, he would promptly come twice every week. I remember biting my teeth on seeing him and I really feel bad when I think about it now. Where are such sincere teachers nowadays? He was very fond of me though, sadly, I can’t say that about him. We were in Amballur for one year, so he taught us for exactly one year. Dad got a new job at Kozhikode and we moved to this beautiful town.
And here too, within a year, mom found a teacher for us who would come home and teach us! Imagine mom’s determination to make us learn Carnatic vocal! This teacher taught us for about two years. I was in high school and I guess finally I had the courage to tell her that I don’t want to sing anymore! So our classes ended there. Mom still had her hopes high. I finished my 12th and was soon to join college. She tried her best to convince me to join Palakkad music college for a degree in music. I guess that was the last thing that I wanted! Also I was a university rank holder in 12th and I had big dreams of becoming a finance professional! Today, as I look at my love for music, I feel I should have taken music more seriously. Mom would have been happy too!’
Swara sat there, not knowing whether to continue writing. She now felt bad for her mother and the efforts that her mother had taken to make her interested in Carnatic music was priceless.
Today, her mom was happy. Swara had finally developed an interest and was taking it up seriously. After all, age is no barrier to pursue your passion, right?
