It feels strange that everyday brings along something new, expected or unexpected and the best way to be happy is by accepting life with all that it brings along. It difficult to stand tall when trials and tribulations come your way, but some amount of perseverance helps in the long run. As it is evident that after every sunset and a nightlong of darkness, the sun shines bright again.      

 

As I sit back to write something, I contemplate on the fact that there is certainly some charisma about this place i.e. Delhi. It’s been 5 years now that I had come to this place and in spite of cribbing and sulking over various things such as the soaring mercury, spine-chilling cold, the haughty Delhites, the traffic rush and so on, I feel some kind of camaraderie with the place and I wonder why! 

The influx of young people from across the nation to this place is due to the plethora of academic prospects that it provides. Besides this, a world of myriad professional prospects welcomes you. So, the pursuit of academic excellence and job opportunities primarily draw in these young minds. But, this is not the end of it. There’s a host of things that lends to the attraction of this place.  

The students from the Northeastern part of the country form a major chunk of the student community in Delhi. Relinquishing the cool climes of the Northeast region, every year more than 4,000 youngsters from the land of seven (eight Now) sisters come here to re-define a ‘home away from home’.  The most often heard problem is that there are cultural barriers, language problems and stereotyping of people from this region that gives the sense of alienation from the mainstream. Though a lot more needs to be done, things are changing for the better. It’s a two way process and we can bridge the gap with the right efforts.  

 However, I do not intend to comment about these profound things at this point. The brighter and more agreeable aspect of the living in Delhi is what captivates my attention. Delhi has a life of its own and  we are a miniature replica of the Northeast here. Be it places like Outram Lines and Mukherjee Nagar in North Delhi or Lajpat Nagar in South Delhi, familiar faces at market places or known bits of languages from addas here and there gives a feel of home and some kind of pleasure, that can’t be explained in words.  

In the month of February, when you see the decked up Assamese girls in Chadar Mekhala and excited Assamese guys moving to and fro Sewa Kutir, a nostalgic yearning of good old days of Assam hits me and almost instinctively leads to some kind of nameless happiness.  Then, comes the spring with the colourful celebrations of Bihu in various places in Delhi, showcasing the exquisiteness of the region and the opulence of the culture.  There’s no way how you can miss the enchantment of the season, even if you are miles away from home! 

The celebrations of traditional festivals of the region such as Me-Dam-Me-Phi, the ancestor worship of the Ahoms and Ali-Ai-Ligang, the colourful festival of the Mishing tribe are also successful endeavors to bring the feel of home in the distant land.  
  
 It is not only the traditions and festivals that bind us together in Delhi. Cultural programmes organized at various scales in various places also bring us together. Many a times, popular youth icon of Assam like Zubin Garg and his voice becomes the uniting force for the Assamese youth. The name of this singer itself gives a feeling of solidarity and I remember all of us getting thrilled by the feeling of hearing Mayabini and Ya Ali live and flocking to be a part of such programmes.

 With such passionate, compelling and mesmerizing aspects that reflect the true spirit, tradition and lifestyle of the people of the NE region in Delhi, we definitively have more to cherish and less to crib about!   
  
  

Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma’s name is synonymous with santoor. And I got an opportunity to celebrate the musical odyssey of this great legend at Siri Fort Auditorium one misty winter evening last year. Though I don’t remember the date, the pure ecstasy of his soul stirring music is still vivid in my mind.

The celebrated maestro of Hindustani classical music weaved magic at the auditorium by his spellbinding performance of the folk-based Raga Pahadi on the santoor.

I happened to take his interview for the newspaper I was working for at that time and it was a great experience for me not only to hear him live but also being able to have a first hand insight to his personality and life.

Starting his musical saga when he was just five years old, he is a complete musician with training in vocal music, tabla and other instruments.

His guru was father Uma Dutt Sharma, a renowned vocalist, disciple of Bade Ramdasji of the Banaras gharana and Raj Pandit at the court of the Maharaja Pratap Singh of Jammu & Kashmir.

 “He brought out santoor out of the valley of Kashmir and gave it a place in the classical music scenario. It is because of his inspiration that I decided to concentrate on playing the santoor,” Shiv Kumar Sharma said.

Shiv Kumar Sharma added the finishing touch to his father’s endeavour and transformed the folk instrument into a full-fledged solo concert instrument in Indian classical music.

“It was called shata-tantri veena in the earlier times or the veena of 100 strings. It was an accompaniment to a specific type of singing called Sufiana Mausiqui. With the Persian influence, it got its present name santoor,” he explained.

Similar musical instruments are found in several parts of Europe and Central Asia with different names such as Santoori in Greece, YangChin in China, Hack Bret in Germany and Symbelon in Hungary.

“It might have traveled with the gypsies to these countries,” added Sharma.

Initiallty, santoor was not accepted as a classical musical instrument in India but with the passage of time and initiative of this great legend, it reached its present place of pride.

Though it might not be as popular as it should have been, I feel that this is what you call music and melody for the soul.   

Shall I fall in love???

I question the void,

It echoes back,

 And asks me the same.

I am still unnerved,

But, I do long for joy,

Yearn for a shelter.

And wait forThose treasured moments,

When you smile

Without a reason.I

 am in search for…

A face that lasts forever,

A dream that grows longer

And a bond that becomes stronger.

Don’t I have enough reasons???

But,the fear lingers around,

And, I find myself fettered,

To my own questions.  

I cringe, wither and fade, 

My thoughts are perturbed,

My dreams are crippled,

A surge of fear pervades,

And I crumple under my life. 

 A dirge that is sung,

A farce that is on,

I pay homage to my past,

And obliterate my memories,

 Sometimes snivelling, sometimes weeping. 

 But there’s a faint glow, 

I see that within,

It glitters and then dims, 

And yet, lures me,

Perhaps, I find my destiny in it!!!!!!!!

I have a story, forever untold,

I cradle it everyday,

With my heart’s desire, Though it hurts within.

As the light fades

And the day ends,

It is enriched further.

But my tired heart rests.

Deep down, it cries and sighs,

Pines to sneak beyond the closed doors,

But, it retires till eternity,

Alone, sinned and torn for life!!!

I talk of the impending storm,

Yet I want to peep out,

 Perhaps, it’s just a fleeting moment,

 I tilt my head towards the horizon,

 And the dark clouds dampen my soul;

 It is always an uncertainty, 

 Still, I wish to move out, 

Perhaps, it’s an illusion again. 

It’s a maddening journey,

I call it “life”,

It quivers, bothers and deters,

A majestic blow it serves,

Still it entices and allures,

Beckons me to follow,

And I move on. 

 I refuse to retreat,

I cling on to the shadow

I yearn for the unseen,

I live for my tomorrow