Earthquakes in Myanmar. 7.7; 6.4 on the Reichter scale magnitude. Death toll may exceed 10,000. Attributable largely to its location along Sagaing Fault, between the Indian Plate and the Burma microplate. This fault runs 1,200 kilometres in Myanmar. The slip rate of the plates is up to 18 mm per year suggesting significant movement; more energy is stored; and could be released as a string of earthquakes. Myanmar and its neighbours remain highly vulnerable to such seismic events.
Income tax slabs and rates are changing, effective 1 April. Tax can be zero up to Rs.12 lakhs a year. The Government of India employees with at least 25 years of service receive 50% of their last 12 months average basic pay as pension. This is effective 1 April. Mobile numbers would be delinked from UPI if inactive, or unused for a long time.
Music. Sa-re-ga-ma-pa-da-ni. Sangeet. Arrangement of sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm, expressive content et al. Performed by using a variety of musical instruments and human voice. It can be composed, sequenced or otherwise produced to be indirectly played mechanically, electronically. Part of culture and traditions, and means of entertainment. Could be psychological, therapy, celebratory, or spiritual. Songwriters, performers – players, singers et al, technical, technology support team. Live and recorded. Language, literature, music and dance go hand-in-hand. Hands, legs and voices, flutes, harps, clarinets, wind instruments, drums, percussion instruments, and string instruments are part of the musical instruments’ portfolio(s).
Indian classical music – Carnatic, Hindustani, Odissi – is based on raga, tala, nritya – melody, rhythm and dance. Swara – notes including microtones. Form and matras. Largely devotional, together with literature, lyrics, and sahityam. Gandharva (formal, composed, and ceremonial) and Gana (informal, improvised, and entertainment) genres. Apart from Samaveda, Bharat Muni’s Natya Saastra is the foundation of classical music and dance traditions. For most. Sarngadeva’s Sangitaratnakara continues to inspire. Carnatic music: Purandara Dasa is considered Pithamaha. Current concert structure was put in place by Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar. Varnam – warm-up, raagams, taanam, intermixed with kritis; Pallavi; charanams follow. The Carnatic triad- Tyagaraja; Muthuswami Dikshitar; and Syama Sastri. Mostly, lyrics are in Telugu, Tamil. Tansen is considered the founder of Hindustani. Dhrupad, Khyal, Tarana, Thumri forms. Gharanas are teaching ‘schools’. Qawwals of Sufi are in Khyal format. Dhrupad’s four stanzas include Sthayi/Asthayi, Antara, Sanchari, and Abhoga.
Women in Music include Andal, MS Subbulakshmi, Lata Mangeshkar, Gangubhai Hangal, Gauhar Jaan, Shreya Ghosal, Nayantara Bhatkal, DK Pattammal, ML Vasantakumari, Balasaraswati, Chitra, Susheela et al. Women play various roles – singers-performers, composers, and instrumentalists. However, women are underrepresented. Particularly in leadership roles. Can they get their due?
Music engages, entertains. Takes us in a trance; increases joy; and reduces pain perception. Elevates spiritually, psychologically, and emotionally. Women, men. Children, elderly, youth, and middle-aged. How can we be without music? In the background, foreground. Subtly, softly. Inner, innermost music. Can we be with these ‘notes’, beats, rhythms, melodies, lyrics, stanzas, songs, slokas, mantras, voices, tones, and tenors, all around? Can we make them available to all who need them? Can we add to them?
Yes, we can. If we coexist, flowing. With right notes being heard, made. In N? rasasiddhiyoga for 7L.
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