Ravi Shankar: Godfather of World Music dies at 92

Sitar Maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar, whom George Harrison called the "Godfather of World Music", passed away at the age of 92 years on December 11, 2012. This article by me appeared a decade ago on the occasion of the maestro's 80th birth anniversary in April 2001 on About.com's Bengal Culture GuideSite - part of the New York Times Company. Read on...

"To me, his genius and his humanity can only be compared to that of Mozart's." ~ Yehudi Menuhin

Part 1: His Genius & His Humanity  

Even at this age, the legendary Bengali master musician's genius and greatness is without equal. His recent concert at the Siri Fort Auditorium in New Delhi, along with his already famous teenage daughter Anoushka, was a fund-raiser for the Gujarat earthquake victims. He proved it yet once again that music can do a lot for humankind - it not only delights but also wipes away the tears of the unfortunate. The sitar guru plucked his "strings of relief" for the sufferers and reiterated that he is a singular phenomenon in the world of music.

The Power of Mother Tongue

International Mother Language Day & History of the Language Movement  

Mother tongue, the language we inherit from our mothers, is indeed the language closest to our hearts, the language we understand best, the language that helps us most clearly express our pains and pangs, hopes and aspirations, laughter and joys. What can be more beautiful and more natural? But what do you do when someone wants to rob you of your mother tongue? Bengalis have shown the world how to annihilate such attempts and establish the right to mother tongue. 

Vikram Seth's Historic Speech at Kolkata Literary Meet 2012

The following text has been quoted from the transcript of Vikram Seth's inaugural address at the opening of  the first Kolkata Literary Meet on January 26, 2012.

Thank you very much for inviting me this Republic Day to inaugurate the first Kolkata Literary Meet - or KLM - or (most aptly of all) 'Kolom'.

By the word 'kolom' I imagine we mean not only the pen but also the typewriter and the computer - in other words, any means of writing. The 'kolom' represents them all.

I am happy and honoured to be here - in this place, during this year, on this day, for this occasion.

In this place, because I am back where I was born.

During this year, because it is a century and a half since the birth of Tagore.

On this day, because it was today, more than sixty years ago, that we put into effect the book of law by which we as a nation live.

For this occasion, because it celebrates the word not as law but as literature, the expression of ourselves as human beings.

I shall call these the four 'ko's, following the Bengali style: Kolkata, Kobi, Constitution, Kolom: the place Kolkata, the year of the Kobi, the day of the Constitution, the occasion of Kolom.

Let me say a few words about each of these.