My guru ji “Surmani Doctor Dattatreya Velankar” used to tell “Sangeet should be for Atmaranjan not for Manoranjan”. Whenever I am learning something new in music, it’s definitely fun for me. Exploring new challenges of a different raga, progression of a raga with a different rulebook. Is it not fun? But practicing the same thing again and again feels like, ahh, a little boring. But here the real classical musical journey starts with “Raagdari sangeet”.

The Progression of a Raga while being in the rule book of a particular raaga and at the same time that phrase should sound beautiful. Keeping one swara in centre and going around it then moving to the next swara and going on, to make a beautiful shape of swars while being under the rule book of Raga. It’s really fun like our building block LEGO, where for the given numbers of blocks we can explore several shapes and creatures as per our wish, right? But the shape or creature made through the blocks should be meaningful. We cannot make creatures with a tiny stomach and a huge face. Eventually we can make it from our imagination, but it does not look good. It must have proper shape and size.

Here some terms come – ‘Imagination’ or ‘Khayal.’ This is called Khayal gayaki in Hindustani classical music. Khayal must be realistic and under the rule book of the raga. The more you explore and learn the better you can imagine and perform the Raagdari sangeet. Is it not amazing to sing same raga for hours with different combination of swaras while following the rule of the raga? But at the same time, having fun with it, while the audience enjoys it, is it possible?

Here is the twist, classical music should be for Atmaranjan and not for Manoranjan. But reaching to that level of gayaki is not easy. It’s a result of years of riyaaz, sadhana, guru kripa and divine blessing. If we will try to make others happy through our art form, we will lose our own interest. Why should we look for validation from others? But the most important thing is guru kripa and divine blessing.

Music is a Brahm gyan. My mother used to tell, we are not choosing music, music chooses us. That’s why everyone can’t pursue classical music even with the good texture of voice. My mother used to sing bhajans but didn’t have any knowledge about classical music. She used to tell, even she tried several times, it felt quite difficult to learn it. Once I heard from my guruji, “The sacred bond of Guru-Shishya is made in heaven.” The fact of how my destiny took me to my guruji still amazes me.

Let’s talk about my life to proof my point. I was just one and half years old when my daycare journey started. In daycare, I start learning SA RE GA MA…. the first foundation of music. I was very shy, so as per the advice of my daycare teachers , I started my regress Martial art training. It was so boring, even my master was not comfortable in teaching me. There was always a discussion between my father and master on my training. My master used to tell, “Sarnavo is unable to learn”, my father…”no no sir, look he is learning music so well”, my master…”exactly sir he is made for soft art like music, not for Martial art”. There are some funny videos of my tournament, where my opponent is attacking me and I am taking steps back to protect me with a louder sound “ke—-ke—-” without fighting. But my master was having so much affection with me that without qualification he promotes me till Brown belt. Later he told, next is Black belt, and for that, you have to learn and fight. My parents thought anyway, I was not going to qualify so finally my Martial art training stopped and full-time musical training starts without any willingness (no other option left with). From day-care to reaching a maestro guru for classical music training is an unexpected journey. My mother used to tell that every one’s life has some purpose defined by God.

Probably Ganpati ji is having some interesting purpose for my life and I am just trying to follow it blindly.
So, Ganpati ji has chosen this path for me. It’s a divine blessing. I hope I will follow this path with dignity and honesty. But getting into Atmaranjan Sangeet, where the individual should enjoy it!? Probably, it will come with Guru kripa and riyaaz. But in my Alpha generation where life is so fast and with the world of AI, with no musical family and society around me, am I able to reach there? B+[my blood group]!

Gayaki – Singing

Manoranjan – Entertainment

Atmaranjan – Doing something for one’s own enjoyment or pleasure, without necessarily seeking approval or entertainment from others.

Guru kripa – Teachers blessings

Bhajans – Devotional songs

Guru-Shishya – Teacher-Student

Where can you buy the books?

You can buy the books at Bookosmia.com and Amazon.in

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This article is published by Bookosmia, India’s #1 publisher for and by young people. Bookosmia publishes stories, books, podcasts, events, TED-Ed talks, workshops, bedtime stories and more related to kids and young adults.
Photo Credit – AI generated images from Chat GPT and Magic Media from Canva .
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