Preserve the dwellings of saint composers

CHENNAI: In my earlier columns, I had mentioned about the pathetic state of Thiruvaiyaru Thyagaraja festival, which pays homage to Satguru Thyagaraja. Most artistes abstain from attending the annual festival so that they can make money elsewhere during the aradhana season. I am sad to see another indifference towards great legends and Saint Thyagaraja is no exception. The house of Saint Thyagaraja near Thiruvarur Temple is in a state of neglect. Of course, there exists a board that reads, ‘It is the house where Saint Thyagaraja was born’ to identify the historical significance of the place. Two aged persons — a purohit and his wife — maintain the house with their meagre income  and with some support from the Kanchi Mutt. However, the house does not even have any lighting facility or a chair to sit. “Tears trickle down my face on seeing the condition of the house,” writes Bala Yogi Venkatraman of Tapas Academy, which spreads the message of Sanadhana Dharma. If the house had been in an European country, it would have been turned into a ‘national monument’ and maintained as a tourist destination. But what we see is a story of sheer neglect. The exuberance shown during the festival would be of no use and the festival would loose its importance if such monumental mistakes are not corrected. I appeal to all the great and well-off artistes, business houses and tourism department to take steps to preserve the dwellings of these great saint composers. Would it be too much to request them to screen the documentary of these saints to enlighten the tourists? “The demand made on artistes, by the sheer pressure of musical thirst, is becoming burdensome. Musicians need time to recharge their creative sensibilities,” said Gopalakrishna Gandhi, former governor of West Bengal, while participating in the centenary celebrations of Mridanga Vidwan Palghat Mani Iyer. These golden words, are in perfect sync, with the cultural environment. Check this: Decades ago, the call of public concerts on musicians was few and spread out and it  gave them time for introspection. During the hours of blessed solitude,  artistes worked with a refined sense of selectivity and imaginative ideas that kept pouring out from their musical ferment. Certainly, in course of time, their aesthetic sense became precious crown jewels. But now?I am now reminded of the clarion call of my good friend, Cleveland VV Sundaram, a veteran organiser of festivals abroad. He bemoaned the attitude of young, talented musicians who do not utilise the vast body of music sung by giants of yesteryears. There exists tremendous scope for exploring their musical ingenuity. A vast treasure of information and technical advancement is also available, as Carnatic music is not evolving itself in vacuum. It is more true than ever. But is any young musician of merit listening?