Rahul Desai's Blog

Talking of Dilemma, a few things hit my mind:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilemma 
• http://www.howstuffworks.com/morality-located-in-brain1.htm
• That monophonic Dilemma – Nelly ringtone on Afshaan’s mobile, back in early college days. 

The context in this article is slightly (or completely?) different. It’s the dilemma whether to stay back in Baroda or go back home.

This must be a great deal; it motivated me to ‘write’ after a long time – more than five months. I’m on my way to Baroda (Vadodara) Railway Station from Chintan-Bina’s residence. On one hand, it’ll let me spend one extra day with my parents before I conclude my three weeks long vacation. On the other, I’ll get to spend one more fun-filled Uttarayan celebration in Baroda.

Overwhelmed by their hospitality, it made more sense to stay back. This isn’t the first time I got an opportunity to spend quality time with Chintan’s family, at their residence in Baroda. And it’s always gotten better. First opportunity to familiarize with Bina in her ‘Bahu’ avatar and let me testify – she rocks! Or should I give credit to Chintan’s parents? Or does Chintan run entire show? Whatever it is. I loved it. Touch wood! In all senses, a reason to stay.

Another reason, Uttarayan in Baroda! If you know about it, you know what I mean. If you don’t, you’ve been missing on something. Uttarayan in Baroda has a lot more to it, than just kites! Really loud music (barely annoying on the given day), absolutely all citizens on their roof-tops or out on the roads, sky full of kites (despite not-so-great wind) and everyone screaming to the peak, assaulting their vocal chords. I had never seen this celebration-aspect of this festival before. (It’s not even a public holiday in Pune, for that matter.) With Bina-Chintan’s BIGG friend circle gathered in a not-so-BIGG terrace of an old tall building, it just couldn’t get better! The kite-flying continued even after the sunset. A never-ending bash of fireworks followed, which took over the kites covering entire sky with light and colors! A whole new experience.

All the good reasons to stay back, the choice was simple. I had already made up for all the missing fun with Bina-Chintan, in last fifteen days. It was time to share the joy with my parents. But, this certainly was the best Uttarayan ever. And it’s likely to remain so!

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If there's anything like 'luck', then I've been the luckiest. Twice! Twice I've been privileged to see and hear their master-duo. Probably it all happened just to reinforce my strong-old belief that if one isn't into one or the other form of art apart from her/his professional work, s/he's always missing on something. As of me, such a life can never be called complete. Especially for we Indians (at heart, or at least on passport), in the field of art and culture, only the sky is the limit. Rich heritage of thousands of years of art in the form of dance and music (and many other fine arts), nurtured by the best in their field Ustaads and Pandits, it's tougher to find an excuse not to be associated with one.

It was a sheer coincidence since we weren't aware of this grand event till very morning. That is, the last morning. Thanks to our local non-reliable newspaper (which proved us wrong for this case), we realized Ustaad Zakir Hussein would be playing for Bharat-Bhavan in the evening. We reached the venue on time, being prepared for the typical formal event to be carried with bureaucratic formalities like inauguration speech, conclusion, vote of thanks etc. However, it was just the evening of surprises: the inauguration formality didn't last for long, which actually was held by the Honorable Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh (Mr Shivraj Chauhan), and His Excellency Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Dr Balram Jhakhar. This eventually was my third meeting (encounter?) with the new CM of MP. Any way. The surprising part was that it was not just Ustad Zakir Hussein, there were also Dr Kanak Rele (MohiniAttam Classical Dancer), Mrs Sharda Sinha (Bhojpuri folksinger) and Swami Ramswaroop Sinha (Rasleelacharya) present in the squad!! Quite a bagful, I must say. However, only Ustad Hussein was to play. Still, it certainly was a bonanza!

So came onto stage, our very own Ustad Zakir Hussein to stun the crowd with his magical hands on Tabla. But hey hey hey! What we see here... Ustad was accompanied by another maestro, Ustad Shultan Khan, the only living legendary to be able to pour life into Sarangi with his blessed hands! Now that's what I call a combo!! Just to share (/show off) my experience, this was the second chance I attended an Ustad Zakir Hussein Live, and the first one (1995) too happened to be in tune with Ustad Shultan Khan. What a way to recall some historic moments of life? And what then? A one and a half hours non-stop, of hypnotizing jugalbandi between the duo. All one could one say was... Wah Ustad!!

What say crowd? Ustaad ko nahi dekha, to kya dekha... !??

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