My moment to be proud!

As I entered the ground with Dad I saw a huge stage, the biggest I have seen till date. When I had seen it from the road I take to office everyday, I had mistaken it for a huge metro crane. Now I knew what it was. It was a Guinness Book of World Records event in the making.

Bramhanaad, an initiative by the Art of Living Foundation to raise relief funds for the Bihar flood victims was an event of great beauty and serenity. For the first time, 1200 Sitarists had been brought together and made to perform collectively. Watching 2000 musicians assembled on a single stage was a sight in its own.

The stage, in Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia’s words, looked like a sea of instruments and ‘Surs’, beautifully lit and majestic.

Hoards of people had assembled, to meet their spiritual master Jagadguru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ji.

We, though, had gone there for a different reason. My little cousin was one of the Sitarists on the stage. I am not a believer/follower or Gurudev as they affectionately call him. But with all respect to him, I do admire him to have influenced such a large number of people all over the country for good.

So, even as he was speaking, I was busy looking at my cousin, Saarthak, fidgeting with his clothes and becoming restless, obviously not interested in the spiritual talk. Every 2 seconds he would look towards the big screen covering the event live right behind him to see if he is there on it or not. : )

He was the youngest Sitarist among all of them. He is 9 and has been learning Sitar since 4 and half years already. And before I forget to mention, he is my darling!

That's him!

Various speeches by different people took some time to finish. All this while I was wondering if Saarthak will be able to match to these experienced people who have been playing the instrument for I don’t know how many years. But when the first symphony was announced, he confidently picked up his Sitar, tuned it and started playing with such finesse that I was amazed. He knew exactly when he had to stop, when to start, when to play what, which by my standards is a lot for a 9 year old, especially when he is playing with all sorts of people, novice and hell experienced!

And I was so proud….I just felt like going to the stage and hug him, tell everyone that he is my little brother. : )

 See...

The symphonies were beautiful. Apart from Saarthak, if I paid any attention to anyone on the stage, it was this lead musician playing the flute. Only if I could play like him! He was simply out of this world!

There is one thing that Gurudev said and I totally agree with him. He said that there should be at least one child in the family learning classical music. And he is so right. Classical music touches the heart and nothing can match its flavor.

I’m so proud of you Saarthak!