The Jasmine Seed

Latha. The name refers to a climbing plant in Sanskrit and evokes the fragrance of a thousand Jasmines. I smile at that delicate creeper which twines itself around the lamppost, embracing the wall with its lacey tendrils and blooming clusters of tiny white stars. The magnificent jasmine plant, which is not native to North America, began as a tiny sapling and tenaciously struggled to take root in the hard unfamiliar clay of my yard.

I am reminded of Latha Sriram who, like that brave sapling, was transplanted into the unfamiliar American soil 16 years ago. Latha patiently weathered all conditions and persevered for 15 years, to help establish the roots of Carnatic music in America with her Sri Lalitha Gana Vidyalaya. Like the jasmine, which orchestrates every season with its bountiful veil of blossoms, Latha proudly displays her own magnificent chorus of singers during Sri Lalitha Gana Vidyalaya’s seasonal concerts. These magical evenings are always a sight to behold and music to experience.

Some people have ‘eye-opening’ experiences. Mine was an ‘ear-opening’ one while I was in Bangalore for five years. I became fascinated with the sounds of the ghatam, the mrudangam, the veena and the violin, which came together to complement incredible singers of Carnatic music. So it was a treat for me to be invited to Sri Lalitha Gana Vidyalaya’s performance a few years ago, since my friend Jayashree Raj was participating in the program. I listened enchanted as the stage filled with women in elegant sarees and young girls in ‘pavadais’ followed by solo jaw-dropping performances by two teenagers, one of whom happens to be Latha’s prodigy son, Sidharth. But the highlight of the evening was the 100 children, who sat cross-legged on stage, dressed in a dazzling array of brocades and silk. The harmony of their colors, coordinated with their hand movements, which kept perfect beat as if in a dance and, in turn, synchronized with their melodious voices that rose and twisted in delightful unison. There was certainly a reason for Latha to have been uprooted from her beloved Chennai; undoubtedly, a part of a divine scheme. How else would a multitude of second generation Indians along with a growing number of non Indians, have the opportunity to enjoy the uplifting experience of Carnatic music? How else would young voices learn to master every note of the music scale and discover its purity? How would they gain the wisdom of Hindu culture that is embedded in Carnatic music and thoroughly enjoy expressing it through songs of devotion to the many deities in Hindu mythology? 

Like the little jasmine blossoms, which, having sung their song, leave their cluster in the fall and waft upon the breeze to their own destinations, over a hundred and fifty students of Sri Lalitha Gana Vidyalaya have carried the soul-soothing strains of Carnatic music to charm new audiences with the blessings of their Guru, Latha Sriram..

I had never noticed the jasmine plant in my yard climb gingerly up the wall until it made its grand presence last summer. This has always been Lata Sriram’s style. Her school, Sri Lalitha Gana Vidyalaya has grown without song and dance, except the kind that appreciative and discerning audiences rave about. As someone who grew up outside the tradition of Carnatic classical music and dance, I was exposed to this ancient art form shamefully late in life. Shamefully, because my knowledge of Indian music, like many of my peers was limited to Bollywood and a sprinkling of Hindustani classical music, while this abundantly rich and meaningful aspect of my cultural heritage was lost to me. It was hardly accorded the respect it deserved except among those who ‘knew’ music or happened to be ‘South Indian’. For the rest of us ignoramuses, Carnatic music was pretty much dismissed with mock imitation that is intended to draw contemptuous laughter.

Recently, Sri Lalitha Gana Vidyalaya had a fund raiser for the Shiva Murugan Temple in Palo Alto, which I could not have missed for anything. Each exquisite item, devoted to Shiva, Parvathi, Karthikeya and other deities was introduced by her young Indian-American students. I watched in awe mixed with envy as the tiny announcers proudly delivered their speech in English interspersed with impeccable Tamil. These kids, Sameer, Malini, Rishab, Sanjay and Mekala along with Srilakshmi the MC, demonstrated a confidence that comes from knowledge and a sense of identity. They will never look back wistfully like me, but thankfully, for having received the golden ‘cord’ of musical knowledge that binds them to a culture that is strong and deep.

As Sri Lalitha Gana Vidyalaya prepares to celebrate its 15^th anniversary next year, I marvel at how this treasured secret of Carnatic vocal has been preserved and passed down to those who promise to spread it with integrity. I sigh and wish that there were hundreds of Latha Srirams who would sow the seeds for other well kept secrets like Marathi abhangas and Rabindra sangeet to flower in all parts of the world before they fall to an inaudible whisper.