Wayfarer's window!

My friend asked me, what I missed about Darjeeling....I then started thinking of my childhood years there. I thought of the clouds that would roll up from the hills below, the 180 degrees of Himalayan mountain range that one could see form the town. the walk in the mist which would soak my eyelashes, the rain that would appear never to stop in the monsoon, the red rhododendron trees in April, the walks on lonely roads along the hill, friends, family, home... Of the many places I have been to perhaps it is the purest part of me that I carry from Darjeeling . It is my breath of fresh air, it is my bundle of precious memories, of people, wonderful times, enchanting scenes, happy days, precious friends and heartfelt music.  Darjeeling has given me the mountain beauty in my spirit. This song I grew up singing from the bottom of my heart and on the top of my voice kind of sums up my travel from Darjeeling as I joined the cities below.....  "Along th...

this may be a re-post...but it means so much to me, that i had to post it again.

The newest state of the north east India. Our closest sister, separate at birth. Now our heavenly neighbors. A song....in the language that we share! This follows the devastating earthquake in the hill state a year ago!

Some recent events have prompted me to begin reading intensely about the transformation of South Korea. It is not just events, but certain hard facts that stir me more:  that one gets to see a Samsung showroom in the smallest towns of the country, that Hyundai cars are fast out numbering other cars, that LG's list of household appliances are growing every day, and that the largest buildings of the day globally, Petronas towers and Bruj Kalifa, have Korean constructors behind them. While I am studying closely how the miracle of economic, developmental and spiritual transformation happened; I felt like sharing a few videos on the subject. They call it the"miracle on Han river", a kind of overview on the vast subject. However, on a more closer view I am reading a book called "Achievers are Dreamers" by another Korean, Kim Bun Li, whose family, beginning from his pioneering father began a transformation movement in their own dramatic way: by taking tracts of ...

Sourabhee won the country's billion hearts when she was crowned the first female Indian Idol. Hailing from far away Tripura, she came in as a refreshing breeze from a little known North eastern state of India. You may want to listen to one more song of the North eastern collection..(well, not exactly in the local language this time...but the singer Sourabhee definitely is from there).

The music of Bhupen Hazarika. Strongly flavoured tea. The land of the Bramaputra. Assam. One song from the state. Patriotic, deeply rooted, moving.

A few things I remember about Nagaland, North-East India, from my last visit there. The war cemetery in Kohima, with nothing less than a thousand grey graves of slain warriors...halting the Japanese advance into India during the second world war. The local market, complete with strangest wares for the local dishes...snails, frogs, birds...let me not go too much into the details...but would have loved being invited for a meal! The baptist church, a landmark in the town which could be seen from all around town.The Christmas there had the biggest religious gathering I had ever seen, where the devout swelled right out of the church building right into its courtyard and streets. The rice beer, always served plentifully to every guest. The smoked pork...delicious. The music...soul stirring. Here we go..a toast to Nagaland...some quaint songs to enjoy. and now a funny one in Naga accent and locally flavored English language:

In the several days we were  in Aizwal,Mizoram, of the seven sisters of North eastern India, we listened only to the local music channel on Television. On the last day there, we could not resist the compulsion to buy a few music CDs and take them home. Music seemed so perfectly suited to the rolling expanse of blue hills and the wafting motions of the mighty clouds. The people themselves were every bit of what we were not used to seeing in other parts of the country. Open, gentle, helpful, unsophisticated yet trendy, hardworking and humble, uncomplicated...simple. Last Sunday, I was even more awed by their simple practice of setting apart a fistful of rice in every meal as an offering to the Lord's table. Now with my own heartfelt thankfulness to Mizoram, may I share a soul-felt song?

They were called the seven sisters. Vivacious yet variant. Lands of music, vibrant hills, gentle people. Sisters of my own people. Tucked away in the North east of India. Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, Arunachal and now Sikkim. (Sometimes I wonder why Darjeeling doesn't make it to the list!!!). I am glad to be related through friends and family to each of these states. I am delighted by the music of each of these places. I am awed by the gentle spirit and undaunted devotion of the people. Therefore this series of songs...which I have picked up from these places: Starting with a video that was presented several years ago by a family friend from Shillong, Meghalaya. While the lyrics were in a Khasi, a language unknown to me, the music was so wonderful that I listened to it...again and again.....

A little about two schools of music close to my heart. if that interested you there is a longer version of the second video:

A song for a lazy day...more later... Lyrics in English (1)My eyes are kissed, By the fresh morning rays, The sound of the bells, Hinders my dreams (2) I must wake up, or should I? And do things the right way? But I am soaked in laziness, And let me rejoice in its lap. (3) It’s soaring, The laziness in me, To muster the heights of laziness, My mind feels lazy. (4) I want to be lost in this laziness or should I? Or should I stretch myself into its comfort? But I am soaked in laziness, And let me rejoice in its lap.

A glimpse of home...is all I need. Barfi, well, thanks... I was all of sixteen when I left home. The last I remember well is a snowy morning. It had snowed all night and I woke up to a white wonderland. The short excursion outdoors was halted by a large tree that had fallen on the main road. While I could not venture too far in the snow, the visually delightful panorama of the hill town, my home, the Darjeeling of that day, got frozen in my memory. Then came North Bengal, not too far from home, with the hills always in the background. Yet, a different scenic delight! Rice fields, meandering rivers, cycle rickshaws, green swaying fields of harvest and the music of the village plays "the jatras" that resounded well into the night. Next stop, Kolkata: its many little lanes and by lanes, crisscrossing ancient mansions. The city, shrouded in an air of past grandeur and glory, yet weighed down by its innumerable, countless citizens....many falling out of thes...

A lovely song that I wanted to share. The words and melody have been haunting me.Reminds me that the most beautiful songs come from most tiring and difficult situations.