A trendsetter
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Yagnaraman helped launch countless musicians.
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Yagnaraman
Sri Krishna Gana Sabha was conceived by Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer and ushered into existence with his illustrious son Santhanam as first secretary. Not born with a silver spoon, the sabha had its teething troubles. Dame luck smiled on the fledgling organisation in the shape of Yagnaraman. Young advocate then, around 1957, he retrieved it from debts, shifted its habitat from a thatched roof near the Jain shop to its present abode. He skilfully negotiated the securing of land and bent all his tireless energy in fostering the sabha. The revamped institution had its inaugural concert by GNB.
Yagnaraman was a trendsetter with several firsts to his credit. He erected the thatched auditorium with a four-figure capacity. He started the music school. He launched the now much-publicised talent promotion four decades ago. Yagnaraman conducted a purposeful and instructive annual Natya Kala Conference for 26 years, apart from Gokulashtami and December music festivals, shuffling artistes innovatively, breaking a stereotype team approach. He also held harikatha and religious discourses. He had the stature, firmness and authority not to yield to unreasonable dictates. Stalwart musicians like GNB, Madurai Mani and Palghat Mani Iyer, Semmangudi, MSS and Lalgudi held him in high esteem.
Yagnaraman organised the jayanthi of the Trinity — Tyagaraja, Syama Sastri and Dikshitar — in Tiruvarur during April/May. He provided a launching pad to countless musicians who owe a great debt to him. He discovered and nurtured talent in a way few organisations have done. He scheduled all concerts himself. He was a titan among sabha nayakas.
R.Ramachandran
(The author is secretary, Hamsadhwani.)
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