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Photo: Anu Pushkarna

Discoveries Abound Peter Pannke

While the book is so far available only in German, its English translation is likely to be out early next year. Pannke’s first visit to India was back in 1973. Impressed by dhrupad, which he first heard on an LP, he enrolled into the Benaras Hindu University. For this sound artiste and broadcaster, dhrupad is the most fundamental vocal training. Two years later he attended the first dhrupad mela in Varanasi. His association with the leading families of dhrupad began here.

Pannke came to work closely with the Mallik family, who had served as singers for 200 years in the courts of the Maharajas of Darbhanga. In 2003, Pannke travelled to India to attend the last rites of famous singer Vidur Mallik. Brushing back the feral hair of a traveller, he recounts, “There were great floods in Bihar at that time. I was on a train. But the train suddenly stopped and would go no farther. But I had to reach Dharbanga. So I trekked and hiked. But I did finally reach. My book is a travelogue through flooded Bihar. But through it, I also recollect my memories of the dhrupad family.”

The title, “Singers Die Twice” is taken from an angel’s message in a dream. He explains the significance, “Pandit Vidur Mallik died once. But he will die a second time if people will stop remembering him.”

To keep music alive, he has collaborated with different artistes across different traditions. His band, “Troubadours United”, is an attempt to, “Revive the troubadour tradition on the lines of Sufi and Bhakti music.” He explains the thematic similarity between Bhakti, Sufi and troubadour music, “The topic is the same; it’s the mirror of spiritual love in human love.” He elaborates that while the Church broke this tradition in Europe, it continues to exist in Asia. Working with singers from Syria, France and Turkey, he has produced the album, “Road of the Troubadours”.

If he has worked at reviving European traditions he has also taken Indian music across the border. In 1983, he organised the first European Dhrupad Meal. A travelling show, it exposed the talents of the Malliks across Europe. The “outstanding” factor of classical Indian music, he believes, is that of “resonance”. He also respects it, “Because the voice comes from deep within. In Western classical music it is more artificial.”

This avid traveller is already working on two other books. One is a book on Mali on the art of dreaming. Flashing a chipped smile, he reveals nothing more.

Having lived in Pakistan in the early seventies, his second book, “Will be a comparison between the Pakistan of the seventies and now. It explores the Malangs and Fakirs, who were my peer groups at that time!”

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