IT by day, music by night
GOWRI RAMNARAYAN
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One is a passion and the other a livelihood. How do these young musicians strike a balance?
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PARALLEL LIVES: (L to R) Mohan Santhanam, Swarna Rethas, S. Ramya and Nisha Rajagopal. Photo: R. Ragu.
``Traffic lights? The longer the red signal, the happier I am. I practise swara singing or try out new phrases in the raga,'' says Mohan Santhanam. Nisha Rajagopal confesses that her colleagues are no longer startled by the swirl of Kambodi, announcing her entry into the office. S. Ramya admits that she uses commuting time to go over her music. Swarna Rethas uses every free moment to indulge in (silent?) manodharma.
People around them are puzzled, annoyed or amused by such sudden transformations. ``What to do! We have no choice but to pedal on both tracks,'' sighs Ramya. The four speakers are not only Carnatic musicians. They have a parallel career in IT companies. Nisha is a senior executive (Futuresoft), Ramya is a technical business consultant (Servion Global Solution), Mohan Santhanam is assistant manager marketing support (Barry Wehmiller International Resources) and Swarna Rethas is software tester (Tenmiles). The only time they could find for this chat was after 9.30 p.m.
Tough academic battle
Not so long ago a G. N. Balasubramaniam could arouse awe with his college degree. Most of his colleagues had either quit school early or never stepped into it. To Ariyakkudi Ramanuja Iyengar or Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer, it was a waste of time to spend their most productive years in maths or science. M. S. Subbulakshmi's mother was relieved when whooping cough gave her the excuse to pull the child out of school.
Today's practitioners of Carnatic music battle with tough academic courses, take up a business or office job. Can't they have a decent, if not a luxurious lifestyle, with music alone?
Swarna Rethas pities your ignorance. Says Santhanam, ``We have family responsibilities too.''
Why not take up easier subjects in school? ``I did,'' says Swarna Rethas, a post-graduate in Mathematics (!). ``I practised music even on exam days, attended concerts, I had time even for afternoon naps.''
The others did not have such a cakewalk. ``Mother would wake me up at 4.30 a.m. for music practice,'' says Nisha. She wanted to excel in her engineering course as well. However, with a vocalist mother music was always around her. She began to give concerts at age 12. ``I don't sing with Amma, she wants me to make it on my own.'' She adds mischievously, ``Besides, we don't co-ordinate very well.''
Since dawn saw Ramya leaving for college, late night was practise time. ``I used to be exhausted when I began singing.'' Jobs in Wipro and Polaris in Bangalore drained her out. Weekends too were packed with classes (MCA), or in shuttling to Chennai for music lessons. ``I convinced my husband to shift to Chennai, and took up a job which gives me a little more time for singing.''
Music ceased for Santhanam when he was doing his MBA. Sleep became a luxury. His job in an IT service company is not without its pressures, but he has learnt to allot time for music.
All four are equally challenged by their office work. ``I think I do justice to both,'' muses Nisha. Ramya too is happy with her progress in both fields. ``No time to attend evening concerts though.''
``I moved to Chennai (from Delhi) to make it as a musician, but I can't give up my job, not yet,'' says Santhanam. ``I have no insecurities about either, at least not as yet,'' says confident Swarna Rethas.'' Empathetic colleagues in his start up company encourage him in his musical pursuits.
Both music and IT make demands on the intellect. ``But music is relaxing, it doesn't create stress,'' Nisha explains.
``Planning your practice session is crucial,'' begins Santhanam. ''You won't have time for varnam in four speeds.'' Ramya protests, ``But you must practise varnam also.'' Swarna Rethas has an answer to that one, ``Okay, so do just varnam one day, take up raga on another day.''
Part-time
Can the quality of music remain unaffected by the juggling? Can it be a part time pursuit? ``I'd be lying if I said yes. I'll make enough money and be free to pursue music fulltime. That's the dream,'' Swarna Rethas laughs. Nisha and Ramya are less vocal. But they know that one day they will have to sacrifice one for the other.
``Prioritising music means that already my classmates are ahead of me in their jobs. But I've been working only for a few months. Let me check this out,'' says Nisha. Ramya knows that holding a job is not a matter of status, but pride in doing it well.
Parents and spouses offer every kind of support. So do the gurus, who are willing to teach at hours when the disciples are free. ``It has to be a balancing act until we can make a call and take one over the other,'' says Rethas.
But when? Amidst rueful smiles and silence Santhanam sums up, ``This question asks for a lot of soul searching.''
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