Music On, World Off !!

…it’s called life or something like it. Been a while now I guess. And all this while I was too busy running after work, career, success, happiness, love, I definitely missed a special part of being me. I really did!

Music! For me is an escape, just like writing. Whether we admit it or not, music embeds our daily life, weaving its beauty and emotion through our thoughts, activities and memories. It is life for some, means of worship for some, and for some it was a means of great expression, beyond words and images. Music has the quality of expressing the inexpressible. I remember someone rightly quoted’ if in the after life there is not music; we will have to import it.’

Now then, life moves on and so do we. What I miss most is my involvement with music. I miss going out there and performing in the crowd, the moment when nerves melt into calm pleasure before the commencement of a show in a hushed theatre, the rehearsals, the fun and the feeling that used to keep me away from every other emotion in this world. Another unlikely thing I miss is the moment, when I make some mistake, on stage, live…and all I can do is look at my fellow musicians and smile and all those funny incidents that happen over there.

One incident that took place in one my shows will always remain so close to my heart. We were playing the song, ‘Bideshot Apun Manuh’, a song so close to our heart and life. Such is the irony of life, we live far away from our native place, get busy with life, yet our heart always craves for little things that is very own. And this song made its way to our lives, more so because it carries only one emotion…nostalgia! No hate, no love…just pure nostalgia. The crowd was very eager to listen to this song. And just when we are about to start, the connection of my drum kit went off. Technical problems…they are the indispensable evil. Started again, the monitor was not working. Then finally at the third attempt when we were halfway through the interlude, my drum kit went off, again. The buzz in the crowd was easily audible from the stage and all of us did panic for a while. I did at least, ‘coz my instrument went off twice. While we were checking the technical things again, I heard a friend of mine (am yet to know who did that, but thanked him probably a zillion times) started cheering me up…Arpan…Arpan. Other friends followed. Oh!! What a feeling! A shiver ran through me, felt like crying, I was elated every time I heard the cheer and inspired. Soon, we started to play the same song again and finally finished. After the show was over, many people came to us and appreciated, particularly for that song. Many eyes were moist; probably that song disturbed a chord that people safely kept back in their heart.

Wish I could go back to all those moments. Fall in love again, with music! Get drenched. Wish life had one on/off button, while the rest of the world gets busy living or dying; all I need to do is…Music On!! World Off!!

When we spell c-u-l-t-u-r-e

I am sad at the state of the country tonight, especially the young generation, MY generation. I am disappointed and I am sincerely more than a little bit embarrassed. I know I'm going to come off as elitist, and you can think whatever the hell you want. But these are my sincere and innermost thoughts, so take away from it what you want. 

People seem to forget that we have a culture completely unique to itself. Everybody just seems to lose focus of what's right in front of us everyday! It's fresh to be exposed to different background and traditions. Our generation is so overly obsessed with celebrities, the latest fashion trend, and the latest new gadget we can add to our collection. We know how to use our Blackberries like pros and can download/hack music/movies etc. without breaking a sweat. But if I were to ask you to name me one, let alone 10 pieces “CULTURE”.

We can’t blame the culture surrounding us; after all it is others culture as Indian culture is ours. We people usually underestimate our country and overestimate foreign countries. The culture always lies in citizens. The western culture has influenced us in many good ways like they have made us move along with the world. If one is influenced by western culture its not that you have to forget your culture. I think one is good enough to decide which is good or bad. But instead of taking bad things of it let us take good things out of it. If you are really interested in getting addicted to the Western culture, get to know about their mannerism and neatness of the surroundings. Wearing Jeans and minis is not enough to acquire the western culture. Nobody can be forced to do things unless one wants to.

It’s us…yes…we are representing our generation. Come on people. Yeah culture isn't the most fascinating/interesting thing in the world (even though I would argue it is INCREDIBLY fascinating and endlessly changing and evolving). But it affects every one, whether you want to believe it or not.