RE: reference to caste in tyAgAraja kIrtanalu
Ramarao, Ram (Ram_Ramarao@tri.sbc.com)
Wed, 15 Apr 1998 08:56:40 -0500
For an authentic account of the hindu society at the turn of 18th
century, please read "Hindu manners, customs, and ceremonies" by J.A.
Dubois. This is a person who lived for about 20 years among the Indians
while almost completely avoiding contact with other Europeans.
Considered the most masterly and detailed work on the social conditions
of South India of the time, this book clearly demonstrates that
Tyagaraja was merely reflecting the prejudices of his times.
K.V.S. Ramarao
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Prasad Chodavarapu [SMTP:chprasad@hotmail.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 1998 6:53 PM
> To: telusa-scit@smartcad4.me.wisc.edu
> Subject: Re: reference to caste in tyAgAraja kIrtanalu
>
> narayans@post.drexel.edu wrote:
>
> > In the same song, penultimate caraNam reads..
> > ...modaTi kulajuDagucu bhuvini SUdrula panulu salpucunuNTini gAka..
> > We may interpret such references as referring to the attributes of
> the
> said
> > caste, than to the caste itself. However, the fact remains that
> tyAgarAja
> used
> > such words and phrases essentially in a derogatory sense. On the one
>
> hand,
> it
> > may be naive to apply the current day political correctness to
> writings of
> > yesteryears. On the other, given the current social sensibilities
> and
> the
> > supposed sainthood of tyAgarAja, can we continue to sing these songs
>
> as if
> > they were gospel?
>
> nAsy, you have captured the issue in four lines.
> was there ever a popular singer who skipped these lines?
> if not, that is a serious comment on today's practitioners of carnatic
>
> music.
> i do know that not all musicians understand telugu, still, how about
> those who
> do? esp., given the popularity of "duDuku gala.." as one of the panca
> ratnAlu,
> one would expect that atleast one artist would have shown the
> sensibility to
> skip these lines. we keep hearing these lines in every ArAdhana's
> collective
> rendition of panca ratnAs. still, not one who protested?
>
> regards
> prasad
>
> --
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