RE: reference to caste in tyAgAraja kIrtanalu
Tata, Prasad (PrasadT@MOCR.OAPI.COM)
Wed, 15 Apr 1998 12:24:47 -0400
I have trouble in understanding why we became so sensitive the moment we
refer to caste from the understanding I had we are discussing some old
customs. Afterall it was so routine in olden days casually refer to the
caste. For that reason picking on an individual (unless there is a pattern
by the same individual) is wrong hope the Moderator (do we have one?) will
stop this discussion as it lost literary flavor and becoming political
debate.
Prasad
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Prasad Chodavarapu [SMTP:chprasad@hotmail.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 1998 11:25 AM
> To: rabh@india.ti.com; telusa-scit@smartcad4.me.wisc.edu
> Subject: Re: reference to caste in tyAgAraja kIrtanalu
>
> Ravi writes...
> >Hello Friends,
> >
> > This mail is reference to the chain of mails questioning/
> >criticising Saint Thygaraja's reference to caste.
> >
> >Let me try to put forward my views. At the time of Tyagaraja
> >the castes were based on the nature of work and social
> responsibilities.
> >The references made are not respect to the caste in today's sense
> >how all of us and our power hungry polititions view it as.
>
> >Comming to someone want to drop the lines of song "duDuku gala nannE",
> >the question itself should not arise. pUrvakAla sAmAjika paristitulanu
> >baTTi wrAsina sAhityAnni prastuta paristulaku anvayimchukoni
> tiraskaristE
> >manaku cheppukOvaTAniki sAhityamanEdE migalaka pOvaccu. goppa goppa
> vyaktulanu
> >ataDu mAkulamu vADu ani kondaru, aitE mEmu atanu cheppinadi vinamu ani
> >marikOndaru pravartistE manamu amdaramu garvinchadagga vyaktulanu
> navvula pAlu
> >cEsinaTTE.
>
> i differ. yes, our past literature is replete with such references. but
> that doesn't mean we keep singing the same thing even today. no question
> that tyAgayya is a saint, given the musical heritage that he left for
> centuires to come. that however does not mean that one cannot disagree
> with a couple of lines out of the thosuands of kIrtanas that he wrote.
>
>
> what is needed is a rational enquiry, not some passionate defense or
> attack based on preconceived notions. as nasy pointed out, we have two
> issues here. one, should tyAgayya be censured for what some of us today
> think these lines mean. the answer depends on whom you ask. some might
> give tyAgayya the benifit of doubt, most people who value his musical
> heritage would. some may not, and they are justified too, after all,
> everyone knows the discrimination practiced those days and as nasy said,
> there is no evidence that tyAgayya rose above the ordinary to champion
> the causes of the downtrodden. secondly, should today's singers echo the
> sensibilties of the times when they sing these lines. imho, any artist
> should have the freedom to chose what he does. nothing should be so
> sacrosanct that it just can't be touched without being called
> blasphemous. dogmatic adherence to whatever was written centuries ago,
> can only increase the alienation of art from the masses. and that
> usually means only one thing in the long run. death, or complete
> colonization of the art in some sections of the society.
>
> >
> >Comming back to "duDukugAla", "sUdrula panulu" anE padAnni, kulamu
> drusTitO
> >kAka, appaTi sAmAjika paristitilO, tyAgaraja swAmy tanaku nirdEsimca
> baDina
> >panulu cEyalEka poyinanduku bAdhapaDutunnatlugA bhAvipagalarani nA
> manivi.
>
> imagine what a singer belonging to those castes would feel like when
> singing those lines.
>
> regards
> prasad
>
>
> >
> >bhavadIyuDu,
> >Ravi
> >
>
>
> --
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