Madurai Messenger Cover Story August 2012
“She is a great soul… very magnanimous, very understanding, very humble. With such a knowledge of music – singing, playing, teaching. She’s a very good mother, wife, grandmother, sister, sister in-law,” Mala says before she sobs with an outburst of tears. She composes herself and declares, “Everyone should have such a mother!” Smt. Mala Raja, 51, is a Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher, like her daughter, Archana. Together, they run the Om Prasannalaya Dance and Music Academy in Madurai. Her son, Abishek Raja, 22, is a talented percussionist and budding radio jockey in Madurai. Just like Paatti, Mala is generously supported by her husband, V.S. Sundararajan or Raja as he’s affectionately known.
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Perima, the Godmother of the family, has a beautiful voice and teaches singing in her home. She’s also a talented veena player and composer. As the eldest of ten children, she had a pivotal role in the upbringing of all her younger siblings, much like a second mother. I am fortunate to get the opportunity to hear her sing and meet some of her students. Later, I accompany Archana and her to the Cancer Institute in Chennai, where they sing and dance for the patients. A moving and uplifting experience that I will never forget.
Singing on All India Radio since she was 19, Perima holds a B high grade, the same as her mother. Her radio performances used to be up to four times per year, but now, with more musicians to compete with, it’s usually just once a year. She proudly tells me that her son-in-law, Madhavan Gopalaratham, is an A grade musician. To Perima, Madhavan doesn’t seem like a son-in-law, he is more like a son, and a grandson to Paatti.
A muse As the centre of every family member’s world, Paatti provides inspiration and support in multiple ways. Full of wisdom and advice, she encourages each one of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in their individual pursuits. Archana takes me to visit Perima’s daughter, Jaya Madhavan, her husband, Madhavan Gopalaratham, and their two children, Krsna, 13, and Prasana, 8. All of them musical, of course, Krsna treats me to some ukulele strumming of a song I know well, Hey Soul Sister, by Train. Soon everyone is singing. I can’t help but want to feel a part of this family! Jaya, 39, has a different artistic endeavor - she is a successful writer of fiction for young adults. And for Jaya,
Mother and daughter dancers, Smt. Mala Raja and Archana Sundararajan, run the Om Prasannalaya Dance and Music academy in Madurai
Paatti is her muse. Currently working on her third novel, she has been published in The Hindu and Gokulam, a famous magazine for children. She lovingly explains that her relationship with Paatti is less about music and more about her spirit, which has become a strong and magical influence in her writing. In fact, her first novel, Sita and the Forest Bandits, as well as a collection of short stories, were inspired by her grandmother, bringing to life a young Seetha or Sita. Sita and the Forest Bandits received critical acclaim, winning first prize in the Children Book Trust’s All India Competition for Writers of Children’s Books in 2001 Jaya can also sing and dance. She gives me a copy of a special CD made to commemorate Krsna’s Upanayanam in 2011. Family members collaborated to record songs of different genres. Illustrated with cartoon incarnations of each member of the musical family, it’s a treasured keepsake from my interview, and indeed my whole experience living in India. There are so many stories I cannot share in just one article, as I’m quite sure each member of this family would be worthy of a story all their own. But the one thing that shines through apart from the obvious musical talent, is a love of learning.
An aptitude for learning Paatti’s aptitude for learning is impressive. Perima says, “She loves to learn and has a great inquisitiveness.” She is willing to learn from anyone, even her grandchildren. Paatti’s mind seems to be agile and switched on. For example, for her All India Radio performances, she will plan well in advance and devise a list of songs she thinks will appeal to audiences. She is always studying spiritual books, but according to Perima, she thinks too much. Like all women, she worries about many things from saris to her children and grandchildren. Perima keeps telling her mother, “There is no
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Smt.Seetha Doraiswamy had an incredible aptitude for learning and keeps her mind sharp by reading a book of shlokas. She has done this everyday for the past 40 years
one on earth like you. You have ten children. We should be thankful for their health.” I am then excited to discover the secret to her sharp mind: Every single day for the past 40 years, she has read a book of shlokas. Her husband, Doraiswamy, a Sanskrit scholar, taught her to read Sanskrit and started her on this daily routine. She first saw the book in 1942, when a student of her husband’s brought it to their house. Fascinated by what it was and curious to read it, she borrowed it and copied all 100 slokas by hand, ready to return it to him. But he declined and gave her the book. From then on, she has read the entire book cover to cover
Smt. Seetha Doraiswamy and her wonderfully supportive husband Sri. N. Doraiswamy Iyer
every single day. She will even read it when she flies to destinations around the world. Indeed, on the two days I visit her, I see her clutching the book, engrossed in its contents.
An inspiring spirit Paatti’s down to earth personality makes it impossible to think she is anything other than appreciative and almost unaware of her fame. When I ask her what she thinks of the fame, she answers in English, “It’s God’s will.” Some of the very few English words I receive all interview. With the help of Archana, she continues to say that if she is a pioneer of Carnatic music, it is also God’s will. She feels it is a gift for the hard work she has done.
Meeting this legendary musician was inspiring, not only because of her talent, but more so because I got to see the beautiful mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother that is more loved by her family than words can possibly express. In her 87th year, Smt.Seetha Doraiswamy has much to be happy for. Clearly strong in mind, it’s only fitting that she is equally strong in spirit. Paatti is the musical melody running through a family of artistes, and her spirit will remain strong throughout every generation well into the future. And it is her spirit that lingers in my memory long after our time together, just like a beautiful song that you can’t help but hum for days, or possibly a lifetime.