An afternoon with the global guru!

"ఎంతమందికి అర్థం అయ్యింది?"

(How many of you understood?)

It is a phrase our light music guru Sri Ramachary garu often says in class, and our entire class raises hands enthusiastically on screen. For the past two years, the tiny zoom window sir teaches in has become our Zen space. Today, I got to jump right into that window, live, and experience the magic in person, making it one of the most memorable musical afternoons of my life.

From the moment I entered sir's home in the surprisingly quiet alley way off Kondapur main road, I felt as if I became his family. I was greeted by an entire wall of awards, mementos and pictures of sir's accomplishments. Sujatha madam read my mind and offered to click some pictures.

 

Inside, the two moms (sir's mom and MIL) were chatting and eating their meals- they just looked so happy and content! Positivity must run in their genes! As I was walking around, taking it all in, I found the familiar sofa in the balcony, with LMA sign on the back wall and the harmonium on the front. It is the visual we see in our weekly zoom classes! I pulled out my phone again and was about to click pictures to brag with my classmates when sir offered to make it even a sweeter deal. Just like that, I had my very first 1:1 light music lesson, sitting next to sir, learning my absolute favorite Malaya Marutam song, no less!

After the brief lesson, Sujata madam offered me lunch which I politely declined, for I greedily wanted to bask in the brightness that surrounded me and not waste time eating. Sir and madam brought their lunch to the living room, and we kept talking, about music and life. I was as comfortable in their company as I am with my closest cousins, and yet, I felt as if I was in the company of a spiritual guru. I was both enlightened and blown away by sir's simplicity. At one point, sir enticed me with fresh aavakay annam. I was genuinely tempted (come on, who says no to aavakay and annam!) but I tried to act all cool. Sir saw right through me, and fed me a bite of rice, with his own hands, then one more, and then another. Not sure if it was the freshness of the aavakay, love of the musical family that surrounded me, or the sweetness of the hand that fed me, but I knew I'd never eat a tastier, more soul-quenching three bites of aavakay rice ever again in my life.

Sir showing the aavakay pickle piece that's left after I polished off the rice from his plate

Sir's phone was ringing throughout my brief stay at their home, and he was obviously stretched thin. I got up to leave, so he can get back to the million things that awaited him but he insisted on driving me home himself. "You won't put me in a cab when I come to the US, would you?", he said. 

Just like that, sir became my chauffeur. Hyderabad roads were jam packed, traffic seemingly ganging up from all directions. He sang many ghazals and honored my request to sing a few of my favorites. He savored and devoured every word and every nuance of the poetry and composition as he sang. Intersection after intersection, he navigated the traffic's maze, armed with his smile and his beautiful voice. I asked him about how he is able to stay cheerful and positive every waking minute of his every day. He said he keeps his mind clutter free, and that he only chooses to be in the company of those that give him positive energy. When mind is free of clutter, body follows suit, stays young and energetic. Saying thus, he resumed singing...

అనుక్షణమూ నీతలపులతో నీవైపోయిన నేను

నిను చూడక క్షణమైనా నేనింక గడపలేను

I selfishly wished for us to encounter more traffic just so I could hear sir sing for longer! After we eventually made it to my home, he obliged my family's request and sang a beautiful melody for us. 

పాడుతా తీయగా చల్లగా

పసిపాపలా నిదురపో తల్లిలా 

బంగారు తల్లిలా...

We all felt so privileged to have sir's precious company. Even our four year old felt that she was the most important person on the planet for sir, when he joined her in singing a few verses of Srivalli!  

Visionaries like Ramachary sir don't sit and preach. The way they drive their life in itself becomes text book for others to follow. If I could distill my epic afternoon, and channel my inner Ramachary sir, I would say- Age is just a number. Sing with your heart, follow your passion, and avoid negative people and matters. Surround yourself with positivity.

"ఎంతమందికి అర్థం అయ్యింది?"

(How many of you understood?)