“Hi Friends, Would you like to hear some stories today?” Prof.Basu Mam
“Yes off course” the class said in Unison.
“Have you heard of John Travolta, the American Actor, Singer and Ace Dancere, whose Film, Saturday Night Fever was a great hit in the 70’s.
“No Mam, we would like to know”.
“In this film, John Travolta plays the character, Tony, a working-class young man who spends his weekends dancing and drinking at a local discotheque. He is a star dancer and enjoys with his circle of friends on weekends. This way, he can get away from the boredom of a routine, unexciting job, his arguments with his squabbling parents and the racial tensions of his local community”.
“The film title was “Saturday Night Fever”, as it echoed the American Life, where people worked from Monday to Friday on a dull and monotonous job and on Friday got the Pay Check which they blew up drinking and dancing on Saturday and Sundays and then when they had to get back to work, on Monday, it was “ Monday Morning Blues”.
“ They were chasing the American Dream. They were constantly chasing it, trying to be more, have more and do more.”
“ Can you see its reflection in Mumbai where thousands of youngsters work over 10 hours a day, in a bland job and then spend their weekends enjoying, don’t you think, they too are chasing the American dream in Mumbai?”
” Yes, we see your point of view, Mam. But then, what can one do? One has to accept the job one gets in order to survive. Everyone is not lucky to follow their dreams” Tony replied”
“ Can I also share with you another story of the famous Musician Tansen? “
“ As you all know, Tansen was the legendary Musician, in the court of Emperor Akbar. when he sang in raga Megh Malhar, and extinguished lamps that were lit by his rendition of raga Deepak. To top it all off, they claim he could produce any sound, from a lion’s roar to a bird’s chirp!.”
“ What happened afterwards, Mam?” Tony was eager to know.
“ Emperor Akbar thought, that Mian Tansen, one of my Navratrnas can sing so well, his Guru must be a connoisseur of music. He pleaded Tansen to bring him to the court.
“ However, Tansen said, that his Guru, Swami Haridas would never agree to come to the Emperor’s court. As the Emperor was eager to hear Swami Haridas sing, he accompanied Tansen as his friend to meet his Guru in the forest.”
“What happened next, Mam?” Sagar enquired.
“Tansen and Emperor Akbar both adored a humble attire and went to the forest where Swami Haridas lived. Akbar saw Swami Haridas with a a shaven head and skeleton like body playing on his lyre. The hermitage was very peaceful, serene and mystic. Emperor Akbar was engrossed listening to Swami Haridas.”
“ After some time,When the spell was broken Akbar and Tansen found that they were alone in the hut. Swami Haridas was nowhere to be seen. They returned to the place,silent and indrawn. Several days passed but Akabar could not forget the effect the song had on him.”
“ Mam, did Swami Haridas also become one of the Musician of Emperor Akbar?”
“You are one of the greatest singers. I know, you are one of my Nava Ratna. Yet when I heard your guru sing there was a divine melody, in his voice which is missing in you”. Tansen smiled and said, “It is true, Jaha Panah. I sing for thee, but my Guru sings for himself and for the Lord of the Universe”.
Prof. Gopa Basu Mam was at her best, storytelling. For the class it was a delight, as Prof. Basu Mam continued, “In Ancient Indian tradition, people did not work out of compulsion but choose a profession, which they liked and wanted to pursue ardently. This tradition was called
“ Swan tah Sukhaya which means , ” Pursuing Something, that gives happiness to oneself’.
Quintessential Indian 