“You sound very bitter,” Sonia observed.
“Do I? Then it’s the first time. I’ve stayed clear of Bishan for several weeks, but today, somehow, with Guruji gone, it’s difficult to stomach the fact that Bishan tricked him with his wild ways.”
“And Raujibua was unaware - ”
“Until three days ago. Somehow he wised up to the situation. I’m not sure how, or who told him, but they had a massive showdown! I’m glad that Raujibua finally knew the truth about the kind of man Bishan really is.”
“And that satisfies your urge for justice?”
Kirit’s stance changed instantly. “Goodness, I hope I don’t sound as if I’m thrilled with Bishans fallout with Guruji! I didn’t mean it that way at all.”
“What did you mean?” Sonia asked, folding her arms.
Kirit seemed flustered. “Well, I feel that a disciple should perform all his duties. Do riyaz regularly and develop his own music. But Bishan seemed to get away with the cake in both hands! Had he been trained to take over Guruji’s place in the world of music, I think I would’ve personally warned Guruji of Bishans misbehaviour. Thankfully, it did not come to that.”
“No, because Sumeet was the chosen one.”
“Yes. To be very honest, though I was jealous initially, I do realize that I would’ve felt worse had it been Bishan that Guruji had chosen to succeed him. At least Sumeet deserved it. He is the perfect disciple and he served Guruji like none of us did. I tried hard, but somewhere along the line, I failed Guruji.” The wistful expression returned to his face.
A maid appeared in the doorway, requesting Sonia and Jatin to join Mrs Dharkar in the dining room. Sonia turned to Kirit, who seemed to be lost in his own thoughts.
“We’ll surely meet again. Until then, bye!”
She noticed, as she and Jatin followed the sari-clad maid, that Kirit hadn’t moved from his place.
Mohnish was talking with the hostess when Sonia and Jatin joined them. Mrs Dharkar gestured to the black-cushioned high-back chairs.
“Find anything useful?” Mrs Dharkar asked, anxiously.
“Too soon to pass an opinion,” Sonia answered honestly, not wishing to raise the lady’s hopes. “Though, I’m still probing”
“Do that” Mrs Dharkar passed Sonia and Jatin tea in delicate ceramic golden cups.
Sonia sipped the tea thoughtfully. “Rimaji, my knowledge of classical music is really pathetic. Can you tell me what exactly is Gwalior Gharana?”
Mrs Dharkar sighed. “My husband would’ve been the ideal person to answer your question, but I’ll tell you whatever I know. A Gharana, literally means a dynasty, a family. A musical Gharana usually comes from the name of a particular city, like Jaipur, Kirana, Gwalior. Gwalior is a city in northern India. In the early eighteen hundreds, Daulatrao Shinde ruled over Gwalior and he appointed people as court musicians. They were looking for a new form of music. Niyamat Khan, a noted Veena player, combined the then popular form of music called ‘kawali,’ ‘Tappa,’ and ‘Thumri,’ which projected the universal theme of love, with the pure classical base of music in the form called Dhrupad. Niyamat tried personification - personification of musical terms. For example, he used the word mukhada, which means a face, in explaining music. The face of a person is beautiful, so we recognize a beautiful musical piece by its mukhada. He tried to incorporate these terms in his new form of music. Daulatrao Shinde liked his music so much, he declared that it should be called Gwalior Gharana.
“Different Gharanas have different styles and their own philosophies and ideologies. And it is called a Gharana because it is actually a tradition of knowledge and philosophy and there are different schools of music. They are also very rigid. Musicians are known to say that that they would rather give their daughter but not their bandish - composition!”
“And what about riyaz and Shiva Pooja?”
“Raujibua was extremely strict about both. He was orthodox and pious and expected his students to follow the rituals, which maintained the purity of music. After bathing, you have to face the direction of the dawning sun in your wet clothes and sing in the base voice till the sun rises. It is said that is how you attain the power of the sun, which in turn helps to attain musical power. It is a very important part of the training. Not everyone can withstand the rigorous routine. You see, hundreds of students came to Raujibua with the hope of learning music. Only a selective few ever entered the teacher-student pact”
“A pact?”
“Raujibua tested the talent of the students and only those he approved were involved in the Ganda Bandhane ceremony. This is a big ceremony in which the Guru ties a thread to the wrist of the selected student and promises to teach him his music and the student promises in turn to learn sincerely. Kirit, Bishan, and Sumeet are all such students”
“Now I understand. I’ve been wondering why only those three are staying on the estate,” Sonia remarked. “And who is the best singer of the three?”
“Definitely Sumeet! He has also been here much longer than the other two and is the oldest. But the other two are quite good, too. Bishan especially shows promise. Both he and Sumeet can sing the Kadak Bijlee Ki Taan in a raag. A Raag is a musical note pattern which regales the audience. And a taan - how can I explain what a taan means? It’s something to be experienced. Let me put it like this” Mrs Dharkar paused momentarily. “It is the caressing, expanding, winding, rocking back and forth, crescendo,
