Report of the 11th Session of “SUMUKHAIVA SADHAS”

The Mylapore Trio” Amarnath, Surendranath, Aparna, Sugathan and Members of Sri Sumukhi Rajasekharan Memorial Foundation conducted the 11th ‘SUMUKHAIVA SADHAS’ – A Virtual Cultural Meet during this extraordinary pandemic situation and lockdown. It was a unique concept and a different conclave involving professionals of different genre. The BIRDS OF “DIFFERENT FEATHERS’’ FLOCKED TOGETHER. A platform was provided to a Speaker to talk on a subject of his/her choice or profession or expertise and the only criteria are, the topic must be correlated to culture and history. This was followed by an interesting questionnaire session which leads to good interaction. Every week audience learn a new subject enabling themselves to become more knowledge-centric. 

The 11th Session was conducted on Sunday, 13th September 2020 from 4.15pm to 7.00pm. The Programme began with the Prayer on the Trio's Foster Parents Smt. Sumukhi and Shri. Rajasekharan and their Grand Mother Smt. Nagammal, written and sung by Smt. Revathy Sankkaran. 

At the outset, Amarnath as a History Professor, to be in tune with the Topic, spoke about the term Culture and its meaning. He also compared culture with civilization. He said Arts form a part of the culture and opined that its all a changing phase. He said Art is an integral part of Culture and Culture is a part of Civilization. He condemned the so-called Gurus who mint money and do not impart Art for Art sake. 

Aparna – a Chartered Accountant, spoke about how Kalakshetra was different from other institutions in teaching various Art forms. She said Guru Bhakthi was ultimate with the Students and Gurus also taught them honesty and integrity. She said that Trio has come across thousands of children and parents over the last 18 years and could see a Sea Change in their attitude towards art and culture with values waning day by day. She appreciated Smt. Srividya for her wonderful talk and the songs rendered by her with devotion. 

Surendranth – An Art Director talked about the Sumukhi Amma as an Ideal Guru who made the Trio learn all Art forms from Kalakshetra. He said that Dance is the basis for all art forms and a true dancer would know other arts like music, painting, jewellery, makeup etc. He quoted some anecdotes from Trio’s experiences through the Foundation. Some dance and music students were performing without knowing the inner meaning and the story of that particular song. That was the sorry state even 10 years back. 

The day’s Speaker was Smt. Srividhya Arunachalam B.Sc., M.A., Music Teacher. Her Topic was “Changing Phase of Art and Culture”. She traced the origin of music to Vedic and Sangam periods. She explained her own experiences as a Music student, teacher, parent of kids dealing with the present-day gurus. She was fortunate to have learnt from Musical Doyens right from her childhood including from her own mother. 

She said that those days gurus were not money minded and imparted values like bhakthi, spirituality to the sishyas through Music. But today all art forms have become commercial especially music and dance. She was comparing the past and the present and discussed the changing phase of art and thereby culture. She also peppered some Keerthanais here and there to add musical aroma to her talk. she condemned some present-day singers who sing as they wish, without ‘paddhathi’ thereby distorting the divinity of Carnatic Music. Just for the sake of popularity, they make ‘mix masala’ of all the songs both Carnatic and Cinematic songs which has no sanctity. She chided some Carnatic singers both male and female for not following the proper dress and hairstyle while on stage. 

She appreciated the Sumukhi Foundation for promoting Real Arts without any commercial motive. She applauded them for inculcating values like spirituality through their innovative value-based programmes, traditional dress code, discipline etc. she said her thoughts and attitude are similar to that of the Foundation and hence she is attached to it with her children. She also opined that competitions are only to improve and not to compare with others. She felt the changing phase is not for the good but the Foundation is sticking to the roots of culture which must be acknowledged. 

Sugathan shared his experience as a dance student in Kalakshetra and later as a performing artist. He explained his divine experience at Madurai Meenakshi when he performed for 3 years during the Thematic Golu organised by the Trio and himself. Just before his performance, he used to have a special darshan of ‘Velli Ambalam Nataraja’ and then dance at the divine Kalyana Mandapam. Once he had his Vidyarambam on Vijaya Dasami at the same divine place, which had never happened in the Temple. He said he was also blessed to perform at ‘Bhooloka Vaikuntam’ Srirangam during the Thematic Golu organised by the Trio and himself. 

Sugathan’s Naturo Upaya explained few tips for cold and fever.

As per the diktat of the Foundation, all the participants were in Yellow & Mustard Colour. The Programme ended with a happy note to meet again next week with a different Speaker and a Topic.