Remembering Raghu Mama

Yet another dear Mama has been taken away from us. Raghu Mama, the eldest of my mother's siblings was a pioneer of magnetic resonance research in India. After returning to India with a PhD from the University of British Columbia in the 70s, he was a professor of Chemistry at IIT Kanpur and then went on to be a founding head of the NMR department at AIIMS, New Delhi. Besides being a brilliant academician, he was passionate about cricket and Indian classical music. He had a keen musical mind and I've had some beautiful musical exchanges with him especially over the last one year. He had a vast knowledge of ragas in both Hindustani and Carnatic music and loved analyzing raga-based film songs. He also had a penchant for the English language (he was in fact married to a linguistics and English literature professor, our dear Vaija manni who passed away about five years ago) and loved indulging in word games and puzzles. Raghu Mama passed away on May 16th 2021 and has left behind an unfillable void. 

Amma had wanted to share with him this composition that she wrote and tuned 7-8 years ago. I kept putting off recording it thanks to work. Little did we expect that Mama wouldn't be with us for much longer. I'm sad I couldn't do it in time for him to hear it. Nevertheless, we'd like to share it today and dedicate it to him on his birthday (July 5th). He would have been 83.

Miss you Raghu Mama. Miss your brilliant mind. Miss your wit. Miss your music. Miss your affection and your towering presence as a role model to the entire extended family. Your memories will continue to inspire us. We hope you're in a better place.

 

This is a Tamil composition on Arjuna. Themed on the Mahabharata, it focuses on Arjuna's relationship with Lord Krishna. It was composed several years ago and Amma and I recently revamped it.

Ragam: Nalinakanthi Talam: Adi

Composer: Viji Bhakthavatsalam Lyrics and translation -

Pallavi: puNNiyam seidhanai nee pArtha kaNmaNi kaNNanin karuNaiyai peravE Partha (Arjuna), blessed are you to receive the grace of Krishna (kaNNan) Anupallavi: purandhidum paramanai un uravinanaai utra naNbanAi sArathiyAi AsAnAi pera To have the Lord who protects us as your kin, friend, charioteer, and guru (Blessed are you...) Charanam 1: pOrkaLatthil nee sOrndirundAi andru thErOtta vandhavan AchAryanAi nindrAn thannirakkam mElittu thavitthu nee nirkkayile unnidam dhayay koorndhu thanjam avan aLikkavE When you stood wearily in the battlefield The one who came to drive your chariot guided you as your guru As you stood consumed by self-pity He compassionately took you under his wing Charanam 2: pAdhai puriyAdhu bEdhitthu nee nindrAi kOdhaiyin kAdhalan bOdhaganAi vandhAn mEdhaiyin pin nindru mEdhiniyil uyarndhAi pEdhai nee teLivutru Athmanai uNarndhAi As you stood confused about the way ahead Kodai's beloved came to you as your preacher Following the master, you rose on this earth With newfound clarity you realized the Atman Charanam 3: pAdhagar nAm inRu bOdhanaiyai uNara - yem vAdhanaigaL neenga sAdhagam AnAi mAthavam yAm seidhOm mAdhavanai uNarvOm kAdhai nee AnAi nAyakanAi nindrAi You were a means for us all to realize his teachings And for our troubles to abate We did a great penance; let us realize Madhava You became a legend and stood tall as a hero ——