Mysuru: ‘Vara Vis-weswara,’ a special  issue  of ‘Surabhi  Sinchana’  (a quarterly magazine  published  by  Surabhi Gana Kala Mandira, Mysuru,  since 2005) was released formally at Sri Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha auditorium recently.

This is special in many ways. First of all, ‘Sinchana’ itself is  unique as this has probably  been  the  only  Kannada  quarterly dealing exclusively with  music, being published consistently since 17 years. There is not a single commercial advertisement in it nor it is being  funded by any Government Departments. The magazine has been a source of invaluable  information on almost all aspects  of music.

‘Sinchana’ has brought out  many issues about the stalwarts  of Indian music like Vid. R.K. Srikanthan, Pt. Bhimasen Joshi, Pt. Mallikarjuna Mansoor, Dr. Balamuralikrishna and so on. But this time, it has been very special both in volume and content.

It is not a booklet now, as it has 90 pages and 16 articles, all on the gigantic musical personality called ‘R. Visweswaran.’ It throws light on many facets of the living legend who is a composer, a Vainika, a vocalist, an author, a guru, a thinker, a researcher, a scholar and a performer. It also peeps into his personal life and discovers how humane, humble, affectionate  and enthusiastic he is, even at the age of 92! So it is a befitting  tribute of an ardent disciple, Dr. Sukanya Prabhakar, to her revered Guru, Prof. R.V.

She has expressed her emotions in a very touching manner, in her article in the book. She has been a strong force of inspiration and motivation for her  students. She says that she imbibed this character from this  great guru.

This book is special for one more reason. Usually, ‘Sinchana’ comes out because of the  joint venture of many members  of the editorial board. But this time, it is the result of the single-handed effort of Vijayamala K. Saralaya, a senior disciple of  Dr. Sukanya Prabhakar.

The articles penned by her based on her personal interviews with Prof. R.V., his wife Usha Visweswaran and  daughter Veena Jayanth, have come up to 40 pages. She has been successful in collecting very informative and scholarly write- ups both in English and Kannada by eminent musicians like Dr. Komanduri Seshadri, Vid. N.R. Prashanth, Mirle Karthik, Vid. G.S. Ramanujan, Dr. Srikantham Nagendra Shastry, Dr. R.S. Nandakumar, Vid. Kanchana Rohini Subbarathnam and  so on. Added to it, the book is bedecked with beautiful and rare photographs of Dr. R.V. The whole book including the cover page is designed by Vijayamala herself.

The book release function was also unique as the chief  guest was none other than the  renowned Sanskrit scholar, Prof. H.V. Nagaraja Rao who gave an extremely impressive and  thought-provoking speech. But the highlight of the programme was the mesmerising Veena concert by Prof. Visweswaran  himself ! The hall full of elite audience was awestruck at the virtuosity and dexterity of the Veena Maestro at 92! The enthralling Veena recital made the entire atmosphere divine and  memorable.

—Lalitha  Srinivasan