Tribute to Shri Narayan Rajamani: selflessness personified

                                                                  POEM- THERE IS MUSIC BEFORE NOISE

“Every cloud has a silver lining.”

This is a quote which comes to my mind whenever I come across any negative thought or emotion. ‘Noise Pollution’ has become a menace in nearly all cities of India and across the globe. Machinery, equipments and sometimes people themselves make so much of noise which actually disturbs a large segment of our population. But, on the contrary, let us look at something positive which can be extracted out of this negativity. Let us suppose that there is a dearth of good writers in the country. People will be on the lookout for someone who writes exceptionally well. This gives the opportunity for aspiring writers to get their works published, and soon earn fame. Similarly, when there is too much of noise, we all begin wanting to hear music. Thus, aspiring musicians have an opportunity to enlighten people’s lives. In my view, the best music teacher we can ever have is nature. All one has to do is sit beside a beautiful lake for a few hours in the evening. Within sometime, an orchestra can be heard. That music will overpower all the noise in the surroundings. Here is a poem which explicitly describes an experience which changed my life:-

Note- This poem is based in one of the noisiest city (in terms of traffic!) in our country- Bangalore

It was a splendid summer evening,

I was with my cousins and my aunt

And In the busy city of Bangalore I was learning                                           

About the beauty of music and art

                             We went past the noisy traffic, and reached a lake

                             Which was called ‘The Chirping land’.

                             I was indeed excited to take

                             A glimpse of music; which was grand.

As I entered the lake of my dreams

I found that only a few Aves could be seen.

As down came the sun’s beams

I was getting enthused to hear the birds sing, as every evening they had been.

                     

                           Soon, the sun set and the stage was set

                         My aunt suggested all of us to sit on the ground

                         And hear the music which one will never get

                         In any film or cricket match, for which we at least spend a pound.

 In between the lake, stood a solitary tree

On which thousands of birds flocked together

It looked like they were singing a prayer

And thanking the Almighty for each feather

                    

                          The birds soon got into their rhythm and serenaded

                          I closed my eyes and soaked in the wonderful vibes

                          The music was enchanting and unabated

                          And soon I got rid of thoughts of corruption and bribes

Soon I opened my eyes and we went out of ‘The Chirping Land’

And were forced to hear the familiar sound of construction and cars, without choice

I smiled and told myself as I looked at my hand,

“There is always music before noise.”

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