Monday, April 22, 2013



Only in Mumbai would you traipse into and out of two urban villages, walk beneath a highway, take a shortcut to the commuter station and then walk again a good fifteen minutes to listen to classical music from two centuries ago, perfectly rendered at a free concert held in the memory of the truly great.(Ustad Allaudin memorial concert). Only in Mumbai would the old gent sitting next to you say I have no knowledge of musical notes—and then correctly identify every raga presented, and he’d tell you about listening to the national program of music on radio Akashwani every weekend without a break for the last SIXTY years. Yes, only in Mumbai would you have to push your way out at your station at eleven in the night...

While I’ve been a big fan of IWW for years now and forever beholden, I’ve stayed away from facetime. Until now. Yesterday afternoon I sat in traffic (in an auto and then a shared cab v interesting) to reach a new part of town, but it was worth it, bonding with strangers and text over a cup of tea, all discussions pertinent, focussed, the people gentler than on the workshop. Thank you, caferati


4 comments:

My Unfinished Life said...

well, I havent experienced mumbai like the way you have so cant say....but well, if its worth it then cool!!!

http://www.myunfinishedlife.com/

Beth said...

Good for you on the IWW facetime. You have more courage and sticktoitiveness than I. Neat description of concert, too.

Ravishankar said...

i liked your comments regarding Mumbai , but why the two urban villages ?

austere said...

Shootin: yep! you got to see it sometime!
Beth: That facetime was with caferati, a local group. huh thanks, but I don't think so! Just did it...
hey Ravi good to see you here-- If I take the shortcut then I skip 5 traffic lights and the traffic in this part of town is horrendous...