Our ‘Bhajan’ Ravi Celebrates 60 Years

Ravichandran, of 8022 Alder.  celebrated his 60th birthday at Club House last evening.  Everything about the family is simple, grounded.

I can’t claim any prior closeness with Ravi. I knew of him since he moved to SFV after I did. Once acquainted, I realized two things bind us. First, we both were Delhi-ites. Thus, on the few occasions we cross shoulders we recall Delhi days – the irresistible Paharganj chole bhature, mouth-watering sweets of Nathus and Evergreen; the golgappa (paani puri) of Shahjahan Road, or the Ram-kela raw mango, best for Avakkai pickle from Sarojini Nagar market. The conversation often ended with ‘Delhi is Delhi’- a la Tejashwi Surya, South Bangalore MP, who said recently after his exhaustive tour abroad, ‘Bangalore is Bangalore’.

Second, Ravi and I love bhajans with just one difference. He is an accomplished Sampradaya Bhajan specialist - say classical. He is synonymous with Namma Sankeertanam, getting a slot every year at the prestigious Alangudi Bhajanotsav, along with the greats of Udayalur Kalyanaraman, OS Sundar, and others. 

In sharp contrast, with the exodus of Namavali bhajan singers from my native village leaving in the 1950s for Bombay, Madras, Calcutta or Delhi to eke out a living, the likes of me, novice, took charge of Ekadasi bhajans with little musical leanings, be they the simple light music variety.  And the poor villagers, on their side, sat through such sessions solely for the prasadam at the end. 

Ravi is a multi-faceted personality. He is a dutiful son. Yesterday when I asked his mother on Ravi, she said, ‘he leaves nothing to be desired – Shravan Kumar in short.’ What better compliment can a son ask for. He is a loving husband – doesn’t matter takes appointment to talk to Lalitha amidst her umpteen sharpening-skill efforts on religious subjects – learning Narayaneeyam, Tirupugaz... A caring father Ravi has groomed his boys well. His first son is all set to defend his PhD thesis after completing his MS from a US University. The second did his MBA and padded it up with a post-graduate diploma in music to take over as a Business Executive in a music company. He is an accomplished piano player as well.

In professional life, Ravi did his B. Com Hons, and Cost Accountancy (ICWA).  His last assignment was as CFO and Finance Director of Honeywell in Bangalore. Alas, his love for music got the better of him. He went on a sabbatical to give music a try and never looked back. He is now fully submerged in his primary passion, music. And, just not to let the benefit of his education go unavailed, he teaches ‘Finance’ part-time in PES University for B Com and MBA students.  

Music being the name of the game, this piece will be incomplete without a mention of the musical extravaganza that ran through the celebrations – piano recital by Ravi’s son, a popular Tamil song by Ravi, accompanied on piano by his son; and SFV stalwarts taking charge for karaoke songs in Hindi. The notable song for the occasion, from my standpoint, was the Balraj Sahni song in Waqt, Tu abhi tak hai haseen… Ravi joined the fun, to be able to address Lalitha thus. He searched for her in vain. She was taking care of the guests. Pulkit, our security staff, rendered a number in flute, and the relative of another security staff sang a bhajan number and a film song. 

Catering was probably entrusted to Sundara Rajan – Kamakshi caterers. Going by the nala-paham taste of the food, it would seem he is determined to retain his original coveted position which some youngsters threatened to usurp.

A man for all seasons, a man of many parts, or everything rolled into one, might explain Ravi better. Kudos. The community will look forward to your celebrating Bhima Ratha Shanti (70 years), Shatabhishekam (80 years), Kanakabhishekam (90 years) - and sau saal in good health and happiness. Jug jug jio my friend.

An evening well spent. 

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