© Udantya 2011

Udantya**dwelling beyond the boundary

© Udantya 2011

Welcome to the second issueof Udantya!

________________________________This month on Udantya, we explore the idea of

‘Travel, without going too far’ through an excitingarray of written and visual pieces!

__________________________Backstage Pass The essence of Udantya

Megaphone A word from the Editors

Spotlight Dobra Tea HouseWisconsin Stands Up to Republic High-handedness: An

Update

Darkroom Explore the World on State Street!: A videographicjourney

Through Our Lens: Dobra Tea House

Armchair Critic A review of Fatima Bhutto’s, ‘Songs ofBlood & Sword’

Jam Session Under This Sun Wisconsin Film Festival 2011

©Namita Azad

Travel Without Going Too Far

Beat Box! This month’s music picks from Udantya

Cameo Serendipitously, Under This Roof Down the Melodic Path

India is I

© Udantya 2011

BACKSTAGE PASS

The very essence of artistic expression is that, it is captured in many different ways.

A picture, a word or a tune.

Your rebellion, your journey and your destination.

Here, we aim to capture it all. Join us or explore with us.

Welcome to Udantya.

Welcome to our creative space!

Udantya aims to be a collaborative effort. If you have any articles, photos or music you would like to share, please email us atudantya@gmail.com. Future themed issues will be announced a month in advance.

© Udantya 2011

MEGAPHONE

From the Editors

Is it possible to travel the world and experience a culture,without traveling very far at all?

We live in a world today where a walk down the streetbecomes an experience. Cuisines, beverages, music and cinemacan become a global encounter. A work of literature is not theonly one-way ticket to an unknown place; there are many moreroads to the journey of discovery.

Without going too far, Madison, Wisconsin, our home, hascreated a platform for us to realize this very closely. Thenumerous ethnic restaurants, various religious institutions andon-going ethnic and social celebrations, pay tribute to the city’simmense cultural awareness and acceptance.

This month we have decided to broach the idea of ‘Travel,without going too far.’ We take a step back and realize thetravel we do everyday, and the diversity we experience throughthe simplicities of our day.

This month Udantya showcases ‘Dobra Tea House’ inSpotlight; an ‘Armchair critique’ of Fatima Bhutto’s memoir,‘Songs of Blood & Sword’ and the ‘Laya Project’ in JamSession. Our Darkroom this month features a project that we

are very excited to present; Udantya’s first video, ‘Exploringthe World on State Street!’. We have experimented withphotographs and stop-motion animation.

This month we also bring to you the ideas and visions of threevery talented individuals!

Samar Khanna explores our theme for this month from withinthe boundaries of his home with an exciting piece of visual and

literary composition.

Ranga Rajan introduces Sugato Nag, a world renowned Sitarplayer who bridges distances with his music.

Aman Khanna shows us India through his poetic rendition ofthe intricacies of this colorful country.

Come explore the world with us!

© Udantya 2011

SPOTLIGHT

DOBRA TEA: An Oasis of Tea,Culture and Serenity!

When youstep into theDobra tearoom, awayfrom thehustle bustleandoccasionalraucous ofState Streetyou are

instantly transported to a veritable oasis; of tea and serenity.

The shelves are filled with beautiful hand crafted teapots and tea cups in all shapes and sizes. The walls are linedwith photographs of tea gardens around the world. The manycarpeted platforms with low tables and cushions galore, areinviting to say the very least. This isn’t a place to visit in ahurry. In this tea room you are meant to kick off your shoes,shrug away your cares, settle in with a steaming cup of tea andbe transported to lands far away.

Tea drinking is an important social ritual in manycountries the world over. The Dobra tea room offers theunique opportunity of being able to experience the culture of a

country through the product of its earth. Dobra tea roomsstarted in the Czech Republic and the Madison tea room isonly one of three locations in the United States. It is owned byAdam Ernst and his wife Sarah Nettie. We sat down withAdam to talk about his interest in cultures and his experiencesexploring the world through tea. And of course, theconversation was over steaming cups of delicious chai!

Adam has a knack of instantly recognizing where youare from and invariably greets us with “Namaste! Aap kaiseho?” His thirst for culture is immediately apparent as he asksabout the regions of India where we are from and he tells uswhere he has traveled in India. We trade phrases in Hindi. Atthat moment, we could be anywhere; even India.

Adam grew up in Madison and moved to Vermontwhen he was sixteen. He tells us that growing up in ahomogeneous society made him realize that he was just ‘crazyfor culture’. He stumbled upon the Dobra tea room (inVermont) one day and was intrigued by the ‘interesting lookingpeople’ coming in and out. Adam says, “I walked in, sat downand said, “Just give me anything; take me away!””. His firstcup of tea was the Puer tea from China; “dark and earthy”.

Adam graduated from being a regular customer of Dobra toworking in the tea room. He knew almost instantly that Dobrawould be a perfect fit in Madison and two years later here hewas!

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It is clear that preparing a cup of tea is more than just apedestrian act that’s all in a day’s work. He tells us about alady from Taiwan who had stopped by the tea room. Herchildren were born and brought up in America and had nevervisited Taiwan. Adam was able to serve them tea in the styleof the lavish Gongfu tea ceremony; something the familywould’ve only been able to experience had they traveled backto Taiwan. “That was really special”, Adam says, “Here wasthis white guy from Wisconsin in his Bohemian tea roommaking Gongfu style tea for these Taiwanese kids! I was ableto present them with a part of their culture that they had neverexperienced before.”.

There is a lot of heart that goes into making the tea.Adam tells us of a dear friend from Sri Lanka with whom hehad formed a deep and close friendship. “We were born onopposite ends of the earth on almost the same day.”. His friendhad been away from home for a long time and came in to thetea room one day. “I made him this cup of chai; he sipped itand it took him back to his days in high school in his motherskitchen.” After that, whenever his friend would come in,Adam would make sure he was the one making the chai. “Iwanted to send him there (home)”, Adam says. The feeling ofbeing home in the comfort of the familiar is one of the factorsthat draws us to Dobra on many a day.

Though the Dobra franchise has establishedrelationships with tea gardens all over the world, Adam andSarah frequently travel to China, India and the Czech Republicto see the sources of their tea. “We go more for the cultural

experience and to see the processing of the tea.”. Adamrecounts his first trip to China and explains why the culturalconnection is important “I had been sharing the tea andprescribing these different cultures and I had never seen a teaplant in the ground!”. Sometimes these travels result in theintroduction of a new tea to the tea room. Adam’s last trip toChina resulted in him liking a new tea which is now beingsourced and served in all of the tea rooms in the US and theCzech Republic.

The vast number of teas served at Dobra are diverse andwe ask Adam if he knows exactly how to brew each one ofthem. “I put it in music terms; you can learn a song or learnmusic theory so that you can play all the songs. I like to teachbrewing theory!”. When asked if he is an expert now, he jokes,“It takes ten years of practicing forty hours a week to become amaster at anything; I have five years of more than forty hours aweek, so I guess I am about half-way there!” Most impressiveis that Adam can taste pretty much all the teas of the tea roomand tell you exactly what type of tea it is. In our book that’squite close to being an expert!

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The list of teas served at Dobra can be daunting to afirst time visitor to the tea room, but Adam and the team atDobra will work with you to find a good place to start. “Welike to have people converse with us. One thing we always liketo implement is that it takes time to brew a cup tea. We wantyou to sit down; take your time with the menu. We ask youwhat flavors you like, whether you like tea that’s naturallysweet or tea that’s dark”. Memories of Prague, the chocolate-ytea concoction and Puer tea from China are two favorites thatAdam mentions.

Adam sums up the essence of Dobraand the bottom line, beautifully.“We’re taking it (the tea) from thegarden, we’re taking the culture andbringing it (here) physically; we bringthe rugs, the furniture and the musicwith all their history. The reason whythe tea room exists all over NorthernAfrica, the Middle East, China and

India is that the tea room is where people meet, gather and talk;families and friends. I think it’s a piece that has been missingfrom American culture. I think that as people are waking up (tothe tea culture), the tea room is where people will findthemselves more and more. ”.

___________________________________________________

Namita and I would like to thank Adam and Sarah for takingthe time to meet with us. We would also like to thank Jasonand the team at Dobra for allowing us into their kitchen to snapaway!

Photo Series Concept and Credit: Namita AzadInterview (and conversation!): Namita Azad and AparnaVidyasagar

Text: Aparna Vidyasagar

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© Udantya 2011

Wisconsin Stands Up to Republic High-handedness: An Update

On the day that the 14 senate Democrats returned to Madison, the city witnessed its largest rally. The festive spirit of the St. Patrick’sday parade mingled with the euphoric support for the Democrats.

© Namita AzadOver the past month, those of us living in Madison became accustomed to the thousands of protesters who had gathered and lived inthe Capitol. After the bill abolishing collective bargaining rights was passed, the crowds simply disappeared. The Capitol has amournful aura, as if it has taken in the collective angst of the people. The writing on the wall rings out clear and true; and a fewpeaceful protesters remain.

© Udantya 2011

© Aparna Vidyasagar

© Aparna Vidyasagar

© Udantya 2011

DARKROOM

Explore The World on State Street!

Namita and I counted about twenty ethnic restaurants right on State Street! That’s excluding the carts that come to Library Mall atlunch time. Even though we got some restaurants that were off of State Street, we know we missed a few. Vien Tiane (on Gorham St.)

is probably the biggest one. Their Pad Thai will always remain the best in town!

Enjoy our video as we travel the world on State Street! - http://vimeo.com/21281629

© Udantya 2011

The Photographic Dobra Tea Room Experience!

© Udantya 2011

THE ARMCHAIR CRITIC

Songs of Blood & SwordA Memoir by Fatima Bhutto

A memoir written by a daughter for her father, in thepursuit to discover the man who wasn’t just her parent, but alsothe bearer of a bloody legacy, and the face of democracy inwhat is today known as one of the most dangerous places onearth- Pakistan.

‘Songs of Blood & Sword’ is a look at the Bhuttodynasty through the eyes of a Bhutto. Fatima Bhutto; daughterto Mir Murtaza Bhutto, assassinated in 1996; grand-daughter toZulfikar Ali Bhutto, executed in 1979; niece to ShahnawazBhutto, murdered in 1985; and niece to Benazir Bhutto,assassinated in 2007.

‘Don’t you know?’ he said with a calm voice. ‘Yourfather’s been shot.’ These were the words that reachedFatima’s ears at the tender age of fourteen on the night ofSeptember 19th, 1996. Her father and six other members ofthe Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) were killed on Clifton Street,Karachi, in an encounter with the police. The impressions ofthat night and everything that led up to that moment, are notonly the brutality of Fatima’s life but also a reflection of thechanging face of the politics of Pakistan. The first seed ofwhich, was sown by her grand-father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

The fifties were a time of change in the make-up of theworld, when third world countries were being caught in thequagmire of the Cold War. It was during this time that ZulfikarAli Bhutto’s attachment to the fate of the Muslim worldstrengthened and he entered Pakistani politics as the Ministerof Fuel, Power and Natural Resources. By 1963 he wasworking as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Zulfikar’s visionof self-sustenance and power to the Islamic world gave birth to(PPP) in 1967, after his departure from the government. Eventhough Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the leader of the PPP, theideology and work of the party was designed by membersfrom all across the country ; the and the poor; secular andreligious; men and women.

The rise of democracy with the PPP continued tostrengthen the divide in the beliefs of Pakistan until July 5th,1977 when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was arrested under GeneralZia’s regime. From his prison cell in Rawalpindi he wrote tohis two sons; “If you do not avenge my murder, you are not mysons.” These last words began the battle that Murtaza andShahnawaz Bhutto fought against General Zia’s governanceand the supporters of the military regimen including their sisterBenazir Bhutto; to eventually pay with their own lives.

© Udantya 2011

As boys, Murtaza and Shahnawaz were the youngrebels of their family and followers of Che; not knowing thattwenty years later they would be writing the same propagandasto protect their father and his revolution. During this time theyformed the Pakistan Liberation Army; later named Al-Zulkifar.Unable to stop Zulfikar’s death and with their own sister,Benazir, joining General Zia’s government, both Murtaza andShahnawaz went into exile in Damascus for the next fifteenyears. Both married during this time and Fatima was born toMurtaza, his first and only daughter.

Benazir’s power grew in Pakistan and she continued todrift further away from the ideologies of her father; theideologies for which the Bhutto name stood so high. It is alsosuspected that Benazir was involved in the mysterious death ofShahnawaz during a family reunion in France in the summer of1995. This reinforced the growing bitterness in Murtaza’smind for Benazir’s political agenda but the love for his eldersister kept him from returning to Pakistan. He was well awarethat his presence would disrupt her political path.

After Murtaza’s divorce from his first wife, his life inDamascus revolved around Fatima. They shared a bond greaterthan that of father and daughter and were each other’sconfidants. The fifteen years Murtaza spent in exile were themost challenging of his life but for Fatima these were the mostbeautiful years of hers. Everything was shared between thetwo; whether it was a celebration or a daily activity. Fatimafondly remembers how they both would share their morningroutine together; wash their faces and brush their teethtogether. Her father would then gently smooth her face with

shaving cream. Fatima says her father would never scold her;never tell her that this was something she should not dobecause she was a girl. “Lathering up and shaving,” she says,“was just our little routine.” Every night he would tell Fatimahow much loved her and if anything was to happen to her, hewould kill himself and she would reply with the same. “He wasthe soul of my world,” says Fatima.

Even as a young child, Fatima was well aware of thestate of mind of her political activist father . She knew that helonged to return to his country and continue the work of hisfather. The words of Zulfikar Ali, “If you do not avenge mymurder, you are not my sons,” still troubled his existence.Meanwhile, Pakistan’s political climate was changing lightningspeed. With General Zia’s death, Benazir became primeminister and was reversing many of the PPP’s programs. Herhusband Asif Zardari, current president of Pakistan, began toplay a large part in these changes. Finally, in 1993, Murtazareturned to Pakistan with an electoral ticket to lead the PPP. Hetold the Pakistani Daily News, “My decision to return andcontest elections is final. If the Pakistani establishment wants,they can hang another Bhutto – but will they hand my son,Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and hundreds of other Zulfikar Ali Bhuttosacross the country?”

For the next three years, Murtaza Bhutto fought thebattle he had been preparing for, all his life. Unfortunately forhim, he stood armed against his sister and brother-in-law, AsifZardari; but nothing could stop him from his duty as son of thefounder of the PPP. He spent a year in prison cells across thecountry, as his sister made every attempt to thwart love

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growing for him amongst the people of Pakistan. In 1994,Murtaza returned to 70 Clifton, the Bhutto residence, afterseventeen years. “Mummy, Zulfi and I stood at the doors of 70Clifton when we heard the chanting; joyous crowdsapproaching. Mummy and I were holding on to each other;Zulfi in Mummy’s arms. It was the home-coming we had beendreaming of, since arriving in Karachi.”

The feud between Murtaza’s PPP and Benazir and Asifcontinued for the next two years with violent clashes occurringroutinely. The end of 1996 was fast approaching fast withMurtaza’s popularity increasing. His dream of democracy wasstarting to become a reality.

September 19th, 1996 was like any other day at 70Clifton; Murtaza was preparing for a large press conferencethat evening for which he was certain he would get arrestedonce again. Little did he, the PPP or the world know that onhis drive back that night, the police force of his country wouldopen fire on him, minutes away from his home.

Mir Murtaza Bhutto was pronounced dead at 12:25am thatsame night.

It is strongly suggested throughout the book thatBenazir Bhutto and Asif Zardari are responsible for theassassination of Mir Murtaza Bhutto. This belief andeverything that happened until that point has strained thepersonal relationships of the Bhutto family. Fatima still holdson to fond memories of her ‘Wadi’, her aunt Benazir, growingup.

The game of politics had victimized Benazir too. After hearingabout Benazir’s assassination in 2007, Fatima said, “They can’tkill another Bhutto tonight.”

Fatima Bhutto continues her life as a columnist, poetand activist in Karachi. She carries the loss of her father withher everywhere. She relives the night of her father’s deathduring every waking moment. It has given her the strength tostand for democracy and fight for it without entering the dirtypolitical playground. ‘Songs of Blood & Sword’ is not herattempt to point a finger to killers of her father, grand-father,uncle and aunt, but rather to provide a perspective to the readerof what it is to live as a Bhutto.

For me, this memoir is morethan a young woman’s story of herfather; it is an eye-openingencounter with the brutality of acountry’s politics, through the storyof one family. There are manymore such families and dynastiesthat exist in countries all over theworld; who are still living withinthe ruthless power of politics. Iwould highly recommend this bookto someone who enjoysautobiographies and a fly on thewall perspective of political history.

- Namita

© Udantya 2011

JAM SESSION

Painting the town red, black andwhite, and colors galore!

A bonus for me during trips to a coffee shop, is being able toadmire the work of fellow photographers. For those of youwho feel just the same, I have an exhibit that beats whippedcream on a mocha!

I am very excited to announce that Udantya’s own NamitaAzad will be showcasing her photographs at the Starbucks onUniversity Avenue this April.

The exhibit entitled ‘Under This Sun’, consists of vignettes oflife and scenery, taken during Namita’s travels this past year.

Here is an excerpt from her description of the exhibit. Thedisplay will be up through the month of April and prints willalso be available for purchase.

Under This Sun

It is believed that the quickest one way ticket to your favoritedestination is through a photograph. I believe that aphotograph is the quickest trip back into a stash of memories.Cities, streets, and faces; Sites, sounds, and havoc; Ideas, art,and poetry; all in a frames work.

This collection is the world I’ve seen through my lens. Fromthe bustling streets of India, to the historic escapes of Englandand Scotland, with shades of those Madison sunsets, I see themall under my sun; Under This Sun.

The road is long

The crossings many

Trade your soul for manycolors

Bring along books for theride

Trace the path so mingled

Leave a part of youeverywhere

And patch together alifetime.

© Udantya 2011

Around Town

Don’t forget to check out the Wisconsin Film Festival!

March 30-April 3, 2011

Check out schedule and films at http://2011.wifilmfest.org/

Student tickets are only $5!

Beat Box

It is a tragic coincidence that this month’s selection comes inthe wake of the Tsunami in Japan.

Our music recommendation for this month is a noble effortcalled the Laya Project – www.layaproject.com.

Established following the 2004 Tsunami in Thailand, India andSri Lanka, the Laya Project takes original recordings of folk

music from these regions that have been enhanced in the studiowhile retaining the original essence of the music.

The proceeds from sales go towards ongoing relief efforts.

Our two favorites from the album are Sunrise in Injumbakkamand Tapatam, an energetic percussion number from India.

© Udantya 2011

CAMEO

Serendipitously, Under this Roof

We all long to travel to lands we’ve read about inbooks, stumbled upon in photographs or heard of. To breathe inthe new cultures, vernaculars, experiences and cuisines as weallow those distant lands to enthrall us in their beauty. It’s thathuman urge which feeds on itself; for the more you see, themore you wish to see. We walk down bustling streetsbrimming with colors and detour down dwindling paths, far upon a mountain; capturing moments through our music,photography, poetry and prose; building a story as we movealong the way. They remind us of the winds that smelledsweeter, voices that resonated louder and hearts that growfonder. The sounds of pebbles trod upon, speak of our journeyand echo our unquenchable thirst for wanderlust.

However, there are days when I relinquish it all totravel with my thoughts; journey to a land that I built withinthe four walls of my home, to discover the stories hidden in itscorners and serendipitously discover myself. After all, this isUdantya; dwelling beyond our boundaries. To uncover theideas, energies, tunes and colors that I have kept hidden away.To take a step back to explore more in the peace of our homes.So slide on your favorite pair of pyjamas and wrap your fingersaround the warmth of that perfect cup of chai, as we go on ourown little journey, without traveling the distance, to reveal therichness that our life already possesses.

On that lazy summerday, when the sun’srays fall perfectly onthe contours of yourroom, you unwrapyour shoe box full ofmemories. Let yourfingers run overthese memories, as

you smile and reminisce over all these pieces that have madeyou; they tell a silent story. They speak of your life, yourdeepest secrets and your fondest memories. Pull out thosephotographs, key chains, cards and even those insignificantobjects which bring the most interesting anecdotes floodingout. The dust layered on them bears witness to your history.Start your day with that perfect bath you were wishing for;where you can just stand under that hot shower, till yourfingers wrinkle letting all your worries drip away. You wonderwhy anyone would bother visiting the Niagara falls when youcould have it right here in your home. For those few souls wholove tranquility, indulging in a bubble bath with some music istruly meditative and will surely set you up for the journeyyou’re about to undertake.

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After emerging from the room full of steam, find acomfy corner in your home. If you don’t have one, it takesseconds to set one up – all you need is lots of cushions, a lampand your imagination. It’s that one place in your world whereyou can shut your eyes, throw your head back and breathe theair in before you take a sigh out. It’s your languid corner,where you can appease the more lethargic part of you. Perhapssit with some chai and that book you’ve never really got downto finishing. Books are like having conversations with yourselfthrough the eyes of another being. Lying on those cushions,your mind is an empty canvas waiting to be filled with lies,truth, complications and beauty of it all!

“The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger.The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest. Thethird time you share a cup of tea, you become family, and forour family, we are prepared to do anything, even die…”

– Three Cups of Tea

‘Three Cups of Tea’ is an inspiring account of GregMortenson’s quest to build schools for girls in Pakistan andAfghanistan’s most unforgiving and desolate terrains. Theseregions were infamous for being the birthplace of the Taliban.The story speaks of his struggles and endeavors in thishumanitarian journey, as he learns about life and everything inbetween, from the simple yet prudent people of those areas.With the turn of every page, I delved deeper into the lives ofthese people, as my mind had conversations with their thoughtsand emotions.

“Together, the two began the kind of conversation that flowsseamlessly, unstoppably, each fork begetting another branch ofcommon interest, a conversation that continues until this day.”– Three Cups of Tea

For those notinclined towards theliterary world, maybe adash of color couldhumor you. So pick upthat brush, dip it inhues that please yourmind and paint thatcanvas. It may notmake you a millionaireat the next auction, but

it’s yours. More importantly, it tells your story. I put myamateurish skills to use a few days back and this is what mytalent (or lack thereof) came up with. Unlike what someartistically challenged people may claim, I didn’t have to breaka sweat over creating these pieces. I know they’ll stick with meand maybe on some other sunny day, many years from now,I’ll pull them out of my shoebox and smirk and maybe evensmile at my attempt to be the next Van Gogh.

Self- expression through any medium gives a sense ofsatisfaction that no other endeavor can provide. There are dayswhen I pull out my striking blue guitar and strum tunes that Ionce heard with the green plectrum which I so carefully carryin my wallet. It doesn’t matter how my voice sounds, because I

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sing to let go of my frustration, celebratehappiness or even mourn in sadness.They’re not your words and they’re notyour tunes either, but they definitely areyour emotions; emotions that pave theway for the journey you take, in yourdomain.

If musical talents have desertedyou in your travel with your thoughts, apen and paper are your saviors. Penningdown your thoughts can be cathartic,

while also helping you understand things you hithertodidn’t.Craft that story and birth those characters, build yourplot and express your words! If you try your hand at poetry, itdoesn’t have rhyme all the time. They can just be words onlove, lust or that perfect crime!

Another guilty pleasure I spoil myself with; is food!We’ve all got that odd recipe under our sleeves that we justlove making. It could be the comfort of bread dipped in warmmilk with sugar sprinkled on top or your peculiar (andhopefully successful) way of making an omelette. It mightleave your kitchen looking like it has just survived severalnapalm strikes, but that’s the joy of cooking!

I’ll let you in on a little secret and share with you twosimple yet absolutely incredible dishes, which would leaveyour mouth watering as you’re making them. I tried my hand atthem last week and they were as amazing and simple as I hadimagined. A word of advice before you step into the world of

culinary arts – Always experiment! If you think two thingsshould go together, they probably will!

The first one up is ‘Spicy Cashews’. Saute wholecashews on a low flame, with very little oil, until they take on agolden hue; then take them off the flame and start preparing themixture that goes over it. With two teaspoons of chili powder,a teaspoon of salt and cumin powder each, four teaspoons ofpowdered sugar and a dash of olive oil; you have the perfectblend of spices. Mix these up nicely and toss them up with thecashews, ensuring all those golden beads have specs of red,white and brown. If you don’t have cumin, it doesn’t matter,perhaps try something else which suits your taste! Cooking isan art which involves all your senses, making it the perfectmedium to discover who you are. After all, we are what we eat.

The first dish is definitely not as original as the second one. Ipicked up some nachos the other day and wanted to make thatdelicious yet healthy dip for it. Take a bit of yogurt and addfinely chopped tomatoes and onions to it. Throw a dash of salt,pepper, chilli powder on it. The secret ingredient being lots of

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garlic powder. Ensure the proportions are right so that you endup with a thick dip rather than loose yogurt. Mix it up well andserve with the nachos. The magic definitely doesn’t stop here.If you’re feeling very adventurous and have the requiredmaterials, you can try your hand making some ‘boondi-dip.’Boondi is essentially a fried Indian snack made from chickpeaflour which can be soaked in yogurt to make a scrumptioussnack. Add hot water to the boondi and leave it for about 10minutes. Drain out all the water while squeezing the boondivery gently to ensure that all the excess water is taken out. Addthis to some yogurt with salt, pepper, red chilli powder, cuminpowder and coriander thrown in. Mix well. I tend to keep thedips a bit more spicy, because when I start feeling the heatfrom the chillies, I usually cool off my taste buds by dippingthe nachos in some honey. It may sound as if I’ve taken myphilosophy of experimentation a bit too far, but you’ll onlybelieve me once you’ve actually tried it. There are a few thingsin this world which can match up to the magic of spicy nachosand honey!

Every journey does have asolemn end. With every songstrummed, every stanza written andevery stroke of color the stories onlygrow richer. Our homes tell us ourstory, with the echoes of our talestucked away in those corners and boxes.Sometimes the sweetest journey is theone we take alone.

“I have to be alone very often. I’d be

quite happy if I spent from Saturday night until Mondaymorning alone in my apartment. That’s how I refuel.” –Audrey Hepburn

- Samar

© Udantya 2011

Down the Melodic Path

Music is magical. It has an immense power toinfluence moods and actions. It can bring a sudden spurt ofhappiness to the most miserable of personalities or plungeone’s soul into the deepest trenches of sadness and melancholy.Even the most brutal dictators in the history of mankind havefound solace in music. Closer to home, intense grad studentsbecome hip-hopping dancers, apparent introverts expose ahitherto hidden side and people discover meaning in whatcould be coarsely seen as just a convoluted set of frequencies.

Music also has the power to transport one to distantworlds, the destination being reflective of his/her personalityand outlook. Having made the long journey from theburgeoning metropolis of New Delhi to the sleepy environs ofMadison almost two summers ago, I have had countlessoccasions when I missed family, home and India. On manysuch instances, music has been the force that pulled methrough. Be it the latest Bollywood number or a composition ofone of India’s legendary classical musicians, it has broughtfond memories back and taken me to where I truly belong.

The subject of this piece is one who has used the‘magic carpet’ of music to travel far and wide, quite literallyand symbolically. Pandit1 Sugato Nag is an accomplishedexponent of the Etawah2 and Senia-Shahjahanpore2 schools ofHindustani3 classical music. Having had his tutelage underhighly respected musical personalities like Pandit RadhikaMohan Maitra and Shri Buddhadev Dasgupta, Sugato Da’s

music is a mellifluous blend of the sitar4 baaj of the Etawahgharana and the sarod4 baaj5 of the Senia-Shahjahanporegharana.

Let me tell you how I met Sugato Da. A ratherharrowing period of time a few months ago, meant that I hadan unusually long absence from playing my sitar. On hearingthis, Rajiv, my friend and first sitar mentor, nudged me intojoining him for his next sitar lesson. And that is how I metSugato Da; through a conference call between Madison andAmar Shonar Bangla6. His gregarious (albeit virtual!)presence put me at ease instantly! All images of a no-nonsensedisciplinarian-music teacher just vanished. Though I was quiterusty with the strings, I remember thoroughly enjoying gettingintroduced to the ascent and descent of Raaga Desh7,8. Iremember feeling liberated after the class, and until then, I hadthought that that was something that only great musicianscould feel!

Sugato Da presents a wonderful vibe as a teacher andhas unbelievable levels of patience with beginners (like yourstruly). However, the most striking aspect of his teaching is thatalmost all his classes are held through the web. Most of hisstudents are located thousands of miles away in other countries,and interact with him online for most part of the year. AsSugato Da says, learning music through the internet is notdifficult for someone with a keen sense of the art. In fact, hebelieves that this is an example of technology contributing tothe preservation of our musical heritage.

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In addition to possessing a purist sensibility andperfectionist approach, he is also blessed with a wonderfulunderstanding of the capabilities and limitations of hisstudents. This ability to interact at the level of his studentsmakes him a rather inspiring teacher.

The responsibility of carrying forward the thread ofHindustani classical music is one that Sugato Da seems to takeon quite willingly. His belief in being happy with what he doesrather than pursuing tangible rewards is one that speaksvolumes of his confidence in himself.

Do join us to experience Sugato Da’s magic in an evening ofmusic. Visit the following links for more information about hisSpring’11 U.S. concert tour:

http://www.sugatonag.com/Sugato%20Nag%20Concert.htm

-Ranga

Glossary1. Pandit: An honour conferred on a scholar or expert in any field. 2. Etawah and Senia-Shahanpore: Two historic schools of Hindustaniclassical music, whose roots can be traced to the Bangash tribe inAfghanistan and the court of Mughal emperor Akbar, respectively. 3. Hindustani: North Indian school of music. Evolved to the North of theVindhya and Satpura mountains. 4. Sitar and Sarod: Two plucked string instruments used ubiquitously inHindustani classical music. 5. Baaj: style of play 6. Amar Shonar Bangla: Bengali for ‘My Golden Bengal’, one of themost culturally rich states in India. It is also the title of a song written andcomposed by Rabindranath Tagore. 7. Raaga: A traditional melodic pattern with characteristic notes, intervalsand rhythms. Each raga is said to have a unique expression of thought andemotion. 8. Raaga Desh: The melody that the Indian National Song ‘VandeMataram’ is based on. Its said to sound best between 8 pm and 10 pm and isenjoyed most during the monsoons.

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India Is I

It’s the Hope, the Prayer.The Song and the Despair.

It’s the Calm in the chaos. The Chaos is the charm.India is the Rain. The Forests and the Farms.

The Kisaan and his Yield.The Hunger, the Strife.

India is the need to have an identity and still be part of that Billion.

It’s the Land the Air, the Hope and the Despair.The Song and the Dance.

The Death after life. The Life after death.The wisdom, it’s the Wise.

The Kill or be Killed, the Nirvana the Navratana.India is the Contradiction, the Exception, the new rule.

The reason to Live, the cause of Death.The joy, the tear.

The Roads with people, the People of the roads.The high rises, the slums. The stories, the success, the failure of some.

The brutality, the charity.

The pranayam. the ghats.India is the Divine.

The Virtue and the Vice.The Relatives. The Families. The joy to spread. The sadness withheld.

The Moksh.The Kaam Krodh Madh Lobh.

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The Spirit. The breath naked.

It’s the Spice, the wealth.The Educated, the swell.

The kicked and trodden. The old and forgotten.The kept and revered. The even for the odd.

The noticed. India is the lime light.India is the fall

and then the flight.

The kin for the kin. The family within.The Gossip traveled. The gossip heard.

The kiss, the touch. the sex and the tabboo.The mother, the wife.

India is the Sati.

The change and the old.The wheel

and the reinvention.

The children. The Billion.

India is politic.The Minister who killed.

The Minster, killed.The Dictat the Uprise, the British surprise.

The godhra , ayodhya. Yet the City of Joy. The helping hand.

Asoka, the Buddha .Ram hare Ram. The diseased. The cured. The enlightened.The Gandhi, his salt. My salt.

The soil and the dirt.

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The mother that bears, feeds the Billion.The holi the diwali. My Allah. My Ram. The Cross. The Kind.

The Need. The Will. The Hope. The Prayer.The Song and the Despair.

My life. Existence.India is I.

- Aman