Two years back, hope was hard to find in the midst of the lockdown. But we decided to reignite our passion by taking on a missiona nearly insurmountable one. It was to take the abstract but powerful concept of Melakarthas to the public. But we hesitated. This was something few had attempted, and even fewer succeeded. And for good reason the Melakarthas is an inherently theoretical and rigorous system.
Thus, it was heart-warming to see Vidya tackle them with her characteristic methodology of 'simplifying without diluting. She did so by weaving abstract musical theory with a relatable story, the modus operandi she had pioneered in '50 Rare Ragas: The present book, in particular, sets itself apart by drawing the reader in with a place and a memory, and builds up a beautiful story, all while elegantly nudging us into the discussion about the raga. Thus, the Melakarthas are finally made accessible to all.
Another highlight of the book, is how Vidya approaches each raga. It's easy to view the Prati Madhyama (M2) Ragas as a group of largely unknown ragas, sprinkled with a few popular ones. But to her, it's simply a sea of opportunities, and she gives each raga its due respect. By dispelling all prejudices, she instils in us a childlike curiosity for all the 36.
In the first volume. I had mentioned how it was her best book yet. She continues to up the ante, creating an unparalleled work in this sequel. With this pair 'Melakarthas: The Gems of Carnatic Music", Vidya demystifies the Melakarthas for a modern audience, and leaves her glorious stamp on age-old tradition.
Harshitha Suresh is the younger daughter of the Skanda duo. A keen writer, her creation was first published in The Hindu Young World when she was 9 years old. Since then, she has Harshitha on the Wrapper had multiple articles appearing in her school magazine and newsletter, and has won prizes for her writing. She has been a regular contributor to her college magazine, Stellaeidoscope, and was featured as the Writer of the Month in the Feb-2021 issue. Her writing bursts with humour and happiness, offering a light-hearted take on even the heaviest of topics.
A reader of discerning tastes, her picks range from literary fiction to philosophy to Shakespeare to biographies.
Harshitha is well-trained in Carnatic Music and is continuing to learn under her mother's tutelage. Harshi's Carnatic Nook, which featured as an independent segment in FAQs of Carnatic Music released in 2021, reflects her keen and deep understanding of the form and offers many new insights to the reader. Harshitha took on the role of Joint Editor last year for the first part of the "Melakarthas'. She dons the Editor's hat for the second part of the book.
Harshitha has been a consistent high-scorer in academics all through her schooling at PS Senior Secondary School. She is currently pursuing B.A. Economics at Stella Maris College, Chennai.
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