VeeNai SHANMUGAVADIVU -KALKI ARTICLE ON SmtMS's Mother

 https://rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=35556

-----------------------------------------------------------

https://arasi-translations.blogspot.com/p/index-to-blog-posts.html


https://rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=375207#p375207
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

by arasi » 

Published in the magazine KALKI in 1957 in a series of articles about Outstanding Women
(courtesy) https://s-pasupathy.blogspot.com/2019/12/1408-209.html

VEENAI SHANMUGAVADIVU
by
KALKI

From ancient times, the veena and the flute have been deemed as fine musical instruments. The great TiruvaLLuvar thought so too. He exclaimed in one of his couplets: are there things more sweeter sounding than the flute and the vINA? Yes, the lisping sounds coming from the mouth of our babes...
Even an infant without a sweet voice would sound that way to its parents. What if the child were endowed with a voice sweeter than that of a veena by the grace of God? How much a mother would have reveled in it, listening to that lisping child's voice!
Such grace fell on Madurai SrImathi Shanmugavadivu ammal. A fortunate woman who could take pride in that she gave birth to a daughter who is well-known all over India, Srimathi M.S. Subbulakshmi.
*****

Shanmugavadivu came from a family which was known for its love for music and in being gifted with it. Her father
M.S. Swaminatham was not only keen on music but was well-versed in it. Her mother Akkamma was proficient in playing the violin. Their dear daughter was born in the year 1889 on the 17th in the month of Panguni.

The child was keen on music from a very young age and was eager to learn too. The parents wanted a good guru and found one in Karur Venkatarama Bhagavathar, a prominent vidvan. Since Shanmugavadivu's voice was not that appealing to get trained in vocal music, she started her lessons in playing the vINA. Perhaps her regret in not possessing a good singing voice was more than redressed while listening to the voice of her daughter--a result of all her nAdOpAsana.

Shanmugavadivu advanced rapidly in her learning. Even illustrious vidwans like Tirukkodikkaval Krishnaiyer, Maduravilagam Muthiah Bhagavathar and others had spoken highly of her mother Akkamma's playing the violin. When they heard Shanmugavadivu play, they exclaimed: like mother, the daughter! They blessed her and felt she would no doubt grow in her art.
==========================================
2





Popular posts from this blog

YADUGIRI AMMAAL BOOK ON BHARATHY-translation by 'arasi'

MAHA VAIDHTANAATHA SIVAN -MUSICAL MELEE AT CHENNAI OF YORE