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THE SERENDEPITIOUS HISTORIAN WRITER
New Indian Express, India
September 26, 2013 Thursday
CHENNAI
CHENNAI, Sept. 26 -- When you meet Bengaluru-based author
Vikram Sampath and hear him speak, you may wonder why he doesn't
take the career of a classical singer more seriously. However,
the writer-historian who finds joy in poring through history and
newspaper clippings for his books, shrugs off the question with an
air of humility and a warm smile, saying he is not keen on performing.
The writer, who was in the city on Sunday to receive the Vedavalli
Memorial Award for his contribution towards South India's heritage,
delivered a lecture demo at the TAG Centre on the Life and Times of
Mysore Vasudevacharya.
Perhaps the insightful lecture demo that offered a detailed account
of the contribution and works of the legendary classical singer,
specifically illustrates writer's keen interest in history and
classical arts.
However, he says he never planned to become an author and found
history too boring as a student. "Today most people plan a career as
a writer, but that was not the case with me. Neither did I plan it
nor was I ever interested in history as a subject. I was the student
who would be punished for not doing history assignments and would
doze off during lessons," he says with a laugh.
His first book Splendours of Royal Mysore The Untold Story of the
Wodeyars that dealt with the 600-year history of the Wodeyar Dynasty
was serendipity too. He says, "I remember as a child watching the TV
series 'The Sword of Tipu Sultan' that showed the Mysore Maharaja in
a poor light. They were rulers, who had the longest regime in the
State, close to six centuries and the rulers were in contrast with
the portrayal of the laid back emperor who danced with court girls."
Similarly, the next My Name is Gauhar Jaan! The Life and Times of a
Musician the story of the first Indian voice to be recorded, was a
fascinating account of the eminent Hindustani singer who exemplified
resurgent women musicians of the 20th century.
"The lack of records made me travel to all the places that Gauhar
Jaan who was born as Eileen Angelina Yeoward, an Armenian Christian
who later converted to Islam, travelled to during her lifetime. These
included visits to Kolkata, Benaras, Madras, Delhi and Darbhanga,"
he says.
A music student of Jayanthi Kumaresh, Vikram has always been intrigued
by her references to the geniuses of the veena maestro S Balachander
and his remarkable contribution to music. That eventually resulted
in his next Voice of the Veena S Balachander A Biography.
"Jayanthi akka always used to talk about him and he as a person,
was interesting too. He stood for honesty and in that process made
a lot of enemies in the circle, and his courage for upholding values
made him an outcast." he adds.
Vikram rues the lack of well-maintained records and says the scene
has pretty much been the same for the last 10 years. As the founder
of Archive of Indian Music, he aims to preserve old recordings as
well as vintage photographs and gramophone records.
He says, "Currently there are close to 12,000 records and with
awareness, people are coming forward to donate them. Sadly, most
of these treasures are found in trash bins. Our aim is to create a
world-class archive of Indian music that is technologically on a par
with world standards," he adds.
Also as the founder of the Bangalore Literature Festival, he is looking
forward to the upcoming edition that will be held between September
27 and 29, when over 125 authors will meet to take part in the event
that will be a confluence of all the official Indian languages.
New Indian Express, India
September 26, 2013 Thursday
CHENNAI
CHENNAI, Sept. 26 -- When you meet Bengaluru-based author
Vikram Sampath and hear him speak, you may wonder why he doesn't
take the career of a classical singer more seriously. However,
the writer-historian who finds joy in poring through history and
newspaper clippings for his books, shrugs off the question with an
air of humility and a warm smile, saying he is not keen on performing.
The writer, who was in the city on Sunday to receive the Vedavalli
Memorial Award for his contribution towards South India's heritage,
delivered a lecture demo at the TAG Centre on the Life and Times of
Mysore Vasudevacharya.
Perhaps the insightful lecture demo that offered a detailed account
of the contribution and works of the legendary classical singer,
specifically illustrates writer's keen interest in history and
classical arts.
However, he says he never planned to become an author and found
history too boring as a student. "Today most people plan a career as
a writer, but that was not the case with me. Neither did I plan it
nor was I ever interested in history as a subject. I was the student
who would be punished for not doing history assignments and would
doze off during lessons," he says with a laugh.
His first book Splendours of Royal Mysore The Untold Story of the
Wodeyars that dealt with the 600-year history of the Wodeyar Dynasty
was serendipity too. He says, "I remember as a child watching the TV
series 'The Sword of Tipu Sultan' that showed the Mysore Maharaja in
a poor light. They were rulers, who had the longest regime in the
State, close to six centuries and the rulers were in contrast with
the portrayal of the laid back emperor who danced with court girls."
Similarly, the next My Name is Gauhar Jaan! The Life and Times of a
Musician the story of the first Indian voice to be recorded, was a
fascinating account of the eminent Hindustani singer who exemplified
resurgent women musicians of the 20th century.
"The lack of records made me travel to all the places that Gauhar
Jaan who was born as Eileen Angelina Yeoward, an Armenian Christian
who later converted to Islam, travelled to during her lifetime. These
included visits to Kolkata, Benaras, Madras, Delhi and Darbhanga,"
he says.
A music student of Jayanthi Kumaresh, Vikram has always been intrigued
by her references to the geniuses of the veena maestro S Balachander
and his remarkable contribution to music. That eventually resulted
in his next Voice of the Veena S Balachander A Biography.
"Jayanthi akka always used to talk about him and he as a person,
was interesting too. He stood for honesty and in that process made
a lot of enemies in the circle, and his courage for upholding values
made him an outcast." he adds.
Vikram rues the lack of well-maintained records and says the scene
has pretty much been the same for the last 10 years. As the founder
of Archive of Indian Music, he aims to preserve old recordings as
well as vintage photographs and gramophone records.
He says, "Currently there are close to 12,000 records and with
awareness, people are coming forward to donate them. Sadly, most
of these treasures are found in trash bins. Our aim is to create a
world-class archive of Indian music that is technologically on a par
with world standards," he adds.
Also as the founder of the Bangalore Literature Festival, he is looking
forward to the upcoming edition that will be held between September
27 and 29, when over 125 authors will meet to take part in the event
that will be a confluence of all the official Indian languages.