TMK's Sangeeta Kalanidhi Controversy: How to Loathe Your Tradition and Practice Apad Dharma?
Few reflections on TM Krishna's "Sangeeta Kalanidhi" Controversy
I felt deeply disappointed when I learned that T.M. Krishna (TMK) would accept the prestigious "Sangeeta Kalanidhi" award.
Given his efforts to challenge the Carnatic norms and distance himself from the traditional "system," this seemed ridiculous, casting fundamental doubts over his intent to question one’s roots in the first place.
TMK often gloats about his questioning spirit, influenced by the teachings of J. Krishnamurti, who severed ties with the Theosophical Society when they tried to project him as a messiah. Why, then, would TMK value an award from a system he deeply questioned?
While some might view this as an opportunistic move, especially during the election season, I feel sad for TMK, who appears utterly confused, chasing his tail without a clear purpose.
Many moons ago, I came out of my dentist appointment and found him reading the book I had kept in the seating area without asking my permission. I was quite amused by this small incident as it gave me a glimpse of this complex person.
At the time, I was thrilled by his questioning energies and his Marxist lens to examine his roots. To test the validity of the lens, I tried it out on myself and realized how gravely violent it turned out to be.
His questioning approach became problematic when he started casting aspersions on fellow musicians and washing dirty linen in public.
In contrast, consider the journey of Sean Roldan (formerly Raghavendra Raja Rao), who changed his name to distance himself from his Carnatic roots and discover his original musical voice. Unlike TMK, who kept his name and fame intact, Sean has been breaking fascinating musical boundaries with projects like setting anti-caste mystic Vallalar's lyrics to rock music.
While I don't judge their life choices, it's interesting to see how different their journeys have been. With his stature, TMK could have achieved much more, but perhaps his role was to be the "kadaa aadu-sacrificial goat" that sparked conversations about caste and politics within the Carnatic music community.
‘As Samanth Subramanian once noted, "There is more clarity to be found in Krishna's practicing than in his preaching, and his concerts are—as they ought to be—the most rewarding exemplifications of his thoughts on the art."
Few months ago, I learned and sang “Rangapura” solely by listening to his track on loop and it boggles my mind that this person who could bring “Rangapura kriti” to life would try to decouple Bhakti and lyrics from Carnatic music. Whether TMK succeeds in his mission or not, I have succeeded in decoupling his thoughts from his music.
At Ritambhara, with the help of Antaranga Yoga, we explore stances of self-hate and "apad-dharma" (dharma in times of crisis) stemming from a deep loathing towards one's roots.
To move away from the shame of belonging and discover one's healing self requires deep courage and vulnerability. I hope TMK discovers this within himself and the incandescent spark of questioning spirit finds life once again!