Meeting Lakshmanji on Jan13th

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 04 Jan 2008, 06:18

I have arranged a meeting with Lakshmanji at New Woodlands Hotel , Cathedral Road (the One next to Savera) on the 13th of January ,Sunday, at about 9.00 am.

Rasikas who are keen to meet him and exchange a few pleasantries, are Welcome to join.

As of now , I am booking tables for only three confirmed participants.
Lji,Rajumds and myself.It would be great if many more rasikas could join for the occasion, as a tribute to Ljis services.
Please do get in touch with me at [email protected] do chip in with ideas -in your emails-as to what would be the most ideal gift we could think of , for Lji, who has touched our Musical lives with such resounding effect.
I hope Vijay is free on that day with his loaded camera.It could well turn out to be the finest photo opportunity , till date.
Vada Crunching expenses will be shared on a "Dutch"Basis.

ganesh_mourthy · Post by **ganesh_mourthy** » 04 Jan 2008, 08:11

I feel hesitant to ask though. but please let me know about lakshmanji. I would like to be there for rasikas rendez vous's.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 04 Jan 2008, 10:25

He is the very source. A man who has dedicated many years of his life in unearthing compositions, painstakingly gathering, compiling and publishing them. Above all, he has been . providing songs to anyone anywhere in the world. It has been his service to CM and to fellow enthusiasts.
Could someone specify the thread where his glory is sung? Somewhere in the Technical Section? Thanks.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 04 Jan 2008, 12:05

I am on 99%....but my grand plans for this weekend just ground to a crushing halt so I am reluctant to add that vital 1%....great to see Coolji back as well!

ramakriya · Post by **ramakriya** » 04 Jan 2008, 12:15

arasi wrote:Could someone specify the thread where his glory is sung? Somewhere in the Technical Section? Thanks.

Here is one, outside this forum:

http://neelanjana.wordpress.com/2007/11 ... ikapriyam/

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 04 Jan 2008, 12:26

ramakriya wrote:
arasi wrote:Could someone specify the thread where his glory is sung? Somewhere in the Technical Section? Thanks.
Here is one, outside this forum:

http://neelanjana.wordpress.com/2007/11 ... ikapriyam/

And here is the link in our forum

http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?id=4021

Yes! Great to have Coolji back.

vageyakara · Post by **vageyakara** » 04 Jan 2008, 14:27

Hallo you coolsji , u can 101%, count upon my joining the gala event of meeting Lakshmanji on the 13 TH INSTANT.We would accord him a red carpet reception.
Ramaraj

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 04 Jan 2008, 15:56

I am hoping to be there to unroll it

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 04 Jan 2008, 15:59

A Cool is a cool is a cool. Though a jamakkALam (cotton carpet) boy, the welcome is a royal one for him from all of us...

vageyakara · Post by **vageyakara** » 04 Jan 2008, 18:00

I think Arassiji's presence will add color to the occasion with her charming punnagai writ on her face.
Ramaraj

rrao13 · Post by **rrao13** » 04 Jan 2008, 18:59

Can some one remember to ask Shri Lakshman, if he is planning to attend this year's Cleveland Aradhana and post his response on this message board. For those of us In North America, we would like to meet him in Cleveland. Wish your Chennai meeting a great success.

thathwamasi · Post by **thathwamasi** » 04 Jan 2008, 21:36

Coolji!!! I can't tell you how eager I am to meet Lakshmanji. But unfortunately, I am stuck at a tournament in Hyderabad..Feel like crying...

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 04 Jan 2008, 21:37

rrao,
I think he goes there at the time of the ArAdhanA, if I am not mistaken. Will check with him...

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 04 Jan 2008, 22:21

I will seek to succeed in my great simply-being-up-early-enough-to-get-anywhere-by-9.00-am penance on this occasion

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 04 Jan 2008, 22:37

Seems like a long penance Nick, from the way you have spelt it out!

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 04 Jan 2008, 23:48

Yep... They'll make it a huge rock sculpture one day, maybe.

Assuming I succeed, of course!

I'm a night owl, guys...

vainika · Post by **vainika** » 07 Jan 2008, 20:30

Wow, what an opportunity! Count me in, please...

Rajani · Post by **Rajani** » 11 Jan 2008, 21:07

Looking forward to meeting Lakshman Sir and of course other rasikas.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 11 Jan 2008, 21:44

I am happy to confirm my attendance as well. Looking forward to land up fully geared!

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 11 Jan 2008, 22:23

Best wishes to all meeting with our dear Rasikapriya LakShman ji. Please convey the regards of us, the overseas Forum members and admirers of Lji. We look forward to choice views through the lens of Vijay and Rajesh! Of course we would love parts of the chit-chats as well as any anecdotes by coolkarni/Lji and others. Since it will be the eve of Bhogi and oncoming Thaipongal (makara shankaraanti) our warm greetings to one and all.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 12 Jan 2008, 00:30

a meeting with Lakshmanji at New Woodlands Hotel , Cathedral Road (the One next to Savera) on the 13th of January ,Sunday, at about 9.00 am.

Can we have a precise meeting point? Reception? outside the main reception door? Near to their small temple?

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 12 Jan 2008, 04:47

I will be booking tables in advance for breakfast , today.Will get back.Will try the small halls towards the interiors - to our right after we enter , past the billing counter.

sbala · Post by **sbala** » 12 Jan 2008, 07:25

I'll be there.

jananee · Post by **jananee** » 12 Jan 2008, 08:18

Pity we will mis it.Waiting to see snaps..i guess vijay will oblige!

gobilalitha · Post by **gobilalitha** » 12 Jan 2008, 11:20

convey my regards to lakshman. we are not fortunate meet him . gobilalithavijay has promised to send snaps

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 12 Jan 2008, 11:39

If I don't get there for breakfast I'll try to join for chai!

Keep the mobile switched on.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 12 Jan 2008, 15:14

my camera's lithium battery is gone for a toss,i request raju and vijay to come with their cameras for tomorrow's meet.

Vimala Bulusu · Post by **Vimala Bulusu** » 12 Jan 2008, 18:20

I reproduce what Shri Lakshman wrote to me on 24 August 2001:

"Dear Smt.Vimala: I introduce myself as Lakshman Ragde and I have lived
in Canada for the past 40 years. In 1993 I published an alphabetical
index of Karanatak songs numbering about 18000. This year I published a
second edition containing 33400 entries. Each entry has the beginning
words of the song, the raga, the tala, the composer's name, text and
notation reference.
I have now undertaken a project to compile song texts of various
composers. So far I have gathered songs of Ambujam Krishna, GNB,
Kotishvara Iyer, Muttiah Bhagavatar, Nilakantha Shivan, Patnam
Subramania Iyer, Poochi Iyengar, Papanasham Shivan, Shuddhananda
Bharati, Subramania Bharati, Svati Tirunal, Tulasivanam and Mysore
Vasudevacharya.
I would like to include the songs of Origala Viraraghava Sharma . If
you have a book of his compositions available I would like to order it.
If not would it be possible for you to provide me with photocopies of
the same? I will of course reimburse you for the cost and mailing
charges. Thanking you for a response. Lakshman Ragde"

My hard disks have failed., but I could locate this in my backup files.
What a stupendous contribution Lakshmanji made to the wealth of CM.

I join all rasikas to wish him all the best.

Regards

Vimala

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 13 Jan 2008, 00:12

i m in!

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 13 Jan 2008, 01:02

Please congratulate Lakshman for starting this mammoth project in which all the Rasikas should pitch in. We should also contribute our mite both financially and physically. Though the lyrics of the Trinity are fairly complete, there are lacunae in many others and Lakshman should consider including them such as Purandara, Annammachaarya, Tamil Trinity as well as modern composers including our own Ramaraj, Arasi etc., Perhaps eventually we would honour Lakshman as 'CM thaathaa' affectionately akin to the ''Tamizh thaatha' (U Ve Svaminatha Iyer) who restored many of ancient literaary works in Tamil.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 13 Jan 2008, 15:32

We had a great get together.Most of us wanted to see shri lakshman ragde , each of us had our own WOW expression.

LJi and his wife, arasi and Mr krishnan, rAmarAj sir,vgv sir,coolkarni and his wife, Shri Ashok madhav(contemporary composer ), nAgeshwaran and subramaniam(cool's friends who organized few concerts) ,rajumds, bharath,vijay,sbala, nick,rajani and ranjani, vainika (ramakrishnan),rams, venkatpv , ksrimec, kparthasarathy(not a forumite but an author of few books in CM).Missed just few names some one else can add...

vijay , ranjani and vgv sir were the official photographers , so we must all see 3 sets of photos.Lji gave a very short speech.

vageyakara · Post by **vageyakara** » 13 Jan 2008, 15:33

Dear CML guruji,
I have conveyed ur congrats. to our. Beloved Lakshmanji .And I now proceed with the FIR about the memorable get togather .I am really short of words to express my happiness, so wiil be my Rasika forum fraternity.I felt to have regained the DIVINE bondage which I have inherited over a number of previous births.It is all due to the divine music , music,music which proved to be the unifying factor.How else could I explain the ecstatic state of mind with which I spent nearly two hours with my Forum collegues and enjoyed the entire session.
Every participant , I hope , would have had the same feeling.Ouir CM Thaatha , Lakshmanmanji, a humble , lovable force to reckon with, was seemingly moved ,by the affectionate pleasantaries extended to him by one and all. .Our RASIKA SIRONMANI, is a living legend in deed.His emulative humility , notwithstanding the mammoth task of compiling all music related subjects, stood aloft and enhanced the worth of his contributions to the music world.The LAKSHMAN REKHA (I mean the better half of Lakshman Ji) seemed to be even more simple and lovable person and quite naturally , the driving force behind Lakshmanji,.There is no exaggeration at all.
Our beloved Coolsji, as ebullient as ever , organised the session in an exemplary manner.
Vijay, Rajumds,and VGV, took care of the photo session.
Mr.Nageswaran, Sbala, Vgv, Venkatraman, Vainika, Bharath, Arjun, Venkat PV, Arasi, Rajini, Ranjini, Nick H, Parthasarathy, Rajesh, G.subrahmanian, Ashok Madhav, Ramaraj, cools, Narasimhan and others(please excuse if I have left out others due to memory deficiency)have all spoken about the contributions of Lakshmanji
Ashok Madhav, inspite his recent illness ,( he has since recovered fully) participated and graced the occassion and I tookm him to my residence for a few moments since he resides with his brother at besant Nagar.
And I, finally after having met such lumenaries, feel to have grown younger .by atleast 25yrs.Believe me sir.
I hope our collegues will post more details with photos.Arasi ji in her own inimical way mentioned taht CMl guruji would be the firsrt person to have enjoyed , had ther been an opportunity to be amongst us. And I mentioned that CML, the baby of the group would be the most happiest person to be amongst people of the same line of musical thoughts.
Please take care
Ramaraj

sbala · Post by **sbala** » 13 Jan 2008, 15:44

It was a wonderful morning. I was quite stunned by the grace and calmness exuded by Lakshmanji. Whenever he spoke, the words were all carefully chosen without any embellishments and the point conveyed in an understated yet charming fashion. A great role model indeed for many of us.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 13 Jan 2008, 16:34

Wonderful to have met Laksmanji and all the others. Great food too...thanks to Cool and to Shri Krishnan for footing the bill despite our protests! Also had a nice time with Vainika, Venkatpv, Ksrimech and sBala at Amethyst later!

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 13 Jan 2008, 16:57

Eagerly awaiting the photos of the one and only Lakshman Sir!

vgvindan · Post by **vgvindan** » 13 Jan 2008, 18:05

Mrs and Sri Lakshman - and the group of 'Rasikas'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22770425@N02/

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 13 Jan 2008, 18:46

It is astonishing that so much work is done by Sri Lakshman, and not only him, but by others as well who work collecting, collating, cataloguing but what is utterly amazing is that these people are making this contribution to music and to music lovers as a contribution, without thought of reward.

It is humbling.

Another contribution freely made was the morning's breakfast. I suspected I had Coolji to thank, but now know that I must thank Sri Krishnan as well. Gentlemen; Thank You.

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 13 Jan 2008, 20:35

Santamu lEkha saukhyamu lEdu - Lakshman Sir looks so calm, at peace and happy. A truly great man and I am so happy to see his photo. I hope I can meet him soon.

jananee · Post by **jananee** » 13 Jan 2008, 20:51

Great to see Lakshmanji......finally after having ehard so much about him...

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 13 Jan 2008, 20:52

Wow !!
Our meetings are getting beter and better.
Today was a memorable day , indeed.
In fact an absolute scorcher..
Take it from us, Meeting Lji for the first time is no less than seeing Taj Mahal the first time.The impression stays with you , long after the meeting is over.
Nick said it so well.It is such a humbling experience.
And here is the poem I fumbled with, in my speech today morning.
All because of the excitement.I wish I had known it By heart.

THE ARROW AND THE SONG
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

I shot an arrow into the air,
It fell to earth , I knew not where ;
For so swiftly it flew , the sight
Could not follow it in its flight.

I breathed a song into the air ,
It fell to earth , I knew not where;
For,who has sight so keen and strong
That it can follow the flight of song ?

Long, Long afterward, in an oak
I found the arrow , still unbroke;
And the song,from beginning to end ,
I found again in the heart of a friend.

Lji, Your song will remain in the hearts of many a friend, like the arrow unbroke.
Thanks for giving us such a wonderful time.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 13 Jan 2008, 20:57

Just lost for words. Oh! Those wonderful first pictures of VGV. The scene comes alive with the shy beaming smile of coolkarni with Her Majesty in silent acquiescence. The picture of the Lakshman couple is indeed memorable sporting a smile worth a million kritis. Thanks Ramraj for remembering me and I already feel like the silent spirit behind the get-together.

God! Give us this boon
Keep alive the spirit of frienship that You have fostered among us Rasika Members

Awaiting more pictures and Vijay's poetic summary of the highlights!

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 13 Jan 2008, 21:06

Looks like a lot of fun! Congrats to Lakshman and thanks to the rasikas group for taking the trouble to arrange this.

Arun

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 13 Jan 2008, 21:10

THE CM KRITIS AND LAKSHMAN
(adapted from coolkarni's Tribute)

They shot a kriti into the air,
It fell to earth , We knew not where ;
For so swiftly it flew , the mind
Could not follow it in its flight.

They breathed a song into the air ,
It fell to earth , We knew not where;
For,who has mind so keen and strong
That they can follow the flight of song ?

Long, Long afterward, in a collection
We found the kritis , still intact;
And the songs,from beginning to end ,
We found again thanks to friend Lakshman.

vageyakara · Post by **vageyakara** » 13 Jan 2008, 21:21

Aha Aha, CMl Guruji, You really are the driving force behind all of us.And our dear Balu(GBL) is going to hold the Forum JUNTA even beyond our( EASTERN) shores (singapore) very shortly.It is slowly gaining ,momentum .We all need ur blessings for carrying out the mission of spreading DIVINE MUSIC.

vageyakara · Post by **vageyakara** » 13 Jan 2008, 21:32

iI NOTICED a very healthy trend . Every one is becoming a vageyakara in his/her own inimical way.!! What else can I say to the way in which CML ji. Coolsji, Vijay and our unconquered queen ARASI( to mention a few)have expressed their views through their poetic prowess.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 13 Jan 2008, 21:36

We are indeed global. These chennai get-together (we should all be grateful to coolkarni as the prime mover) as well as elsewhere help to recharge our batteries in a spirit of comradeship!

vainika · Post by **vainika** » 14 Jan 2008, 00:00

It felt like a homecoming to walk into Krishna restaurant this morning and find the back room packed with Lakshmanji's rasikas.

My thanks to the most unassuming and down-to-earth L'ji for his seva to the music community, and to the organizers of the event, especially the Kulkarnis and Krishnans, for making today happen.

Some photos are at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33427652@N00/

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 14 Jan 2008, 01:01

It is so wonderful to see Sri Lakshman on this occassion.
A great gathering too...

Excellent tribute Coolkarni and CML!!

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 14 Jan 2008, 01:55

Just fantastic. Very happy to hear how well the get together went. Needless to day, how much I wish I was there with you all. Nice to see Lakshmanji and other in the photos. Thanks very much for sharing the accounts of the event and the photos.

vs_manjunath · Post by **vs_manjunath** » 14 Jan 2008, 06:21

Extremely happy to see Dear Lakshmanji with rasikas. Kudos to Coolji for this excellent meeting.!!!