Synchronicity!

Synchronicity seems to have become the recent mantra of my life! Many happenings of late are related to either thoughts or actions that occur just prior to an incident.

The early hours of the morning of 29 Dec, 1991 was one such!

Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia had announced a grand musical night for 28 December, 1991 at the Shivaji Park, Mumbai. A historic one as until then the grounds had been used only for political rallies!
As for most concerts, I had picked the tickets for 3 of us....my sister, niece and myself. Having attended concerts through the previous 2 nights, I was fatigued and a little reluctant to go to this one. But since the night promised a dance jugalbandi between the maestros Pt Kelucharan Mohapatra (Odissi) and Pt Birju Maharaj (Kathak), my sister insisted we go! And go we did!

The night was indeed magical as 2 maestros took to the stage each time for unique ‘Jugalbandis’ or duets. Even so many years later I’ve vivid memories of that divine night. Master after master took centerstage and music flowed like celestial outpourings! Jugalbandis between Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia & Pt Jasraj; Pt Bhimsen Joshi & Dr Balamurali Krishna.... The icing on the cake was Ustad Zakir Hussain’s participation in most of these. It was a blessing to be just seated there and let the music seep into our very beings.

Just as the night was merging with the wee hours of the morning, I decided to stretch my legs and walk around the open space. As I was on my way back, I chanced on Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia. I took the opportunity to go up to him and express my gratitude for the musical bliss. Having successfully accomplished the challenge of bringing together on one stage so many artists, Panditji seemed relaxed and receptive to my presence. He was kind enough to ask for my name and immediately invited me to his forthcoming concert on 31 Dec!

Did I accept his invitation? I would’ve been foolish not to!
‘Synchronicity’ had just begun her mystic game...