Thus Sang Tansen
Gwalior in UCCN
As per media
reports, on World Cities Day (31 Oct), UNESCO added 55 cities (https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/55-new-cities-join-unesco-creative-cities-network-world-cities-day) to UCCN - UNESCO
Creative Cities Network, created in 2004 to promote cooperation with and among
cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable
urban development.
The Network of
about 350 cities covers seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Media Arts,
Film, Design, Gastronomy, Literature and Music.[i]
Cities of
India included in UCCN are: Varanasi, Chennai, and Gwalior[ii]
– for music; Mumbai for film, Jaipur for crafts and folk art, Kozhikode for literature, and Hyderabad for
gastronomy.
Gwalior Gharana: Navaratnas
In a front-page
banner on 2nd November, 2023 Dainik Bhaskar remembered with
gratitude the Navaratnas who contributed to Gwalior’s musical heritage: Raja
Mansingh, Baiju Bawra, Tansen, Hassu Haddu Khan, Krishna Rao Shankar Pandit,
Vishnu Digambar, Raja Bhaiya Poonchwale, Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan, and Ustad Amjad
Ali Khan.
In a phone
interview, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan said: Allah se dua hai ki Gwalior mein ek aur
Tansen paida ho.
Tansen in Akbar’s Court
Tansen, the
famed musician, was one of the nine gems in Akbar’s Court, and Swami Haridas,
the great musician was his Guru. Akbar once teased Tansen: You are a gifted
musician, Tansen, but don’t you agree that Swami Haridas is far better than
you?
Tansen said,
‘Yes, Lord, my Guru’s performance is way above mine; I sing for you, the
Emperor of Hindustan, but my Guru sings for the Lord of the Universe!’
Once Akbar
urged him to sing Raag Deepak, and the musician hesitated. Why, what’s the
problem? Can’t you sing Raag Deepak, asked the Emperor?
‘I can,
Jahanpanah, but I need Saraswati, my daughter to also be by my side when I
perform.’
‘Okay,
tomorrow, you must sing Raag Deepak in my Court.’
And Tansen
did, so mesmerising everyone that no one noticed flames shooting up from
different corners of the Court, and not far from the throne. Father and
daughter knew the outcome, and the daughter, a talented and trained musician
was ready for it. She sang Raag Megh Malhar which brought in drifting moist
clouds to douse the flames and prevent a disaster. Such is the power of music!
(Source: wikimediacommons)
Raheem’s Doha in praise of
Tansen
Raheem,
another of Akbar’s nine gems, had composed the following doha in praise of
Tansen:
विधना यह जिय जानिके सेसहि दिये न कान।
धरा मेरु सब डोलते तानसेन कि तान॥
Meaning
The Creator has purposely given
no ears to Sheshnag (snakes have no ears and can not listen), or else the Earth
and the Meru-mountain would tremble dangerously when Sheshnag swung to Tansen’s
musical notes.
Tansen Samaroh
Tansen
Samaroh is celebrated every year in the month of December in Behat village of
Gwalior district, Madhya Pradesh. It is a 4-day musical extravaganza. Artists
and music lovers from all over the country gather here to pay tribute to Tansen,
the great Indian musical maestro. The event is organized near the tomb of
Tansen by the Academy of the department of culture, Government of Madhya
Pradesh.
Postscript
I thank all
readers who have appreciated my blog, and particularly those who have offered
valuable comments and suggestions in light of which I am adding a few paras.
Tansen’s Name
Tansen’s
original name was Tannu Mishra, claimed a reader. Portals of MP Tourism (mptourism.com) and Tansen
Samaroh (tansensamaroh.com) mention that Tansen’s original name was Ramtanu
Mishra, and his father’s name was Mukund Mishra.
‘The details
of Tansen’s life are shrouded in legend, including his birth name, but he was
probably born about 1500—some sources have the date as early as 1492 or as late
as 1520—in Gwalior, possibly in the nearby village of Behata. He is said to
have been a follower of the poet and musician Swami Haridas and served in the
court of Rewa.' (
Akbar persuaded the king of Rewa to send
Tansen to his Court. A legend says that Akbar was so pleased with Tansen’s
first performance that he gifted one lakh gold coins to the fabled singer.
Tansen
became one of the navaratnas (nine gems) of Akbar’s Court and was conferred the
honorary title ‘Mian’ (Master or Learned man).
Miraculous Tamarind (Imli) Tree
As per a
legend, Tansen, the child, could not speak clearly. As recommended, he chewed
the leaves of the tamarind tree in his compound which improved his speech, and
bestowed a golden voice and musical talent, too.
Tansen was
buried in the mausoleum complex of his Sufi master Shaikh Muhammad Ghaus in
Gwalior. Soon, an imli tree grew upon his tomb, and the tree is believed to
have magical powers. Visiting musicians and singers do not forget to chew a few
leaves after paying their obeisance to Tansen. Pandit Jasraj, among others, is believed
to have done this.
Incidentally,
the tamarind tree has a life span of two hundred years. Possibly, a new tree
grows when the old tree dies!
Dhrupad and other Ragas
Tansen is acknowledged as one of the tallest figures of North Indian or Hindustani Classical Music. He is credited with composing several Ragas, and Dhrupad - derived from Sanskrit Dhruva (fixed like the Pole Star) pada (words or song) - which is popular even today.
***
[i] https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/content/about-us
[ii] UCCN
portal is yet to list Gwalior and Kozhikode, but would do it soon, it is hoped.
