Artist

When we go for a darshan, the temple doesn’t expect anything from you, rather we expect something. The money left at times is not regularly done either. dose it reflect the whim of the donor?? Maybe.

The musicians playing on the streets expect only the audience & not the alms… surely! They expect appreciation & more willing ears.. but what are we?? Judging what goes on the streets…

The box or the vessel to collect money shows only his means to fare better or to be open to more ears. Does his vessel ever overflow?? A recent article by an Indian visiting London & Paris tells his experiences with such artists. His grandfather, a kirtankar, who sings God’s praises or sings with a story for the devotees in a temple got whatever the listeners gave. His own father’s education was taken care of by the money.

After giving only two pounds to the street musician of the five pounds he felt ashamed of his behavior. If I had not asked for change.. if I had given the money willingly & with joy… the thoughts kept him yearning for more. He wished he would meet another artist to rectify his action.

He met an artist playing drums & a fan of the Indian drummer, Shiv. He also performed A. R. Rahman’s ‘Jai ho’. Giving him money gave him the joy of being repentant. Did that wash away all his sins.. if it can be said ‘sin’ ???

Whatever it was.. a feeling of relief, of joy & of doing good to the society! We are indebted to all the people in our life. We may not be able to give them back for what we received but we can try! That thought itself is uplifting!!