Spotlight
Sargam Deciphers The Meaning Of "Carnatic"

Sargam turned to Amma's
work-table. She was frantically searching for something. As she made the table
increasingly messy, she looked at her dog Thunder, and her face now had an
all-knowing look. "I am sure you ate up my perfumed rubber you fourfooted
flea factory... it belonged to my friend..." Sargam's voice cracked, both
out of sorrow and anger. She was just about to pry open Thunder's jaw, when a
paper which she had accidentally pushed on to the floor, diverted her
attention. It read, "It was left to one Purandara Dasa (A.D. circa
1483-1564), a mendicant and a versatile composer, to lend an individuality to
the music of the South with his compositions and interpretations of
raga-s." Sargam stopped reading. A bright smile lit her face. She had
found something!
"Amma..." Sargam tiptoed into the
kitchen and whispered to her mother.
"What is the matter Sargam?" asked Amma in a hushed voice,
maintaining the suspense to match her daughter's 'detective' mood.