Can Conduct Make a Difference? Examples from Thyagaraja and Bharathiar

Ram S. Sriram

This is a reprint of the article that appeared under Culture in Chandamama, U.S. and Canada Edition

There has been a long tradition in the relationship between classical Indian music and Hinduism as a religion. Classical composers like Thyagaraja often reflect upon stories from mythology and Hindu scripts like the Ramayana in their music. Similarly the great poet Bharathiar often used images from religious texts to illustrate his poetry. On the surface it seems then that classical music or poetry that speaks about religion is religious in nature. Is not the artist promoting the belief of individual Gods by evoking images of Gods in their music? The answer lies in how deeply we examine the music or poetry itself to understand the message that the artist is conveying through their art.

Artists like Thyagaraja and Bharathiar attempt to use religion as an illustrative tool to convey the wisdom of our ancestors. Images of Gods overcoming tribulations and learning from their mistakes for the betterment of humanity give us humans the sense that we too should live in the image of God. By illustrating the moral conduct of Gods, these artists are conveying the importance of living simple while still searching for a higher objective. In Hindu scripture as well as in classical music and poetry, the belief is that by each of us taking charge of our lives and pursuing valuable goals, we will improve not only ourselves but also our community.

In our modern societies, we tend to believe that it is unrealistic to think that by simply being responsible for our own conduct and in pursuing valuable objectives, the individual attains harmony within himself and his community. How can good conduct and character alone make us happy? Don't we need money, power, and a new flat screen T.V. to have a happy life? Is classical Indian art still relevant when it surmises that an individual can make a difference in the world without money and power? Although these are valid questions, history has shown that the messages of Thyagaraja and Bharathiar are still very relevant in our modern world. A single individual, without money or power, can make a difference to the world just by living their lives with decency and honor. Did not Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King show the world that one individual can make a difference? All three of these great men also lived simply and searched for higher meaning in their lives, thus changing their world in the process.

A character from Hindu mythology that illustrates the importance of good conduct is Ravana. Ravana was the king of Lanka and one of the principle characters from the epic Ramayana. Ravana was a powerful king, enormously wealthy and was protected by a powerful army. He was also a very learned scholar and an accomplished musician who could even charm the God Shiva with his music. Because of his devotion and scholarly accomplishments, Shiva blessed Ravana with fortune. However, despite the power and wealth bestowed upon Ravana, Ravana wanted more. He wanted Sita, the wife of Rama. Even though he was married, Ravana was captivated by the beauty of Sita, and wanted to marry her. To satisfy his desires, Ravana kidnapped Sita and took her to his kingdom. Angered by Ravana's actions, Rama invaded Lanka and with the help of Hanuman and his monkey army, retrieved Sita from Ravana's kingdom. As the rest of the Ramayana describes, eventually Ravana's greed cost him his kingdom, the lives of his brothers, his son, and himself. The story of Ravana has been used by many classical artists to illustrate how a person who behaves immorally will not only destroy himself but also everything around him.

As Ravana's story further illustrates, morals and character are more powerful than money or even blessings from Gods. An individual who has no control over his mind is not going to be saved by religious rituals or by the money in his bank account. In the song, Adigi Sukhamu, poet Thyagaraja writes that getting boons and blessings from God in self-interest is futile. Such blessings always come with a catch. When your moral conduct fails, blessings from God will also fail you.

Thyagaraja, the great musical composer, wrote several songs highlighting this fact and often used Ravana's life to point to the importance of moral conduct. In the song Emi Chesithe nemi, Thyagaraja states that if you are a slave to base thoughts and immoral behavior, acquiring enormous wealth, living in a huge mansion, and being surrounded by attractive and influential people will not save you. When you lack values, even God cannot save you from misery. In the song Manasu Nilpa, Thyagaraja writes performing ritual celebrations or bathing in holy rivers does not purify you if you fill your mind with impure thoughts. Similarly, in the song Manasu Swadheenamaina, Thygaraja points out that a person who keeps his mind under control does not need rituals or rules. Such a person is not distracted by material things and is always happy.

The poet Bharathiar also illustrates the value of living a good life in his poetry. In his imaginary dialogues with gods and goddesses, Bharathiar exclaims "Why do you talk of religion and philosophy when you cannot control your anger or conduct. What you need are mental strength, good thoughts and actions." But more than his poetic expressions about good living, Bharathiar illustrates them by the actions he took in his life. Poet Bharathiar's life shows us that a person can contribute to the welfare of the world even if the person is poor and not wealthy. Bharathiar was born in 1882. Even at a young age, Bharathiar had become a great poet. At the young age of 11, the King of Ettayapuram honored him for his poetic abilities. Bharathiar was not a rich person and had no powerful political connections. He was a schoolteacher earning a low salary and in later years, he also worked as an editor of a Tamil magazine.

Bharathiar grew up in a period when the Indian society was torn by caste struggles and where women were treated as second-class citizens. This period was also characterized by the independence movement as Indians were seeking freedom from the British rule. As a patriot, Bharathiar was opposed to the British rule of India. As a social revolutionary, he was opposed to caste discriminations and the treatment of women. Bharathiar chose to use his powerful poetry and fiery writing to speak out about these two causes. In his poems and articles, he constantly wrote about the greatness of India and urged its people to rise against the British and free India from foreign rule. But he also chastised people for their slave mentality and for fearing the British. His poems and writings energized the people and made them fight against the British using non-violent means. The British were so infuriated by Bharathiar's writings that they eventually put him in prison. However, the prison sentence and harassment by the British did not dissuade Bharathiar from continuing his crusade.

Bharathiar was also upset by the social ills that were widespread in his community. Through his poems and other writing, Bharathiar urged people to refrain from discriminating against others on the basis of caste, color, creed or religion. He wrote, "We are all one and we are Indians first and Tamilians, Kannadigas, Telugus, or Punjabis second." He called people who treated women poorly as "senseless idiots." His writings highlighted the contributions of women and their importance in the society. Unfortunately Bharathiar died at the young age of thirty-nine. He did not live to see India's independence nor its attempt to take control over its social ills. But, Bharathiar did have an impact on both these causes and the legacy that he left behind is still with us.

What we learn from the life and art of Bharathiar and Thyagaraja is that classical music and poetry are about much more than religion. These artists prove that art is a medium through which to convey universal truths about life. Bharathiar's life illustrates that money and power are irrelevant; if you set your goals high and pursue them with vigor, you can make a difference in the world. Thyagaraja's music stresses that by living ethically and rising above the prejudices and discriminations of society is in itself a religious activity.