INTERVIEW WITH T T VASU

The most memorable performance was M.S. Subbulakshmi's comeback to the Academy in 1990. Its really history. Another performance I remember is Maharajapuram Santhanam's, who was at the peak of his career in 1987. A lot of people came in the morning (laughs) and we had only about 1,500 seats. My friend Mr. AVM Saravanan was there. So I said, "Sir, what can we do?" We put up a big screen and a video presentation outside. We didn't charge anything. We spread some mats. And for the elderly people, I provided chairs.

During that performance, one lady came and I provided her a seat. After the end of the performance, the lady said, "You are very tired. Music Academy needs volunteers like you", and gave me ten rupees. It was really touching.

About ten years ago there was a lot of concern about youngsters being distracted by film music, pop music and the television. But today if you look, a number of youngsters have come up in Carnatic music. In those days, for musicians to be promoted from junior to sub-senior and from sub-senior to senior level, used to take a long time. But today, a lot of youngsters are coming up so well, through sheer merit and the senior musicians are slowly fading. I think there is a great future for Carnatic music, with these youngsters coming up.

A lot of people ask me the same question. "Why so many organisations?" Its understandable, that because of the difficulty of transportation, some areas have their own sabhas. With too many organisations the rasikas get confused. But who's going to take the step? Why is Music Academy having it in December? Its an old tradition. The oldest Sabha is the Parthasarthy Sabha, which is about 100 years old, and they do not have a proper place.

Sponsorships are also becoming tight. How many organisations are going to continue in this scenario? It's the forefathers of Music, who conceived the idea. But a lot of people have some sort of grouse with the Academy. But I am here only to promote this culture. That's all.

With so many Kutcherys, inconvenience is caused to the musicians, because some of them have about 12 concerts during the season. Which concept is best justified? And, how can your voice stand? That is the real concern.

It's a great organisation. I am on the governing board. Unfortunately, I have never heard of a cultural organisation forming any union. But the beauty of it is they are all paid very well. When Rukmini Devi was there, she used to provide accommodation, there was no retirement. But now according to Government rules, retirement has come in. What will those poor chaps do? Where will they stay? This is being looked into now, but unfortunately last year, I don't want to say it, there was no performance in Kalakshetra. This year they have revived it.

The Public Health Centre in West Mambalam started after my father's election in 1952. He had a very dear friend, a journalist M.C. Subramaniam of the Sunday Times. A great journalist. My father and Rajaji advised him to start a health centre without depending too much on Government help. It was started in 1959. Rajaji inaugurated it. It is known to have 100 bedrooms, specialising in neurology, orthopaedics and of course maternity. They have lot of Volunteers and Doctors. Now, we have the Intensive Care Unit. We charge very nominally. If you look at the area, it is still the cleanest hospital and my involvement is because of M.C. Subramaniam. I have to say, when we started, we didn't know whether we would complete it. But a lot of social organisations like Rotary and Lions club have come forward to help us. So we are still continuing.

My father's contribution to the Pension Fund to all Government Employees is still appreciated. Only New Delhi does not remember. This year is my father's centenary year. We had written to New Delhi almost a year back about a stamp release. I hope something will happen this year.

I am continuing his good work. Because of his association with Kamaraj, I got deeply involved with Bala-Mandir, an orphanage. And then we have got the Satyamurthy High School. An old friend of mine, who was in the L&T group, a Danish Engineer and his wife did a lot for that. Now they are no more. His family is still funding the milk powder for 2,000 children. I am very proud to say, but none of the Congressmen came up with the idea of a statuette in Delhi. I had some friends contribute for the statuette and pedestal and Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, when R Venkataraman was Vice-President, installed it there and created a fund - Delhi Tamil Association, to maintain it. Whatever is remaining, is contributed to Bala Mandir.

I have been living here for about 60 odd years. My usual routine is going for tennis in Kotturpuram and call on Sadasivam, when he was living. I still call on MS, play tennis and come back. Otherwise, I don't drive anywhere.

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