The many roles of a guru

His aura is palpable. And the veteran, Pt. Arvind Parikh, is a power bank of musical initiatives.

Multi-dimensional, Parikh combines many roles such as a logistics provider, sitar player, composer, guru, musicologist, chairman of ITC Sangeeth Research Academy and a regular broadcaster on AIR.

Numerous awards have come his way including Padma Bhushan and Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship. Apart from the recognition, when asked whether they are a motivator to do more, he replies that he just takes it all in his stride and continues his work like a karmayogi.

From his childhood, Parikh was drawn to music. He claims that his artistic instinct came from his mother, who was a painter, and his business acumen from his father.

He was a regular listener of AIR and before taking up the sitar, he tried his hand at various instruments. Listening to sitar maestro Vilayat Khan was the turning point for him. He identified Ustad Vilayat Khan, who was almost his age, as his guru, and moved to Mumbai. Later, a camaraderie developed between the two. “My guru was new to Mumbai and I made his life here comfortable. We shared a close bond. I took up various portfolios. As a secretary, I took care of the logistics, as a friend, I spent time with him, and above all I was also a Ganda bandh shagird (formally initiated chosen disciple). My guru shaped my individuality. He was a a gyan margi and I followed bhakti marg, when it came to our approach to music, ,” he says.

Parikh is nostalgic about his 60-year association with his guru. From 1944 to 1964, it was a period of in-depth taalim. He has performed at all the major festivals in India and abroad.

He has held prestigious positions as vice president of International Music Council of UNESCO and president of Indian Musicological Society.

Support for gurus

On the Government’s role in promoting the arts, he points out that it is the duty of organisations to support the guru and disciple. But he adds that though the Corporate sponsorship helps, there is a risk of turning art into a commodity.

Businessman by day and guru by evening, Parikh feels music is like a bank balance to which you have to keep adding. . “It is a very specialised art and (has) to be imbibed one to one and not on a mass scale,” says Parikh and quotes Alexander Pope: “A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep or taste not the Pierian Spring...”

“Music can be taught in the guru-shishya paramapara way or in classrooms,” he says. The candidate has to decide what he wants to be... a performer, teacher or an enlightened citizen. There is a different syllabus for each. Institutions should conduct aptitude test to evaluate the aspirant’s talent.

“This is a generation of first class artistes; Out of 10, seven or eight aspire to learn,” he says approvingly. The younger generation is well informed and there is a lot of talent. In all humility he adds, that he has trained many for the past 50 years with no commercial considerations.

Although he is over 90, his days are still packed. “Every month I host a baithak concert for an invited audience, showcasing one of my students. On Guru Poornima day, I host a day-long recital, sometimes in other cities like Jaipur, Nagpur, Bengaluru, Baroda etc. In every concert, I make detailed notes of every student’s performance, weakness and strengths and counsel them,” says the mentor.

He lists the qualities essential for a guru: Gyan (knowledge), Vigyan (analytical approach), Vachan (ability to articulate) Prayag Sidhi (perfection), Shishya Nishpadan (ability to discern the disciple) and above all patience.

He categorises learners into khandani (lineage), professionals (who want relief from stress), housewives and musicians, who want to make it a career. “I feel blessed as I have a supportive family, good business and health. I also had a supportive guru and in my turn, I endeavor to be one. My expectations are realistic and ambitions achievable,” he sums up.