PM releases book on MS
The book, titled 'MS and Radha - Saga of Steadfast Devotion' - is authored by music critic Gowri Ramanarayan, who is also the grand niece of MS. Gowri Ramanarayan had been an accompanying vocalist for MS for over 15 years. Dr. Singh and sitar exponent Pandit Ravi Shankar presented a copy of the book to Radha Viswanathan, daughter of MS, at a function got up in New Delhi to mark the book release.
Dr. Singh paid rich tributes to Subbulakshmi and said her values had relevance in present times, which were marked by strife and violence.
"Subbulakshmi's music represents a soothing and unifying force which India stood for. The best homage that can be paid to this great personality is to remain faithful to those ideals and values that she stood for as her music transcended all languages and was a binding force for all Indians," the Prime Minister said.
Dr. Singh recalled the "divine music" of Subbulakshmi as she performed before the United Nations General Assembly in 1966 and said her performance had left everybody spellbound, even if they did not understand the language. Her music encompassed the universe, he added.
Subbulakshmi, the Prime Minister said, had got the blessings of Mahatma Gandhi. Dr. Singh also quoted Jawaharlal Nehru's comments about Subbulakshmi that -- "What am I? A mere Prime Minister before the queen of emotions!".
