The utter neglect of the composer's home in Thiruvaiyaru by the community of Carnatic musicians and singers is a shame. What should have been a proud heritage site that the Carnatic world should have sponsored, is going to seed.

In one of Thiruvaiyaru's quiet spots, Thirumanjanam Street, is the retreat of the composer but a visit to the place can be very disappointing to a curious or knowledgeable visitor. The two rooms are dusty and some corners are filled with refuse, the paint is peeling off, wooden beams have been devoured by white ants, and kitsch posters have been hung beside photos of the composer's foremost disciples.

There is very little of the composer's heritage left here. Save for a notice board that is hardly enlightening.

We are told that many artistes who attend the aradhana drop in here. I wonder if they have been disappointed with what they see here. And if they have made an attempt to do something for a piece of music heritage that could well decay in the years to come.

Now, the Sabha says that the house will be converted into a 'temple of music'. The least the Sabha can do instead of these grand plans, is to spruce up the existing place and let it be a 'living' museum that can house manuscripts and records, music tapes and CDs, books and videos on the composer.

The street retains much of the Tanjore architecture and if all the heritage houses are spruced up, that area could become a heritage zone that can boast of a hall for kutcheris, reading or reference rooms or just elegant pieces of architecture.

Adjoining the composer's retreat is an old hall where our hosts, Dr. R. Kausalya, Principal, Govt. College of Music, Thiruvaiyaru, entertained some artistes - concerts have been held here earlier.

R. Yegnaraman, Secretary, Krishna Gana Sabha, Madras, in a letter to The Hindu newspaper, commenting on the current plans says "the house has to be preserved as a national monument without disturbing the sanctity and divinity of that place . . .the present samadhi on the bank of the river serves the plans (that the sabha has in mind)."

The Sabha management would do well to learn how such landmarks are preserved and promoted elsewhere before they talk about and execute their grandiose plans. And it will be a shame if the Carnatic music community ignores this heritage.

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fully subscribe to the views expressed. The Sabha can immediately take up sprucing of the House and then go about converting it into a Temple. I am sure people like Nalli Kuppuswami Chettiar, who has been doing yeoman sevice to fine arts, will readily come forward, if approached to help out , as also so many others, who are sincerely interested in preserving the heritage. This is the least we can do for Carnatic Music.

G Vaidyanathan
Nagpur

All this is due to some fundamental change in attitude where focus is more on flashy and showy items. This is what has been expressed in the desire to construct a memorial. As Mr.Yagnaraman had suggested they should maintain the place in a nice shape without changing the architecture and structure of the house where the saint lived.

Leaving aside this, I am also deeply disturbed by certain aspects concering the aradhana. The lady artistes were dressed up as if they were going for some marriage reception with all the make-up and jewellery. Can't they dress up more soberly for this occassion.

And Kunnakudi was also doing more of showbaji than anything else (I just saw on the TV.) I also believe that the decision on who sits in the inner enclosure for singing the Pancharatna kirtis is decided on the basis of their market standing. Should it not be made more open that the commoner also gets in and participates more???

This is apart from the oft repeated complaints about the cameramen moving around without any respect to what's happening around. And I also believe the actual timings of singing the pancharatna kirtis is decided by DD fellows than by the musicians.....

Can we somehow form a pressure lobby for having a heritage memorial at Thyagaraja's house??? I started a discussion on this in www.sangeetham.com, but somehow not many seem to be interested.

S. Subramanian of St. Louis, USA writes...
I feel that Tyagaraja's ancestral house must be spruced up so that it will withstand the test of time. The mud floors may be cemented, the wood rafters can be treated with preservatives so that they do not disintegrate, the walls can be strengthened, and the exteriour spruced up too. All memorabilia should be housed right there in glass cases under lock. No ostentation is needed since that would go against the very nature of the saint.

With respect to the samadhi on the banks of the river Cauveri, the sand-filled pandal can be converted to a cement floor and a dais built up. The rest of the ambience must be kept as is.