Arts promoter R. Ramachandran, popularly known as 'Hamsadhwani' Ramachandran, passed away in Chennai today (May 24).

He was 83.

A prominent face in the kutcheri circuit of Chennai, RRC, as colleagues called him, made a name for himself in promoting the Hamsadhwani sabha in Indira Nagar, south Chennai ( now in its 17th year)
In the backyard of the local Youth Hostel, he led a small team of people to build a sabha which was needed in this part of town.

With his wide range of contacts, he enabled the schedules of the sabha to grow and brought in many sponsors to fund his ambitious dreams.
Besides the monthly, seasonal and thematic concerts, RRC drew up a long-drawn music festival which was held mid-year, hosting about 70 concerts and over 150 artistes and then floated the NRI Festival for the famed 'December season' to provide a platform to NRI singers, musicians and dancers. The fest may not have become a huge success but it is unique in its own way.

His skills at networking with people and cultivating the right contacts raised the fortunes of his sabha and his own stature.
And though some might say that, as in the case in many sabhas, 'Hamsadhwani' too was a RRC show, he led from the front and was active till ill-health retired him to his house in Indira Nagar and the end came after a critical period in hospital.

Ramachandran was a veteran journalist, having cut his teeth with the 'Free Press' and 'Indian Express' and was a active trade union member in media circles, challenging the 'Express' boss, Ramnath Goenka. Later, he joined 'The Hindu' and retired as Chief Sub-Editor.

He was also a passionate cricketer and in the later years, could regale you with loads of anecdotes and gossip of the cricket world of the past. He was active in the cricket league as well as the TN Cricket Association (TNCA) and edited a magazine called 'Straight Bat'.

In his youth, Ramachandran got involved in the freedom movement and did a lot to propagate khadi. A student of the famous P. S. High School, his family's house in Mandaveli was the destination for musicians, cricketers and politicians.

Ramachandran was presented the 'Kalaimamani' award (in 1999) by the Tamil Nadu government for his promotion of the arts.

He is survived bu his wife, two sons and a daughter. The funeral is scheduled for May 26. 

His family can be reached at 2491 55 55 / 2490 1700 (Chennai, India).

I wish to dwell on the 'Devotion to Paramacahrya' aspect of RRC.

Two years ago when we had gone to our nephew(My husband's sister's son) Dr A.Rajaraman's house in Adyar, he got a call from RRC for some work connected with NRI concerts as our nephew, as we learnt later, was coordinating with RRC for the same.

Except for hearing about him & his Great Service in the Musical Field we had no contact with him.When he came, we were introduced and when we were eulogising him, he told us very 'suavely',"Perhaps you both have fogotten my visit to your house in Gulbarga, decades ago, when "Maha- Periyava" was camping in Mahagaon, near Gulbarga and the help, you gave me & my 'troupe' when we landed on you,'like a ton of bricks', well past 11 pm? Then we remembered that at that time by the directions of 'Paramacharya' hordes of pilgrims from the southern States used to visit us and we used to play 'host'.He then dwelt more on "Spirituality & his Experiences in that trip" all the while, lauding us!

A really great person who carried 'Fame & Name' with such humility!

Rajeswari Srinivasan, Chennai 18
by E-mail

Mr.Ramachandran's demise is a blow to Carnatic Music's Institutional framework. A learned man, respected journalist and an organiser non-pareil, he epitomised Goldsmith's description in the Vicar of Wakefield--"remote from the polite he still retained the primaeval simplicity of manners and frugal by habit he scarcely knew that temperance is a virtue."

My father, the late K.S.Mahadevan (Music Critic) and RR were bosom buddies and till the day my father died almost a year ago, there were innumerable long telephone conversations on Music and Cricket and a host of other mundane worldly issues. They had tremendous respect and regard for each other and our families were closely tied. When RR and his wife visited the US a couple of years ago RR made it a point to visit me and my wife in NY(all the way from Philadelphia) and till recently would recall the visit and shower lavish praise for my wife's hospitality and Culinary excellence in front of total strangers(to us!!) much to our embarrassment. He was tireless in his quest for perfection and the founding,nurturing and maturing of Hamsadhwani as a progressive institution imbibing the best of the past and the present, would bear ample tesimony to his tireless vision, organisational acumen and interpersonal skills.

Long after his retirement from THE HINDU, he still commanded the respect from the venerable newspaper, and the leading write-up in the Hindu today bears tesimony to the relationship and respect he enjoyed in the field of Journalism.

The aspiring group of NRI musicians would mourn RR's loss because he was instrumental in recognizing the need for a platform to showcase the NRI youngsters and thro' the December NRI festival he managed to ensure that deserving artistes get a forum to display their talents despite the "crowded" music scene in Chennai in December.

In Public functions his speeches were noted for their crispness, and preparation absent the usual "rambling". No doubt true to his journalistic tradition ,the prose was a trifle ornate but it was no less a treat to the legions of his sycophants and language purists!!

He set such a fine example of principled rectitude in his conduct of the Institution that he founded and nurtured to its present stature--an example hard to emulate but nonetheless worthwhile pursuing!!!

May his soul rest in peace

M.K.Ramasubramanian (Ramesh).New York.
by E-mail

In 2002, Sri Ramachandran along with his team had started to support the idea of offering opportunities to dancers to perform at the Hamsadhwani Sabha / Youth Hostel Stage.

We were one of the earlier dance troupes to stage a group production on a humble stage, but to a very warm and inviting community of Indira Nagar in Chennai. We presented 'Sacred Geometry', and it was received with much enthusiasm by the well attended audience. After that year, he gave us opportunities two more years in a row and treated each member of our company (artists from India and USA) with utmost respect and care.

Our sincere gratitude and regards to Sri Ramchandran's family.

Malathi Iyengar, artistic director, Rangoli Foundation, California, USA
by E-mail

A rude shock to me who admired Mr. Ramachandran for his interest in promoting young talents in music and later on branching off to Bharatanaatyam and other naatya traditions. He has his own way of functioning, undittered by any comments, he continue to hold the Hamsadwani flag aloft.

What I admired in him the most is his pungent speeches with good humour. We can listen to him speaking on any occasions. Ofcourse his passion is Carnatic music and the present generation of excellent musicians owe a great deal to this connoisseur of a patron who will be remembered by all of us artistes for long.

Please convey our heart felt sorrow and message of condolence to the berieved famiy members. I wish I was in chennai to pay my tribute and homage on his last journey.

All the same, no doubt, his soul will rest in peace listening to his favourite MS amma by his side.

Dancer V.P.Dhananjayan from New York. (On tour)
by E-mail

About 15 years ago I was getting ready to go to the stage to accompany Geetha Bennett (Veena) on the mridangam. Meanwhile the news was flashed in Chennai that the Kanchi Paracharya had attained 'Mukti'. The Hamsadhwani members had an emergency committee meeting.

Though Ramachandran sir and many of the committee members were staunch devotees of the Paramacharya, they left it to us if we wanted to proceed with the concert or otherwise, Hamsadhwani was to reschedule the concert a couple of months later. I was in Delhi then. As we ourselves were devotees of 'Maha Periyava', without a second thought conveyed that we would like to cancel that day's concert. Singer S.Sowmya had come that day and she also knows about this.

Later I could not get back to playing concerts in Chennai as I migrated to Singapore. Two years back, my daughter, Lavanya Raghuraman (Grand daughter of Sangita Kalanidhi Dr. S. Ramanathan & disciple of the Dhananjayans) was invited to perform a Bharatanatyam programme during the December season. Smt Shanta Dhananjayan was on the Nattuvangam. Ramachandran sir remembered the previous cancellation of concert a decade ago and recollected the same when he had a chat with me after the dance programme was over.

Such was the quality of Ramachandran sir.

May his soul rest in peace.

V. Raghuraman 'Alapana', Singapore
by E-mail

Great loss to the carnatic music field! He has encouraged many, many NRI musicians like me. Whenever I called him from the US before the music season, he used to talk so nicely with such care and concern that after finishing the call I would feel as If I talked to my parents at home.

One such time, he asked me at the beginning of our conversation "How is your father doing?" I had to tell him that my father passed away few months ago. He had met my father only briefly, yet, he talked to me so much about my father. I could not believe that he has analysed many of my dad's finest qualities in such brief interactions. He said to me "Your father was a real gentleman". I have to say the same words about Shri.Ramachandran - He was a real gentleman!

He truly encouraged musical talent and I will always remember him. My sincere gratitude and heartfelt condolences to the family members of Shri.Ramchandran.

May his soul rest in peace.

Gayathri Satya, New Hampshire, USA.
by E-mail

It was very shocking to hear about the demise of Sri Ramachandran Sir.
As an artist-from Bangalore, I was given all the possible encouragement by him.
Words fail to express my last respects to this great lover/promoter and an able organizer that he was.

I pray god to give his family members strength to bear demise of his great musical personality.

Ravishankar Sharma (Student of Sri Guruvayur Dorai) and family, Bangalore.
by E-mail

Four years ago I approached Sri Ramachandran mama by e-mail and phone, to get a slot for my son Akshay Anantapadmanabhan to perform on Mridangam at the Hamsadhwani during Dec season, as an NRI artiste.
He not only welcomed us and him, but also guided us during our first trip to Dec season in Chennai. Akshay was just 15 at that time. Mama gave 2 slots that year. On stage he was so encouraging to Akshay. He was so to everyone. He had excellent artistes performing. Since then, Akshay has played at his Sabha every year and that initial push he received from mama, has taken him to perform in 10 reputed Sabhas during last season.
Akshay and I will always remember that kind face, ever patient and friendly and that energy at his age ( we did not know his age till now). Our heartfelt condolences to his wife and children. He will continue to live amongst us through Hamsadhwani.

Anant, New Jersey, USA
by E-mail

We are very saddened to hear about the passing away of dear Ramachandran mama (RRC mama as we affectionately called him).
Having lived down the street from him and been a part of Hamsadhwani from the founding years, we have seen how much mama has contributed through his tireless work to make Hamsadhwani a well known cultural organization in Madras. It is a pride and joy for us to have a sabha of this stature in Indira Nagar away from Mylapore and T.Nagar.
Our heartfelt condolences to his family. We all miss him. Hope Hamsadhwani will continue to grow in strength as an excellent organization and will be the Legacy of Sri. RRC mama.

Vijayashree and Venkatraman, Dallas, TX, USA
by E-mail