I started learning to play the Veena when I was 11. It was the most irritating experience at that time. I did not want to play the Veena, I just wanted to read Tintin or draw. But I stuck with it and learnt till I was in my X standard (“O” levels by singapore standards). When I came to NTU I found a vibrant carnatic music scene (in the Indian carnatic music group called Shrutilaya) and I brought my (then) 5-year-old Veena all the way to Singapore to start playing and practicing. I also was getting training from the disciple of Veena Balachander and it was wonderful to learn about the maths and the rationale behind the structures of carnatic music. I learnt quite a bit and with a lot of enthusiasm. But my teacher left for India and my interest waned again. I never quite picked it up after that.

Since 2004 I have not touched the Veena. Yesterday, realising I need to do something with it, I called SIFAS (the Indian Arts Association in Singapore) and asked about donating a Veena. They asked me to come today. It sank in today morning that I was going to give up my more-than-15-year-old Veena. So, I sat down to play something. What follows is the video of my performance. I was really bad at playing it, after such a long period of time (especially without the required clips and vaseline). This version of the Indian National Anthem is not even what I have been taught, but something I tried on my own. So it is doubly worse. But still, I have a permanent reminder of the Veena that has travelled the distance with me during my growing up years. Here it is, for your entertainment:

Video taken by Deepak Jois