Fathers, Bongos & Birthdays

Dear Pappa

Music has been and still is an integral part of your life and through you, mine too. Today, on your birthday, I want to draw attention to how our relationship has enriched over  the years because of music. Appreciating it, playing/singing it or merely existing as it plays in the background. Music always takes me to the happiest phase of my life, yet.

I am seven and have just discovered a pair of small drum like instruments under your bed. I am so excited by this discovery that I forget it is 3pm, a time when our household is deep in slumber. I begin gently tapping the drums then increase my strength progressively which awakens you, obviously! You are naturally annoyed by my careless behaviour but instead of telling me off, your expression softens.

“Those are bongos! I used to play them in our band many years ago!”

“Can you play something for me?” my eyes widen

You jump off the bed and sit beside me, outlining the curves of the banjo with your fingers. In hindsight it appeared as if you were reacquantimg yourself with an old lover. 

And then, the beats from the bongos begin to permeate the deep slumber of others within our apartment – peeling them away from their sleep, bringing them all to you. I can see our family surrounding us, clapping in rhythm to what you are playing. 

Pappa, it is memories like these that I hold so close to my heart because eventhough you didnt formally train me in music, you taught me something more important. You taught me to enjoy it, you helped me recognise good sur and taal, appreciate fantastic lyrics and when to go waaaah in response to a stellar musical composition. 

You introduced me to the Beatles, The Eagles, Frank Sinatra and Elvis! But you also ensured that I was exposed to music by Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pandit Jasraj, Kishore Kumar and Mohamad Rafi. And I began to turn to music in moments of joy as well as distress. And as with life, you taught me to always dance, never mind what music plays. Because sometimes the DJ is shit but we need to keep dancing because as the night goes on, your song will play, it will! And then nobody can steal this moment from you, its yours, you have to own it and own it proudly.

So, as you celebrate another year around the sun, I can’t help but sing one of your fav songs

Imagine there’s no countries

It isn’t hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion, too

Imagine all the people

Livin’ life in peace

You

You may say I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join us

And the world will be as one“

Love,

Sne