Some people are special. They touch your life in more ways than one. Colour the way you think, the way you see the world and maybe leave you rather in awe of them, albeit never purposefully so.
Perhaps that's why, despite having known Aunty, (Mami to me ) for 33 years, I was curiously hesitant to write an article about her. I still perceive the task as being a little unfair, although undeniably worthy. For, where does one begin? Or for that matter, what does one say about someone as multifaceted as Guru Smt. Rajee Narayan?
Should I detail for the umpteenth time her strong grounding in tradition, her perfect knowledge of the Natya Sastra? Should I tell you that she is the only guru I have accompanied in my capacity as an accompanist, who can give a dozen or so Bharata Natyam recitals, without repeating a single item? Or maybe I could tell you how many items she has composed herself overnight or that there are very few dance teachers today, who follow the Guru-Shishya parampara as faithfully as she does.
These facts are not only repetitive in nature, they also fall sadly short of describing to you the real Aunty I have come to know, understand, love and respect deeply along all these years. I cannot encapsulate her many outstanding achievements into a few mundane paragraphs of prosaic prose. I can extol the singular qualities that make her the wonderful personality that she is, but that might mean having to write an entire book, for she is much, much more than just the sum of her talents and achievements. As I said earlier, my task is an unfair one. Nevertheless, try I surely will, for such opportunities do not visit one everyday.
I first met Aunty in 1967 (the credit goes to the one & only Shivakumar, the noted violinist). I was then a gawky collegian, and I must confess, I was quite petrified by the authority in those shining eyes. She was always soft spoken, never rude, always cheerful, always sporting that twinkle in her eyes, and yet no one could doubt the complete control she exercised over the goings-on at Nritya Geethanjali.
If one would only take a deep breath and muster that little extra courage to scratch that stern exterior, the paradoxical variety of human nature strikes one like a ton of bricks. She is a hard taskmaster during classes and rehearsals, and an equally gentle and nurturing teacher at other times. You are stunned at the ease with which she assumes different roles ; now a wise and learned Guru and now a friend - nay mother - full of energetic laughter.
Perhaps above all, she is best described as a true teacher. Her understanding of the esoteric is matched by her uncanny ability to interpret it to suit a youngster’s mind. In no other institution have I encountered such a keenness to foster an all-round development of the student - dance, music, nattuvangam, compering, make-up etc. Her personal touch has a real soothing effect in everything.
If I am known today to be a stickler for punctuality, I owe it entirely to her. I still remember 1968. That was the first rehearsal of an Arangetram. I went half an hour late, after finishing a tennisball cricket match. She just said, "Chandran, you are late." She never spoke to me during the entire rehearsal. Needless to say, I was half an hour early for the next rehearsal ! After that, I have never, ever been late.
I cannot be grateful enough for this opportunity to thank a teacher, who has given me so much in terms of knowledge, who has showered her affection on me so generously, but maybe I cannot hide my inefficacy in describing Aunty to you. They say that when you respect someone too much, there is only so much you can say.
- P.R. Chandran
