The Applause, the Ego and the Art of Letting Go
Having spent most of my life in music and classical dance, I know that the stage is not merely a place where an artist performs. It becomes part of who you are. I still remember the excitement before a performance, the connection with the audience and the applause. Even today, when I cannot dance as freely as I once did, the desire has not disappeared. Perhaps that is why the recent controversy involving Daler Mehndi and Uttarakhand minister Subodh Uniyal caught my attention. The artist in me felt sympathy, but the counsellor in me began examining the behaviour of both men. Daler Mehndi’s contribution to Indian music is unquestionable. But admiration for someone’s past achievements should not prevent us from discussing present responsibilities. If he knew that his health would not allow him to sing adequately, he could have informed the organisers and offered a stage appearance instead. His admirers might have been equally delighted simply to see him. There is disagreement over the rep...