Songs of Earth and Other Things

Sunil Sharma

This month's open call was on a subject closer to the hearts of the greens globally: Earth Melodies.

Provided humans are listening to those melodies.

Those who do become artists and capture the notes sensitively in their distinct styles.

Earth.

Nature.

Sky.

Humans.

Species.

All are so intricately interconnected in this cosmic dance---beauty everywhere, the divine manifest in each revolving molecule and atom.

Great artists are mystics also. They can see what the ordinary eyes fail to do---thus setting templates for the future.

Arts are the sanctuaries where the holy and mundane mix so well.

Talking of the melodies, the Bard has got so many to offer in his works.

See these immortal lines of Shakespeare:

“The earth has music for those who listen.”

And:

“This our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything.”

The curated responses evoke the heard and unheard melodies for you, dear reader.

Bit of a listening ear can go a whole lot in improving things and healing mother nature by planting saplings and taking other actions---interventions at micro and macro levels to slow down climate change, an anthropogenic development. 

Some cool music in words and images for those attentive ears, here!

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The edition runs an excerpt from Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, as a tribute by the bilingual journal on his 155th birthday that falls on October 2nd.

The Gandhi Jayanti is special for the Gandhians across the world. An occasion to celebrate the teachings of the noble soul who delivered India from the brutal yoke of an exploitative British Raj. On the strength of non-violence, peace and truth, the colonial rule was overthrown by a nation under Bapu's moral and political leadership.

An incident that changed his life as an anglicised barrister, and the destiny of a grateful nation forever. 

The train incident is narrated in Bapu's voice, first person, singular, that still resonates across the world, and started a journey that shook imperialism to its core by offering an alternative model of passive resistance to the horrors of practices of the colonial masters.

If you read this passage, you will come to feel the anguish and anger of being humiliated and insulted by the arrogance of the white power, their duplicity, sense of superiority, for those with the wrong skin colour.

This passage is pivotal in the transformation of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi into a committed freedom fighter, champion of human rights, an advocate of equality; a man who speaks on behalf of the downtrodden, voiceless and exploited, the ultimate Mahatma who belongs to every age.

His disciples like Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr spread his teachings in their own countries and delivered results for their oppressed communities.

His mantra of real change for a new-millennium audience, in search for ideals and life gurus?

Well, here it is:

"Be the change you wish to see in this world".

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There is other equally interesting content in this issue.

Please enjoy.

Sunil Sharma,

Managing Editor

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Setu, October 2024