"Torturing Him for His birthday" should've been the motto of the BCIC's (Bharat Cultural Integration Committee) concerts - 2 o'clock to 10:30 is ridiculous. And You're sitting throughout! And You spoke when ask to speak at 6:45 p.m.! And tolerated all the programs. MS was enjoyable, then a horrendous session of light music with music director jumping everywhere and Your name dragged into every jazzy line. Another "light" session - a man and a woman, side by side, millimetres apart. Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam. And "We humbly request Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba..." - after every program, to go up and bless the accompanists. Finally at 6:30, all the artistes given veenas shawl, pen by Seshan. Seshan's speech - emotional, first visit, "sinners take longer to come".
A screenshot from this video from 1995 - Devotional Song by Bharat Ratna M S Subbulakshmi | Nov 23, 1996 | Sri Sathya Sai Sangeet #3
You spoke - mainly "mana eva manushyanaam karanam bandha mokshayoh*" and 'fish is better than selfish'. Prema mudita. Only students, VIPs, overseas devotees were inside Poornachandra.
Morning etc. read "Where the road ends" by Howard Murphet, so washing was done only after program! Eating two ice creams and talking to Sudhakar, comments about program, were defeats to the tongue, but eating curd-rice / hot rice / chapati dinner was better.
Night till 10 pm - jugalbandi of sarod-sitar was fast and exciting. Sudha Raghunathan also okay - "needoorapo!". Bheemsen Joshi at 11:00 p.m.! Then Kathak of all things, depicting shringara till 12:45! And You sat through it.
* "The Mind is responsible for both bondage and liberation for Man" - see, for example, this Discourse.
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