I am delighted to participate in the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival - 2005 organized by Dr. L Subramaniam. My greetings to the organizers, artists, music lovers, musicians, national and international participants. When I am in your midst I am reminded of the music performance rendered by Dr. L. Subramaniam on 26th November 2004 on the full moon night in the Mughal Garden of Rashtrapati Bhavan. The song "Endaro Mahaanubhavalu andhariggi vandanamulu" composed by Thiagaraja Swamigal was played by Dr. Subramaniam in "Sri Raga" is still reverberating in my mind and in the Mughal Garden. That Keerthana is beautiful. Why is it beautiful? The great saint Thiyagaraja went to the Thanjavur Maharaja?s palace hall. Thousands of members of royal families, Pandits, poets and the distinguished personalities had assembled there. When the Thanjavur Maharaja invited Thiyagaraja Swamigal to the Darbar he thought he would be singing about his virtues. However, Thiyagaraja song in that hall this Keerthana Endaro Mahaanubhavalu andhariggi vandanamulu" which means "I salute all the great noble hearted human beings". That meaning of the Keerthana in the context and the beauty of the Raga entered into my soul and mind. Immediately I purchased a Saraswathi Veena so that I can learn and play this Keerthana. One day I will definitely play it.

Dr. L. Subramaniam, I know him very well and I know his family as well. Very rarely a father becomes the guru for his son. In this case his father has given him the divine music. That I witnessed in the Mughal Garden when he performed the Concert on 26th November 2004. Both myself and Shri R. Venkatraman, the former President of India were immersed in the beauty of the Raga and thought that that Keerthana was being sung vocally.

The Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival is unique because it is the only festival where eminent artists from around the globe perform on the same stage. Different cultural traditions blend harmoniously to spread the message of peace.

I enjoyed the performance of the fusion segment featuring Dr. L. Subramaniam and Kavita Krishnamurti Subramaniam along with some of the greatest Jazz musicians from the American music scene including bass genius Stanley Clarke and piano legend George Duke. When I heard this fusion music I am reminded of my visit to South Africa.

Recently when I visited South Africa I attended a cultural programme at Chatsworth. There I saw a fusion dance in which Zulu dance form, Bharatnatyam and Ballet was presented in an excellent fashion. The coordination between the artists and the rhythm of music stole the show. In the same programme, one native African Patrick sang a Carnatic music kriti in Hamsadwani raga. It was a beautiful rendering. Such fusion demonstrates the principle that music and dance do not have any borders. When everywhere there is division and division, music is the only phenomena which unites everyone.

Dr. Subramaniam has founded the Subramaniam Foundation which is selecting children talented in Indian music and nurturing them to excel in the arts. These children are also provided an opportunity to participate in the concerts organized by Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival. I had an opportunity to listen to five young artists during a concert organized as part of Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas Celebrations in Mumbai on 9th January 2005. The children performed extremely well. I appreciate the contribution made by Dr. Subramaniam in nurturing and growing young talent who will be the future cultural ambassadors of our nation.

My best wishes to Dr. L. Subramaniam, Smt. Kavita Subramaniam and all other participants in this function success in your mission of promoting global peace through music. May God bless you.

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