Early every day, just about the hour after I am having my first cup of tea and reading the morning newspapers, I hear a flute playing somewhere in the neighborhood. I am fresh from a good night’s sleep, properly rested, and not looking for meditation. But really, this is the most soothing sound I have heard. It kind of makes up the rhythm for my entire day. I stop reading for a while and sit in silence. Eyes closed. Paying attention. Letting this soulful music wash over me. At that hour, the only other sounds I hear are the distant drone of an early flight climbing the sky, the watchman splish-splashing below as he washes the residents’ cars, and the muted swish of the sweeper’s broom clearing the compound of last night’s fallen leaves.
The flute is a woodwind instrument. It produces some of the highest-pitched music. And
whatever this flautist is playing, floats gently into my window overriding the other sounds. Like a light summer breeze sneaking in between the trees without ruffling the leaves. As to what the flautist is playing, I have no idea. It is not popular music. Not a Hindi film tune I identify with. And to my receptive mind, it sounds like Nature. Like the silence of a forest (if you’ve been to one). Waves rushing to embrace a seashore. Raindrops whispering in the trees. The afternoon wind fluttered a housewife’s washing put out to dry. The plaintive cry of the cuckoo before the monsoon. These are sounds if you listen for you will hear. The flute is beyond an instrument for just the orchestra. I have heard it in jazz bands, folk, and world music. Also at church services, home recitals, and rock concerts. Google tells me learning the flute is like learning how to take care of the body. Playing flute not only encourages correct posture and healthy breathing habits but also develops core strength, and finger dexterity, as well as essential traits such as patience and discipline. Every morning I wonder who my neighbourhood flautist is. I could find out by knocking on all the doors. But why spoil the mystery behind this beautiful music? I once interviewed Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Lord of the Flute, and he picked up his instrument and played ‘Jana Gana Mana’ for me. It was so soul-stirring and inspiring, I got up and stood to attention.
About Mark Manuel
The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.
With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.
Further
His interviews have been featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.
Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work.
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