Diwali Show

I have been extremely busy lately with writing 3 papers in as many months, and generally trying to wrap up my PhD. In between it all, we managed to give a performance for Diwali Last Night. The audience was about a hundred strong, and the performance was one of the best we have ever done. This was also the first time the venue was public and free, therefore most of our friends could come and see what we have accomplished over so many months of practicing. The songs we have written were very well received, and we were well rewarded by a very enthusiastic crowd. . .with two encores after our program had officially ended.

After Ayan and Sowmya left rather suddenly, with both going off to pursue their careers in Arizona and Georgia respectively, the future of Antardhwani had become extremely uncertain. Meanwhile Mainak was expected to be out of town during the Diwali performance night, leaving us without a percussionist. As luck would have it, Anyesha's childhood friend Bhismadev was visitting us from Cambridge for an internship thing at the NIH. . .and he is an extremely gifted Tabla player. Rajat and Mathangi decided to pitch in with the vocals, and they gave a stellar performance last night. To top it all off, Beer played the dholak on his drums adding some unmistakable impact to our "Taal se Taal mila" performance. Thus, though things seemed bleak at one point. . . they worked out serendipitously at the end.

SCI took us out to dinner to Plato's afterwards.

In other news, I have been extremely busy. As a result, I haven't been updating my blog as often as I'd like to. And this irregularitiy will probably continue until I graduate.

What else.
Watched the Durga Puja at Kali Bari when it happened. It was crowded, homely, and nice.
Watched "P.S"-- a movie where Laura Linney and Topher Grace give an excellent performance. It was one of those movies that I don't completely understand, but know it is very good. The director conveyed something intangible about age, death, and experience. . .I just don't really know what, or whether I completely see life that way. But I am also young.
I am not looking forward to this wedding in India. The more I think about all the rituals, being the unwanted center of attention, and all these people whom I don't know thronging around, it gives me the creeps. I guess it will just have to be tolerated somehow. As confuscious said, ". . . relax and enjoy it."
Got hold of a copy of Civilization IV. I am not playing it. If I do, I will never graduate.
Happy Diwali to all.