We all have seen, heard and danced on Indian wedding procession called as baraat. The feel of the age old songs being played by the band group is unmatchable. The songs are more or less common, such as Brazil La la la la la la laaaa, Aaj mere yaar ki shaadi hai, zhoomo naacho gaao, etc. The songs are usually off track yet enjoyable. While we dance on those tunes, hardly do we wonder that why did this person join the band, or when do they practice, when did they start this job etc. There is an important instrument amongst all the others which gives the base to the music, and that is the Tuba.
Why I am remembering the music instrument and scene of a baraat is because every Saturday, at around 10 am, I notice an act from my home. As the weather is usually sunny here, the only outside sounds that come to my house are the swaying of trees and grass, chirping of birds, sound of the fan, and sometimes minor construction work sounds. Apart from this there starts a music being played over tuba by someone. I enjoy this constant of each Saturday. So far I assumed that some person from our society must be playing this and never gave much heed to the origin. The songs are the same each time, “नीले गगन के तले”, “कदम कदम बढ़ाये जा”, “जन गण मन”.
However only today did I notice that beyond the boundary of our society, on the adjoining rocky hillock, underneath a tree, something is shining. It was the tuba of the tuba Player! I don’t know why but seeing him there made me so happy. He was not in his house practicing for himself, but under this blistering Sun about which everyone complains, enjoying the shade of the tree and playing his tuba to his heart’s content for 2 hours each Saturday. He was quite far off, so I had to pick my binoculars to see him. What a blissful and content scene was that. Observing him literally made my day. Now I understand why he chooses the song “नीले गगन के तले”. Thanks for putting up the show each Saturday Tuba-man.
Aali Pant 