A PATH TO THE INNER SELF
By Neela Ramanathan and Arvind Sankaran
World history books have chronicled the face that launched a thousand ships- a reference to the mythological figure Helen of Troy, whose abduction by Paris was said to be the reason for a fleet of a thousand ships to be launched into the Trojan Wars. The clarion call to the oarsmen would surely have consisted of some well-chosen words. Words can inspire people to do incredible things. Battles have been won, conflicts have been resolved, teams have been inspired to win, personal struggles have been overcome – all because of a few powerful words spoken at the right time.
The inspirational power of music has, on the other hand, perhaps not been talked about as much as it deserves. Music speaks to different people in different ways. The melody of a folk song, the beat of a military tattoo, the cadence of a classical piece are all examples of the manifold characteristics of music that elevate, motivate, rejuvenate the state of the human mind. It has been found that the vibrations of music resonate with our body rhythms to produce a unifying feeling that helps harness and anchor the emotions of the listener.
Lyrics would languish on paper unless given shape and transcendence through a musical score. The ability to entertain the masses has often been achieved through a simple, catchy, sing-along tune and an upbeat tempo. A moving piece on the other hand can stir the strongest of emotions. Take the example of the powerful, evocative strains of Vande Mataram -music composed during India’s freedom struggle that launched a million feet, marching in unison. Composed by the poet Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875, the song is said to have had its birth on a train journey from Kolkatta to Kantalapada, a journey during which the poet was mesmerised by the beauty of his motherland. Even though Vande Mataram was criticised initially as containing too many difficult Bengali and Sanskrit words, the uplifting melody broke through language barriers and went on to become a unifying cry for freedom.
The Tamil poet Mahakavi Bharatiyar’s patriotic fervour expressed through his innumerable poems is legendary. But beyond the words, it was the simplicity of the tune that helped deliver the power of his vision, the strength of his words, the poignancy of expression and its ability to connect and inspire people from all walks of life. In the early 1900s, Haryanvi folk songs often heaped praise on the chivalry and glamour of the life of a soldier, a matter of tradition and pride for every family. With this insight, the British colonialists harnessed the power of local folk music to rally young Haryanvi lads to fight on their side against the Germans in World War I!
In politics, the power of music in rallying crowds is best exemplified by the history of campaign songs used in the US elections for over a century. FDR’s use of ‘Happy days are here again’ and Clinton’s “Don’t stop” are standout examples. Closer home, the BJP’s use of “Namo Namo Narendra” shows that a good campaign song is significantly more effective than having to blare words of political exhortation over and over again.
Music’s ability to inspire and motivate has been felt well beyond the realm of politics and nationalism. Music enhances creativity by creating a calmness of the mind to be able to look at things differently. Just look at the number of geniuses who had an active interest in music. Albert Einstein, one of the most creative minds known, often resorted to music to help with his creative thinking process. According to Einstein’s sister, whenever he was stumped by something in his scientific work, he would sit down to play the piano after which he would typically exclaim, “There, now I’ve got it!” Stephen Hawkings once said he spends Sunday mornings lazing around listening to classical music and reading the newspapers. Music and words!
In a gym, the familiar strains of favourite tunes help us to forget the physical exertion and fatigue and endure the physical activity for longer periods than our mind or body would otherwise allow. Headphones have now become an essential gear of every sportsperson whether it is an amateur in the gym or a professional about to enter the competitive arena. Beyond serving as a distraction, listening to music is believed to alter moods, produce more synchronised movement and even aid with movement and muscle memory. Sports psychologist, Dr. Costas Karageorghis has done studies that suggest that listening to synchronous music – which is defined as music with a steady, clear beat – pushes the athlete to be more competitive and perform at a higher level while asynchronous music – music which is akin to background music – serves to calm the person.
The ability of a simple chant to cure illnesses or raise hope was previously shrouded in the realm of possibility. Benedictine monks in their seclusion practiced a form of musical drone to centre the mind. Centuries-old Buddhist chanting has now become widespread across religions. Many of us are seeing its benefits either first hand or second hand. The repetition of a phrase in a musical lilt helps to calm the self and to provide clarity of thought. This, in turn, inspires the person to see their struggles in a better perspective and develop a positive mind to overcoming them. Music is therapeutic and is increasingly becoming part of holistic medicine.
With a unique ability to transcend boundaries that words sometime remain within, music reaches the inner person among us in a manner that few other sensory stimuli can. To paraphrase the famous lines in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night – “if music be food for the soul, play on!”
