Musical Saga

By Rinky Kumar

Published: Volume 15, Issue 9, September, 2007

Journalist Namita Devidayal’s debut novel, The Music Room, takes an intimate look at the unexplored side of Indian classical music

For a majority of us music is a means to escape from the mundane realities of life. But for journalist Namita Devidayal, it has been the catalyst that has changed her outlook and transformed her as a person. Devidayal has penned her personal experiences in her debut novel, The Music Room.

The story revolves around the lives of three musicians who share a tutor-pupil relationship – Namita’s teacher Dhondutai, songbird Kesarbai and the legendary Alladiya Khan, founder of the Jaipur Gharana. It has an interesting mix of history, anecdotes and pictures.

Namita confesses The Music Room is a coming-of-age novel for her. “It’s my journey into the fascinating world of Indian classical music. As a child I was more exposed to the vision of the West. But Dhondutai’s space was quite traditional. The work is my interpretation of how I grappled both worlds. It can be described as a novel for anyone who wants to understand a slice of Indian tradition.”

Written over a period of two years, The Music Room portrays the tumultuous process of a woman’s survival in the world of music. Apart from her personal experiences, Namita also referred to musicology books, interacted with different musicians and members of Kesarbai’s family.

While completing this piece of non-fiction, she had to maintain a fine balance between facts and emotions. “I have a lot of love and respect for Dhondutai, the main protagonist. Though I have said everything I wanted to, I have also held back a few facts as I didn’t want to hurt her. The novel is dedicated to my teacher who never chased fame.”

The book will be released on September 16.