The rhythmic and melodious tone that wafts in as one enters the tastefully done environs of Anasuya Kulkarni’s treasure trove does give you a hint of the love and mastery that this accomplished musician has garnered in her long tryst with the musical traditions of different countries.
An exponent of a rare musical instrument from Indonesia, the Anghklung, Dr Anasuya Kulkarni is a vocalist in both Carnatic and Hindustani classical styles and has carved a niche for herself as a performer, playback singer, artist, teacher and a voracious collector of exotic musical instruments from different parts of the world.
Seeing the world as a global village, she is on a mission to create awareness about world music among the younger generation and has done it through live demonstrations in Bangalore, Antwerp, Durban and a host of other countries.
In her early years, she learnt Hindustani classical music in Kabul from her Ustad, Mohammed Hussain Sarahang who presented a string instrument, the swar mandal, her first in the collection. “This is how I fell in love with other cultures. I started on a voyage of discovery around the world which stimulated my artistic impulses,” she recollects.
Then in 1960s, when her husband, Narayan Kulkarni, a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) officer was posted to Mongolia, her real rendezvous with musical instruments began. “The shape and sound of the plucked and bowed instruments of the Mongolian nomads fascinated me a lot.” Every country she travelled to with her husband, Anasuya studied, researched and imbibed the nuances of art and music and the tradition unique to that place. If she learnt the Rubab in Kabul, it was earthen drums in East Africa, thumb piano in South Africa, the Chinko, Erhu and Moi in China. The quest and hunger continued and she not only learnt to play more than 25 instruments, but also started collecting them wherever she went.
While in Indonesia, Anasuya was so fascinated by the rich and enchanting sound of Anghklung, a rare, traditional rattle percussion instrument that she gained mastery over it. Made from bamboo pipes of differing length and pitch, she brought innovations and improvised it into a solo Indian instrument. Popularising it as ‘Ankrang’ she has mastered the skill of playing Indian Carnatic classical music with it and enthralled audiences across the world including the Indonesians.
Over the years, she has painstakingly collected more than 300 musical instruments, meticulously fine-tuned and preserved them, including wind instruments from Buddhist countries, bow instruments from Ethiopia, plucked from Uganda, the vessel flutes shaped like birds and fishes from Mexico and the morching instruments from Indonesia. Her invaluable treasure is on display at her beautiful home.
Awarded a doctorate from Annamalai University for her work on ‘Comparative Study of the Musical Instruments of South India with some of the countries of Asia, Pacific and Africa’, Anasuya says, “Indonesians have appreciated my innovation and say I play better than them. Although, I can play many instruments but the rhythmic tone of Anghklung attracted and absorbed me completely. This instrument which can be used for all music genres has given me immense peace.”
Keeping an open house for any odd music lover, hobbyist or her innumerable students who drop in to learn the rare instruments including the Anghklung, Anasuya says, “I have been popularising this instrument and many of my students accompany me in concerts and although I am selective about where we have to play but ultimately, it is my endeavour to expose our people to other cultures, beliefs and way of life.”
From music and musical instruments, Anasuya has also cultivated a very different kind of hobby. Her amazing collection of shoes and tiny exquisite slippers is seen to be believed. Her collection comprises shoes with sizes varying from one centimetre to two feet, made of materials like cotton, paper mache, leather, fibre glass and glittering metals. Some rare pieces include tiny gold filigree shoes, embroidered silk slippers, delicate glass lantern shoes, exotic kid leather pumps, aquamarine toy shaped shoes, and the petite, high heeled Cinderella shoes.
“My interest began in Mongolia where I was drawn irresistibly to the workmanship of the local people and started collecting the traditional porcelain shoes. I still remember, I collected a pair of batik shoes in Jakarta and it looked so cute that I went in for more pairs and this is how my interest started. Over a period of 35 years, my collection grew, which comprises shoes made of jelly, jute, jade, leather, silk, bronze, ivory and the most beautiful of all a jewellery set with pendant and earring.” Anasuya’s 1,000-shoe-collection is the result of her visits to different countries plus the odd present of a shoe her family, relatives and friends bring from their trips to different places.