Bhagvath Gita and guitar. Sounds a strange mix? But for a Supreme Court lawyer, there could be no better medley.
Advocate M K Balakrishnan has already recited the Gita with guitar as accompaniment at several public functions. But his musical innovation was an accidental achievement. An expert violinist, Balakrishnan was never been known for his guitar skills although he is an ardent exponent of the Gita, knowing as he does most of the chapters by heart.
A native of Kalliassery in Kannur, Balakrishnan first presented his musical innovation at a cultural programme of the Supreme Court Bar Association in April 2013 in Delhi. “The response of the audience including judges of the Supreme Court was highly encouraging,” says Balakrishnan. It was Chapter XII, Bhakthi Yoga, that Balakrishnan recited using his guitar, interspersed with short explanations in English on the significance of the Gita. He later performed several chapters of the Gita using his guitar at public functions, including one at Rishikesh.
Says Balakrishnan, “It was in 1984 that I found a special interest in the Bhagvath Gita after attending a discourse by Swamy Chinmayanada at the Police Parade Grounds, Kannur. Slowly, I learnt by heart most of the chapters and tried to recite it using the guitar. And that marked a wonderful beginning.”
Balakrishnan, who learnt Sanskrit from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Delhi, is a regular participant at Gita recital competitions held in Delhi every year. Commenting on the advocate’s feat, musician Philip Fernadez of Kannur, who is proficient both in the use of guitar and violin says, “A description or a verbal narration is essential to carry the messages of the Gita through guitar to the audience. How successful this could be, depends on the performer.”
Agrees Balakrishnan. “I often give short descriptions of the chapters of the Gita I am going to recite in English, before the commencement of the recital. And, it all goes down well with the audience,” he says, adding, “Guitar is a good medium of propagation of Gita, and people could easily appreciate it.”
Interestingly, the advocate doesn’t think that the Gita is not incompatible with the Constitution of India or the criminal or civil laws of the country.