Editorial Dear Readers, Warm welcome Monsoon! A hide and seek game of thundering dark clouds, dancing drops of rain, sweet fragrance of parched earth and the most spectacular natural event - the RAINBOW! The confluences of all these have inspired a lot of our great poets to articulate their thoughts. Great Indian poet Kalidasa wrote the “Meghadutam “, a Romantic poetry that used clouds as metaphors to carry messages of lovers troubled by the pangs of separation.. Hypnotized by the incessant music produced by the nature, Team SPARK has aptly decided the theme of this issue as Magic of music. You will certainly enjoy reading about the musical journey of our writers. Thank you team SPARK for choosing such lively theme. A good deed is never lost. They who sow courtesy, reap friendship and those who plant kindness, gather love. Life is often about being taken care of. Exactly in keeping with the said thought, members of VMS proceed to strengthen the society of the under privileged. The endeavors of the executive members to supplement the CSR activities of RINL by empowering the really needy through education, health and safe surroundings is praise-worthy. Visiting the remote villages to promote health, providing financial assistance to the meritorious girls, spreading awareness to create a plastic free environment, exhibiting unconditional love to the elderly, members of VMS took a lead role. A project to educate the tiny tots of the disadvantaged, group Tutorial classes GURUKUL was started by VMS. Thanks to the VMS executive committee members for their participation, dedication, compassion and above all patience. Team SPARK plays a prime role in being the mirror to all these activities. VMS bid farewell to the most active vice president Mrs Ratna Raychaudhury on her superannuation and welcomed the new vice president Mrs. Leena Ghosh. During the monthly getogethers, Members of VMS danced and sang to the magic of monsoon with seamless enegy. They tried to capture the greenery, the rainbow, the dancing drops, and the umpteen festivals by painting them on umbrellas. Once again VMS collective has proved to be unique in its enthusiasm to celebrate the various Indian festivals. Let me conclude with my appreciation to the editorial board of SPARK for their tireless efforts and hard work in publishing the magazine. Let me also thank the sagacious readers for their suggestions, feedback and the contributors for their creative pieces of writing. I hope they will continue cooperating with me the same great way in future too. Thank you VISTEEL families! Wish to reunite soon. Editor-in-Chief Sarada Rath Editor in Chief & President, VMS 2 THE SONG THAT MOVES OUR NATION TO TEARS -TK Nagabhushana Among many of the melodious renditions of Lata celebrating Diwali, they were playing Holi(with Mangeshkar,one song stands out as the most their blood); When we were sitting in the soulful, to me. comfort of our homes, they were suffering It touched a chord with the entire country bullets. Those young soldiers were great. Great traumatised by the debacle in the 1962 India- was their youth. Some were Sikh, some were China war. Even now, these rousing words never Jaat, some Maratha, some were Gurkha, some fail to move me to tears. Lata Mangeshkar's Madrasi, but every brave soldier who died on pathos-filled rendition of Kavi Pradeep's stirring the border was an Indian. The blood that fell on lyrics, set to a soulful melody by C Ramchandra the mountain, was Indian. Remember the holds not only me, I am sure,but the entire sacrifice of those who were martyered. Their nation enthralled.You must have got it right,by bodies were covered in blood all over, still they now.I am referring to none other than the picked up their guns to fight. One of ours killed patriotic song-"e mere watan ke logon". ten of them(enemy's). Then they lost their consciousness and fell when their end came. Even though it has been 56 years since Lata sang While dying they said 'Stay happy, beloved it on January 27, 1963 at the National Stadium, people of the country, we begin our final New Delhi, in the presence of Jawaharlal journey now'. Those crazy boys(for nation) were Nehru,which was just two months after the end great. Those proud ones were great. Remember of the war, the ditty remains the mother of all the sacrifice of those who were martyered, lest Indian patriotic songs. you forget them. That is why I have recited this The first audience included the then President tale. Victory to India! Victory to Indian army! Jai S Radhakrishnan, Prime minister Nehru, Indira hind Jai hind Jai hind, Victory to India! Gandhi, Cabinet ministers, and virtually the Recalling the song in 2013, Lata Mangeshkar entire film industry comprising stalwarts like stated that she never expected the song to be Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Raj Kapoor, Rajendra so successful saying, "Since it was not part of a Kumar, and others. film, I thought it would have a limited impact". Incidentally, Lata sang nine years later in 1972, "Ae mere watan ke logon"became my signature again at a public function - this time at the Ram tune. No show of mine, no concert or event is Lila Maidan in Delhi. Except this time, it was complete until I sing it." She also stated that against the backdrop of the nation's resounding Pradeep was always sure of the song's success. victory in the 1971 war with Pakistan when the He had prophesied to me, 'Lata, tum dekhna mood of the nation was upbeat. yeh gaana bahot chalega. Log hamesha ke liye Kavi Pradeep was reportedly moved to issey yaad rakhenge (You'll see this song will compose the song by accounts of casualties of endure. People will always remember). the war.The lyrics translates roughly as follows: Just as Lata is with this iconic song, never mind Oh! The people of my country, shout out as many the history. The song still retains its relevance slogans as you wish. This is an auspicious day to to this day and applies in equal measure to hoist our beloved tricoloured flag. But, do not jawans of the armed forces and paramilitary forget that the brave ones have lost their lives forces, who not only fight enemies on the border at the borders. Spare a moment of thought for but within the country as well. them, who did not return to their home. Oh! The These jawans sacrifice their lives and in return people of my country, Let tears come in your desire nothing but dignity and respect. If the eyes. Remember the sacrifice of those who were song doesn't stir us to acknowledge the society's martyred When the Himalaya was wounded and debt towards them, then the song runs the our independence was in a jeopardy they danger of degenerating into a shibboleth, fought till they could breathe. Then they laid dusted off and polished up on national days. And down their bodies With their forehead on their that would be a tragedy of Himalayan bayonets, those sacrificers, went to eternal proportions! sleep (death). When the country was 3 THE FLUTE PLAYER -Sujal Kumar Malik When Shobha saw that old man at the Ahiritola death of my father, I worked as a servant of a rich Launch Ghat for first time, he had long hair, man. For years I played for my master. After my mostly greyed out. He was very tall and thin. He marriage, I played for my wife. I had one was very weak because of age. He used to play daughter. She used to fall asleep with my music the flute at the ferry ghat and a stray dog used everyday. After she grew up a little, with her to sit beside him all the time. Some days she little finger she used to show that flute and then used to see him at the ferry ghat and some days and I had to play. To make sure she doesn't cry , at the launch. Listening to him playing his flute I had to play. That was one sure way to make her on her return from work, had become her habit. happy . Soon her happiness became the only Everyday she had to go to office by crossing the reason to play. She died at the age of six! Her river Ganga by launch from Howrah station to death caused deep wound in my heart and Ahiritola Ghat, and then taking an auto rickshaw everlasting pain in me. That pain is the source to Shobhabazar metro railway station and then of the creativity may be. I try to keep her alive take the metro to reach to her office finally and through my music. My music is as beautiful as return back home in the same way. Her life was my little daughter was! "and now that I am very hectic. Throughout the day she had to stay understanding my time is nearing for the surrounded by people, bear the hot Kolkata inevitable I am playing for everyone". weather and run with the clock. She never had Rainy season started . On a dark rainy evening the time to see him on her way to work.Everyday shobha was getting down from the auto in front while returning from office she used to see him of the ferry ghat. She saw a crowd. She felt and the time she had to wait at the launch ghat, curious, tried to peep into the crowd to see for the launch to come was a moment to cherish what's going on but couldn't.