A Meeting of Worlds

She spoke of the many worlds – worlds that would normally have nothing to do with one another - that came together because of the unifying force of music. These were not fleeting interactions, but powerful, intimate ones, where often the accepted social hierarchies were turned upside down. Rich and poor. Hindu and Muslim. Conservative, respectable middle-class Brahmin and devadasi. Yet, it was the rich who bowed their heads and touched the feet of the poor, humbly seeking blessings and knowledge; Hindu and Muslim ascended together to an enchanted sphere where music was god; and value judgments about lifestyle were left at the door, as the Brahmin sought the secrets of musical wisdom and enlightenment from the courtesan. More....