It is a sad turn of events that the music field is losing its loyal and illustrious sons and daughters in rapid succession: M.S. Subbulakshmi, Madurai N. Krishnan, Subbudu, and now Yagnaraman.

I have always been impressed by Shri Yagnaraman's unity of purpose and steadfast devotion to the performing arts. He mounted the steed of Secretary of the Krishna Gana Sabha at a very trying moment when Carnatic Music was at the cross-roads, with mass-produced film music to contend and spar with.

The seventies were even more trying moments, when there was widespread anxiety among vidwans, as well as rasikas, on the very future of carnatic music as a sustainable art form, given that it had to weather larger doses of the 'assault' of film music in even greater intensity. Those were indeed very trying times for both listeners and the listened.

Despite these odds, Shri Yagnaraman and his team of dedicated arts promoters held the flag of performing arts well above the heads of its detractors: an act which is still held in high esteem among the ranks of the music fraternity.

I last met Shri Yagnaraman in Krishna Gana Sabha in December 2006 when he attended the Lalgudi Music Forum as an invited guest. Though he did appear frail, but his determined spirit to promote musical excellence, personified by Violin Maestro Lalgudi Jayaraman, was no less encompassing. Its vibrations could be felt by all the rasikas who attended the event.

May Lord Krishna bless his soul with peace. I am sure he is right now listening to Krishna's flute melodies and smiling at us....

"Krishna Nee Begane Baro"

S. Venkateswaran, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
by E-mail

Our heartfelt condolences to the family of late.Sri.Yagnaraman.

We pray to God that the departed soul may rest in peace and the almighty give them strength to overcome the grief.
Sri.Yagnaraman was one of the most respected persons in the field of fine arts and his contribution in promoting art and culture remain unparrelled.
On a personal note we would like to add that, he was a visionary in discovering true talent and gave such artists the opportunities whenever they presented themselves.

N. Srikanth and Aswathy Srikanth, dancers
by E-mail