Indians & Greeks

I once heard a very unique Indian saying.

You can’t tie your turban exactly the same every day.

You can’t cook dhaal exactly the same every day.

And you can’t perform the same raag twice.

(a raag is melodic framework that colours the mind with a particular mood/emotion).

To those who have a sharp eye, there will always be slight differences in the folds, angles and shape of a turban.

To those who have made friends with their taste buds, every pathila (pot) of dhaal tells a slightly different story.

To the trained ear, yesterday’s rendition of a raag will never be the same as today’s or tomorrows.

People often tell me,

“Your turban looks exactly the same every day. How do you do it?”

The truth is… it doesn’t look the same.

It’s close. But never exactly the same.

I don’t cook enough dhaal to comment, but my mum’s is incredible. Even then, I can spot subtle differences. A little more tomato/tang, or a different balance of spices.

As for raag, I leave that to people far better than me to articulate.

But, when I sit behind my tabla, the same composition never quite flows the way it did the day before. Thats for sure! The notes are the same, but the feeling isn’t. I’m learning to listen and let it show me where it wants to go.

So where’s the Greek link you ask.

Heraclitus said:

“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.”

Different cultures but same observations!

Both of these are great, however I won’t be stepping into any river anytime soon. I can’t swim!

I’ll stick with my turban, dhaal and tabla thank you very much!