Disapamok episode repeated in the 20th century

By Tudor Kandanarachchi

The world-renowned Maestro Pandit Ravishankar passed away recently. He played a prominent role in propagating the North Indian Ragadhari classical music world over. He was well-known as a guitarist. I too have a distant relationship with him.

In disclosing the fact, I am obliged to remind the reader of the age-old customs of India where Disapamok of Thaksalawa most honoured teacher of the royal families, gave his daughter in marriage to his best student. This episode was repeated in India in the 20th century. And this time, the best pupil was a Sri Lankan named E. Stanley Perera.

Ellepperumage Edwin Perera and Mrs. Perera of Deiyannewela, Kandy were blessed with five children of whom three were sons. The eldest was Stanley, known among friends as ES. The second Titus and the third Edmond. After passing the SSC examination Titus became a prominent bathik designer in Kandy. Edmond migrated to England and established himself as a graphic designer, artist and advertiser, who owned an advertising agency in Woolwich, London. He was popularly known there as ED Perera.

Stanley selected Hindustani music as his career in life. He began his music education under Dr. Lionel Edirisinghe who was honoured and highly respected by the hereditary Hindustani classical musicians of North India. He soon perceived the hidden talents of Stanley and directed him to the most celebrated musician of India at that time Allaudin Khan winner of India's second highest civilian honour, the Padma Vibhushan.

Since he was busy often visiting American universities he referred Stanley to his son Ustad Ali Akbar Khan who was a Hindustrani classical musician known for his virtuosity in playing the instrument, Sarode. He was instrumental in popularising Indian classical music in the West.

Pandit Ravishankar, the famous Sitarist, was married to Akbar Khan's sister. As such he performed often in conjunction with Sitar Maestro Ravi Shankar and also as a teacher. He was a Professor of Music at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Stanley was lucky to learn under such a distinguished teacher of music. He learnt with dedication and with due respect to his teacher. His determination was to master the Sarode, the musical instrument of his guru. Hard work , determination and loyalty to the teacher was so much so that Stanley was able to acquire the knowledge he required to pass examinations such as Sangeeth Visarada and Nipun and finally he obtained a doctorate in music. Thus he proved to be the best student of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.

Sarode

One day the master visited the room where Stanley was practising. He was pleased to see his student practising the Sarode till late into the night. He went home and told his wife about the room Stanley had rented out. He had come to know that a person had hanged himself and died there and thereafter the room had been abandoned. Akbar Khan and his wife were ccompassionate enough to bring Stanley to their residence.

According to Hindu rituals he was bathed with turmeric mixed water and admitted to their home. Very soon he was treated as a member of the Ustad family. Besides the intelligence and skilful acquisition of the subject learnt, the teacher was highly impressed by the allegiance, loyalty and the candid qualities of his best student.

Matrimonial deal

Eventually, Akbar Khan and his wife reached a crucial decision, that is, to give their only daughter Ameena (holding a master's degree in maths) in marriage to Stanley. They were courteous enough to write to Stanley's parents in Sri Lanka for their consent. The letter was shown to me for my opinion. I urged the parents to write back immediately giving their consent because it is a great honour conferred not only on Stanley , but also on our music community as a whole.

Akbar Khan had consulted his brother-in-law Pandit Ravi Shankar regarding the matrimonial deal. Ravi Shankar had objected to it. However, Ustad Ali Khan stood firm. The wedding was organised according to Hindu customs, thus repeating the age-old custom as Disapamok Acharya of Thaksalawa in ancient India giving his daughter in marriage to his best student. This happened in 1968.

Dr. Stanely Perera served as a senior lecturer in Hindustani Music in Rabindra Bharati University in Calcutta, India and later he became the Head of the Instrumental Music and also served as a Consultant in the ITC Sangeeth Research Academy.

Instrumental music

He acquainted himself with the subtle techniques of playing the Sarode and achieved mastery of it. He was able to exploit his opportunities to the maximum and achieved distinctive success in instrumental music.

The thesis he submitted for his Doctorate was improved with further research and was published as a book titled The Origin and Development of Dhrupad Pandits Bearing on Instrumental Music.

The book reveals the history of music from the middle ages to modern practices in instrumental music. It also deals with Alap and Dhrupad its socio-religious origin covering the epoch of instrumental music on Sitar and Sarode. It is an elaboration of interpretations helpful for acquiring knowledge of the present performance practices. The book had been greatly evaluated and accepted by the learned musicians of India and recommended for classical music learners.

Stanley never failed to visit his family members and close friends in Sri Lanka. During a conversation once he spoke about present trends in Sinhala music, songs in particular.

He vehemently despised the slavish attitude of those who blindly imitate Western pop singers.

He spoke with great admiration and gratitude of exemplary musicians such as Ananda Samarakoon, Sunil Santha, Pandit Amaradeva, Dr. Victor Ratnayake, Dr. Rohana Weerasinghe, Prof Sanath Nandasiri, Nanda Malini and Lionel Ranwala for their endeavour in creating melodies preserving the oriental identity of the country.

"Song has become a powerful media today. Therefore, melody should be to heart and lyrics to intellect, he said.

The versatile musician, Dr. Stanley Perera who brought honour to the country and earned fame in Bharath passed away on November 24, 2004 at the age of 72 leaving his beloved wife Ameena and daughter Raaki.

May he be reborn in Sri Lanka and serve as a Gandharva!