Allah tero naam. Ishwar tero naam - TM Krishna's rendition changed my outlook in life. What keeps you?

Allah tero naam. Ishwar tero naam at Jodhpur RIFF changed my perspective....

Indian Carnatic music maestro TM Krishna collaborates with transwomen singers at the Jodhpur RIFF 2017

This was my very first visit to Jodhpur and I coincided it with an attempt to catch the Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF) whose chief patron is Marwar's royalty Gaj Singh II.

One of the renditions by Carnatic music maestro TM Krishna (TMK - as he is lovingly called) changed my life's perspective so much so that this feeling is here to stay and share.
TMK sang a very popular song called 'Allah Tero Naam. Ishwar Tero Naam...' with a 'specific reason' as he perched effortlessly at the break of dawn at Jaswant Thada near Mehrangarh Fort.
With him were the absolute delights of the season — The Jogappa singers. These transwomen musicians were clad in simple sarees, played traditional instruments and sang at an unusually shrill high pitch. 

Music legend TM Krishna with Jogappa Singers at Jodhpur RIFF

In TMK's words, when it comes to the marginalised community of transwomen in India, do we ever think which religion they belong to. We all come with our pre-conceived notions about them whilst contemplating the degree to which we can accept them integrally within our societal circles. Don't we? Religion does not create a barrier within this transwomen community as they all believe that they are the creations of God. Well, so are we, you'd say. Then, what is it that divides us and why.
God (or super power) can be called Allah by the followers of Islam and Ishwar by Hinduism followers. In today's day and time, how united are we truly in our minds. And if there is a growing barrier, can't we fuse it with a bridge of music, love and inclusiveness, much like the Jogappa singers strive to do. If they can, what keeps you?

Girl with the Blue Scarf says: Jodhpur RIFF 2017 came to splendid closure with the soul stirring Carnatic vocals of virtuoso TM Krishna and the Jogappa singers. In an unusual musical collaboration, Krishna performed with the transwomen musicians and Jogappa singers, the result of which was a truly remarkable blend of folk and Carnatic music, hitherto unheard of in the city.  The performance included compositions by the Jogappas, which they sang in praise of Goddess Yellama and bhajans in the Carnatic style. 
This is the tenth annual season of Jodhpur RIFF, which is ably curated since its inception by Divya Kumar Bhatia. I am only left with praises for this man, who has enabled divinity to seep right into our souls with music as the medium. Perhaps that's why his father may have named him Divya (inspired from the Sanskrit word Divy or divine). More power to his tribe. 

You can learn more about the Jodhour RIFF at www.jodhpurriff.org

Jodhpur RIFF is a not-for-profit project led by the Mehrangarh Museum Trust, Jodhpur. It was originally a joint initiative of the Mehrangarh Museum Trust, John Singh and Jaipur Virasat Foundation.

HH Gaj Singh II of Marwar-Jodhpur is the Chief Patron. Sir Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones is the International Patron of Jodhpur RIFF.  Faith Singh, founder of Anokhi and the Jaipur Virasat Foundation is also a patron of Jodhpur RIFF.

Timed every year to coincide with 'SharadPurnima', the brightest full moon of the year in north India, Jodhpur RIFF features a series of spectacular concerts and events based in and around Mehrangarh Fort.