Former West Bengal Governor launches book on composer

Gopalkrishna Gandhi, former Governor of West Bengal, launchedthe book Devotion through Song, a biography of composer Ambujam Krishna written by historian V. Sriram on Friday.

Mr. Gandhi said there was devotion in her compositions, but it was not proclamatory. “It had no certitudes and it did not have a purpose or an agenda. Her devotion was a quiet conversation. Her devotion came in the hush of her retreat, as did her creativity,” he said.

Mr. Sriram said Ambujam Krishna had overwhelming bhakthi or devotion to God. “What is remarkable about her is that, she kept meticulous records of where the songs came from, the occasion in which she was inspired to compose a certain piece, and the actual process of creating the song,” he added.

‘Mirror to society’

He said her life was a mirror to a changing society. “She was born at a time when India was still a colony, and she died when it was taking the great steps towards becoming a nation that could claim to be a world power,” he added.

Carnatic musician S. Sowmya said Ambujam Krishna was a wonderful composer and a role model. “The compositions have simple words that each one of us could relate to.”

The composer’s son Suresh Krishna and granddaughter Ramya Narayanan were among those who spoke on the occasion.