Guide, Savant and Scholor.
A Remarkable Combination

By V.K.Viswanathan, Losalamos, N.M,USA.

The following excerpt from the Ph.D Thesis of Dr. William Jackson of Indiana University, USA probably summarizes best the scholarly achievements and contributions of Sri.T.S.Parthasarathy( T.S.P.) in  the field of Carnatic Music :

“ It is to T.S.P. that I owe many thanks for helping me work out these translations. Over the past year he has been my living dictionary and the key unlocking the structure and meaning of Saint Thyagaraja’s kritis ( compositions ) with their special South Indian Devotional song vocabulary. His wide ranging knowledge of Mythology, South Indian History and Languages, Philosophy and Music has added immensely to my appreciation of the lyrics. His fifty plus years of participation in carnatic music, scholarly studies and religious understanding have made him a treasure house of knowledge and his friendly graciousness and generosity make him a pleasure to work with and know”.

       Sri. Tiruvallikeni Srinivasa Parthasarathy ( T.S.P. ) was born in 1913 in Madras ( now a days called Chennai ). He was educated at Madras & Calcutta Universities and holds a B.A.(Honours) Degree with Distinction in Economics, Political Science, History and Sanskrit. After graduating in 1934, he was a journalist in Calcutta with a leading English Daily. He joined the Indian Railways soonafter and after a distinguished career retired as the Chief Commercial Superintendent of the Northern Railway.

       Even while in School, he learnt Classical and Vocal Music in carnatic style from eminent teachers and studied in depth the theory of  Carnatic music, Bharathanatyam and allied dance forms of south India. He still continues these studies and is active as expert lecturer in addition to his contributions as music and dance critic in Chennai newspapers and periodicals( for over 25 years ).

HIS SPECIAL FIELD OF RESEARCH

He has collected ( over the years ) hundreds of compositions in different languages from original sources and manuscripts. He has done research on their authenticity, style and content translating them also into different languages.

SOME OF HIS RESEARCH AREAS AND PUBLICATIONS

1.     1948- “Mahatma Gandhi: Tamil translation of Bengali articles by Rabindranath Tagore. Published by Viswabharathi, Santhiniketan.

2.     1954- “ Koil Olugu”: History of Srirangam Temple with special references to its musical traditions.

3.     1960-’62: Tamil translation of seven plays of Tagore from the Bengali Original. Published by the Sahitya Academy, New Delhi.

4.     1966- Tamil translation of Thyagaraja’s major Telugu opera “ “Prahalada Bhakthi Vijayam”  with the notation for the songs.

5.     1967- Based on a Manuscript dated 1826 T.S.P. published a Definitive Edition of 675 compositions of Thyagaraja with a Tamil translation. This is considered to be his Magnum Opus and has run into seven editions so far.

6.     1978- Published in Telugu script the kritis of of  Muthuswamy Dhikshitar and also the entire works of Shyama Sastri both part of the Carnatic Music Trinity ( the other one being Thyagaraja ).

7.     1982- Published ( in English ) “Music Composers of  India” on 18 eminent composers of Indian Music.

8.     1983- Translated into Tamil “Jayadeva” a monograph by Suniti Kumar Chatterji (published by the Sahitya Academy, New Delhi ).

9.     Tamil translation of “Musical Instruments of India” by Dr. B.C,Deva (National Book Trust , New Delhi).

10.1991- A complete English translation of “Prahalada Bhakthi Vijayam” the major telugu opera of Thyagaraja.

HIS MAGNUM OPUS

In 1967 he published the definitive edition of Thyagaraja compositions-675- with Tamil translations ( see the list in THYAGABRAHMAM part of this website). This publication is an AUTHORITATIVE MUST for anyone dealing with the saint’s compositions. Sri T.S.P. will be eternally remembered for this significant contribution to Carnatic Music.

ACTIVITIES,AWARDS ETC.

1978-1998: Secretary of Madras Music Academy. Produced 24 issues of prestigious journals and four books of research value.

1976-now: Guide to Ph.D Students ( with grants from the Ford Foundation and American Institute of Indian Studies ) as well as many Indian University Scholars.

1986: Produced the record album “ The Great Tradition-Masters of Music” commissioned by the Festival of India in USA.

1991: Elected  Fellow, Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi for his services for over half a century to Indian Music and Dance.

1995: Madras Music Academy conferred the title of “ Sangitha Kala Acharya” for his services and contributions to Music.

1998-2000: Emeritus Fellow in the Department of Culture by the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India.

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

He is devoting his entire time and energy for the promotion of the performing arts and guiding students in research. He has one of the best private libraries in Music and Dance ( including manuscripts ) and makes it available to Students, Scholars, and researches.

    He can be reached at: 38(old 20) First Cross Street, West C.I.T. Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Telephone: 91-44-4359005 and 4357820.

   Sri T.S.P. is both a beacon and a treasure house of our music and culture. May God him the Energy and Strength to further his already enormous contributions to our knowledge of our culture and music.