Slow and Steady, My Flute Journey

I am a 56-year-old homemaker living in Chennai with my retired husband, my working son and my daughter-in-law, who is a student. Before this chapter of my life, I was a government servant with a hectic and stressful routine. When I took voluntary retirement, I finally felt relaxed and began thinking about finding some time for myself. One day, while browsing casually, I came across Harsh Ji’s advertisement. I felt an instant connection and happily enrolled in the Flute Gandharvas Community.

At first, everything went smoothly. But when I moved to the side flute, producing the Pa sound became a major challenge. It took me almost two weeks to get the right sound. The journey became smoother after that, until I reached the octaves. Lower octave Pa and Dha gave me a difficult time again. Family exigencies also prevented me from attending classes regularly, and the gaps made me feel that I was falling behind.

A turning point came when I had to travel to Dubai for ten days. I took my flute with me, practised every day, and submitted the two-skip Alankar. Receiving five stars boosted my morale and encouraged me to continue practising wherever I went. Later, I had to travel out of station for ten days of in-house treatment. I could not take my flute, but I watched the recordings and practised the finger movements in the air. I learned the National Anthem this way and submitted my recording as soon as I returned home. When I received five stars again, I made up my mind that, come what may, I would complete my FFC.

Earlier, I used to submit my recordings regularly, but the interruptions caused me to lag behind. Slowly, I stopped being in a hurry to meet every timeframe. I kept practising patiently and learned to remain calm, something I had lacked before. With only about 45 minutes available each day, I could not spend much time on long notes. Still, I practised the breathing techniques regularly and they helped increase my lung capacity. The flute taught me that progress does not always have to be fast; it can be quiet, patient, and steady.

Today, my flute is my soulmate and one of my closest companions. Beyond the joy and satisfaction of playing an instrument, it gives me a deep sense of tranquillity. I dedicate this journey to Harsh Ji, whom I consider a friend, philosopher and guide. I thank you for creating such an organised system that allowed me to learn from the comfort of home, encouraged me whenever I lagged behind and helped me keep moving toward my goal.

My poem for you

I am grateful to Harsh ji from the bottom of my heart, and all the mentors who guided me from the start, The joy l am experiencing is boundless today, and it is my flute that has paved the way.