Unity of Music - Sangeeta Aikyam (सङ्गीत ऐक्यम्)
“Oneness” or “Harmony” of music - Introduction
As a globe trotter (as my friends call me), here are my few observations :
Beyond the high-income statistics and professional success often cited for , the Indian diaspora in the West occupies a fascinating and an interesting “third space.” Their footprints are defined by a unique blend of preservation and radical reinvention.
Let me take there Culture, Music and Food as illustrations and examine.
Culture & Music
Unlike many immigrant groups that attempt to replicate home perfectly, the Indian diaspora—especially those from twice-migrated backgrounds, created entirely new genres.
A unique phenomenon within the Indian diaspora is the “Time Capsule Effect.” Static vs. Fluid Culture: While culture in India evolves rapidly (becoming more globalized and tech-centric), diaspora communities often “freeze” the cultural norms of the decade they left.
Interestingly, some of the most rigorous practitioners of Carnatic and Hindustani classical music are now found in suburbs like Cleveland, New Jersey or London. Because these communities view culture as a primary link to their heritage, they often fund and maintain classical institutions with more fervor than perhaps their counterparts in urban India
The diaspora has mastered the art of the Hyphenated Identity (Indian-American, British-Asian, etc.). This reflects in their storytelling and aesthetics:
Music and literature frequently blend Hinglish, Punjabi, or Tamil with Western slang, creating a vernacular that serves as a “language” for the community.
From the “Dotbuster” era of the 80s to the “South Asian Futurism” of today, artists use traditional motifs (henna, sarees, temple jewelry) in avant-garde or cyberpunk contexts to reclaim their narrative from Western stereotypes.
The diaspora acts as a massive cultural feedback loop. Songs produced in garages in Brampton or London often become chart-toppers in Mumbai, reversing the traditional flow of culture. Social media Platforms like TikTok and Instagram have allowed “Brown” identity to become a global aesthetic, merging Bollywood choreography with Western pop trends.
This unique position allows the diaspora to act as “cultural brokers,” translating Indian nuances for a Western audience while simultaneously pushing India to look at its own traditions through a modern, global lens.
Food
The diaspora’s relationship with food is perhaps the most visceral expression of their identity. It’s not just about “Indian food” appearing in the West; it’s about the creation of an entirely new culinary dialect that often baffles people back in India.
Vegetarianism Survived and Thrived. This is huge. Most immigrant cuisines adapt toward meat-heavy Western norms over time. But Indian diaspora communities preserved large-scale vegetarian traditions — not as a niche, but as mainstream community practice. In places like Leicester or Edison, vegetarian Indian food isn’t “alternative.” It’s the default. That’s rare in diaspora history.
In many immigrant communities, restaurant cuisine becomes the main reference point. But Indian diaspora families maintain a clear boundary between “Outside food” and “Home food”. That dual food identity is fascinating. It’s less “immigrant survival food” and more “mobile culinary civilization.”
As a student of Vedanta, I am neither a connoisseur of Food nor a Melomaniac with passion for music. For that matter I am neither a virtuoso nor an Aficionado. I try and get not perturbed or exited by duality. I am just a curious observer in these fields.
As regards to the food and related aspects, I would recommend you to subscribe to the newsletter :
I found it interesting and meeting my dietary requirements well.
So, What ? (How does it matter ?)
This is a standard question that I face from my grandchildren, whenever I try to narrate those little things from the past which made our generation happy (ofcourse with a hidden message that “we were better than you despite the odds against us”).
It matters here, because I would like to share my “Vritti” (Sanskrit: वृत्ति) in the field of Music and Culture through “Sangeeta Aikyam” (Sanskrit: सङ्गीत ऐक्यम्) viz., Integrating the Lyrics written by me in Tamil with the music from the West. (Note - “Vritti” refers to the movements, fluctuations, or “whirlpools” of thought within the mind (citta), often translated as “waves” or “streams of consciousness”.)
The lyrics written by me primarily focus on the beginning less, endless, omnipresent, omniscient, blissful “existence consciousness”, that one “Absolute Reality” called by various names in various places by various people as God, Brahman, Jesus, Allah, Siva, Vishnu, etc etc.
This will be a joint venture between three - myself, my niece and “Swarzulu” an extremely talented artist and busy financial services executive who crisscrosses between New Jersey and New Delhi and yet find time to seamlessly integrate the Indian traditional Carnatic Music with the various Western genres. Swarzulu is a One Man Band, Creating, performing and producing music. Raised in a home soaked in Carnatic music and later deeply influenced by Jazz, Rock and Classical in college, Swarzulu’s productions are a fusion of various genres. “The songs have a life of their own and take their own direction”. Swarzulu would like to remain anonymous.
So, here I am in Substack, looking forward to abundant happiness, free from sorrows for all, through fusion of music, arts and culture.
After all this is what “Kaniyan Poongundranaar”, the influential Tamil philosopher and poet from the Sangam age (circa 6th century BCE or earlier -born in Mahibalanpatti, Tamil Nadu) said as
“யாதும் ஊரே யாவரும் கேளிர்” - Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir (To us all towns are one, all humans our kin)
What next ?
Our maiden attempt will be tomorrow, March 2nd, the day of “Masi Magam”, an auspicious Hindu festival celebrated in the Tamil month of Masi (February–March) during the full moon and Magam star. Considered a powerful day for spiritual purification, it features devotees taking ritual baths (Theerthavari) in sacred waters. It is believed to be the day, divine energies are at their peak, allowing for the purification of karma.
See you tomorrow
God Bless