Drew Faust and Sonu Nigam Create History at Harvard

A drizzle, breaking tree branches and gray skies could not dim the sunny spirit of thousands who turned up locally and from across the world to see history being made at Harvard on 12th Oct 2007.

South Asians, especially those of Indian origin, everywhere, watched with pride as global youth Icon Sonu Nigam, perhaps the most outstanding singer to emerge out of India in recent times, walked onto the stage to perform his fresh new interpretation of Mahatma Gandhi’s favorite hymn Vaishnav Janato, as part of the inauguration ceremonies to honor Drew Faust. Faust became the first woman to be installed as the 28th President of Harvard University. She is also the first President of the 21st century.

This is the first time in the 371 years of Harvard history that any Indian artist has been invited to perform at the installation ceremonies. While Harvard pulled all the stops to make this a memorable event, with the crème de la crème from a global academic world marking the occasion with their presence, it was Harvard Sangeet, a student group founded just over 2 years ago, under the leadership of a petite dynamo, Vasanthi Sridhar, that pulled off this musical event symbolizing unity in diversity and bringing Sonu Nigam to Harvard.

Vasanthi an accomplished singer herself says that her dream was to showcase Indian culture and music and make Harvard a mecca for South Asian artists. Harvard Sangeet was born barely a little over 2 years ago as a result. “In its short time, it has brought dozens of artists to the community, ranging from Carnatic musician Aruna Sairam, Hindustani doyen Pandit Jasraj, Actress-humanitarian Shabana Azmi and writer/poet husband Javed Akhtar, and now the biggest – maestro Sonu Nigam. Sangeet’s own student performance groups have become a popular mainstay of campus-wide festivities, while many of these student talents impart lessons in Indian vocal, instrumental and percussive music to Indian and non-Indians alike. Overall, Sangeet has proved itself a true leader and pioneer, becoming a household name in Boston, and in musical circles throughout the world.”

There were speeches galore, eulogizing the University, celebrations and hard hitting comments by a student body president, who told Drew Faust very tongue in cheek as one President to another, change is hard to achieve.

Drew Faust, who supposedly spent the summer poring over the speeches of her predecessors, was surrounded by friends and family, colleagues and as a special treat, all her teachers from grade school all the way to graduate school. She began by thanking them for teaching her to “love learning and the institutions that nurture it,” and then went on to share her vision in a 30 minute speech.

As the first President of Harvard in the 21st century she received a special sealed brown manila entrusted to the university archives in 1957, by James B Conant, the 23rd President of Harvard University. “It was addressed to – My Dear Sir,’ said Faust amidst laughter. The letter contained Conant’s fear that a third world war was imminent and through it the possible destruction of Cambridge, but if the prophets of doom were proven wrong, then Conant said he was confident, that the first President of the University 50 years down the road, ‘will receive this note and be in charge of a more prosperous and significant institution than the one over which I had the honor to preside.” He was hopeful that the President will continue to preserve the traditions that make Harvard such a special place to be in.

Faust acknowledged some of her outstanding predecessors in terms of their contribution to Harvard, and how the presence of so many scholars from across the world reminded her that “what we do at Harvard links us to universities and colleges around the world.” She called her installation “a marriage of a new President to a venerable institution.” She also had everyone laughing when she said, “Inaugural speeches are a peculiar genre. They are by definition pronouncements by individuals who do not yet know what they are talking about.”

While she kept her agenda open, Faust tried to reflect on what Harvard and institutions like Harvard meant in the 21st century.

Faust talked about an interconnected world, and how American universities are simultaneously admired and assailed. A bunch of articles from the 1980s onwards, have charged universities with teaching too little, charging too much, neglecting students and curbing progress, shunning liberalism, and that has silenced open debate. A PBS special in 2005, she recalled had “described a sea of mediocrity that places this nation at risk.” While American universities remain the most admired and emulated and arguably the most respected in the world how does one explain the contradictions?

They result, said Faust because of “unbounded expectations of our colleges and universities; expectations that are at once intensely felt and poorly understood”, even though “US has tied its national identity to the power of education…”

However it is still a good time as any, because of the liberalization of restrictions imposed on women, immigrants and others who would have been excluded altogether in an earlier era. “My presence here today and indeed that of many others on this platform would have been unimaginable even a few short years ago. Those who charge that universities are unable to change should take note of this transformation of how different we are from the universities of even the mid 20th century.” College education is no longer restricted to the exclusive elite. ‘It now serves many, not just a few.”

Faust reiterated her belief in the fact that access should be based on talent and not circumstance, diversity must be embraced and that Harvard must accept its obligation to be fully available and affordable for talented students. The university has to be fully accountable to the people and to the future. A university is also not about results, but about learning that transforms.

Faust pointed out that for many people the four years of undergraduate life offers the only interlude permitted for unfettered exploration of such fundamental questions like who are we, where did we come from and where are we going and why. She encouraged a “culture of restlessness and even unruliness”, because the expansion of knowledge must continue at Harvard even though expansion brings change and change is often uncomfortable.

Change encompasses loss but also gains, disorganization and discovery said Faust and quoting Machiavelli pointed out that unsettling change accompanies every advance. She reiterated the need at Harvard to “organize ourselves that enables us fully to engage in such exploration…we must overcome barriers within and beyond Harvard that could slow or constrain such work. We must provide the resources and the facilities.

There is, said the new President, also a necessity to be accountable to one another, to students “for they are our most important purpose and legacy” even though “it is not easy to convince a nation or a world to respect, much less support institutions challenging society’s fundamental assumptions-but it is our job to explain and achieve these purposes so that these institutions strive and thrive.”

Faust talked about a transnational world where knowledge was the most powerful connector and that every one is inevitably ‘nipped together.”

Sonu Nigam became a powerful symbol of the global world that Drew Faust spoke of in her speech. As he stood on a world stage so different from the one he regularly graces with his melodious and vibrant presence, his music seemed to create a rainbow of melody and a message of world peace. The two super achievers-one from the world of academia and the other from the world of creative arts became forever linked through a ceremony that honored excellence and diversity at its best.

“I knew this was a very special occasion and a very rare opportunity any South Asian would get- to be a part of such a historic moment,” said Sonu in an exclusive interview, to the e-magazine, when asked about his new interpretation of the famous Gandhi hymn.

“And I wanted to offer something different.”

Sonu’s Harvard adventure began a couple of days before the ceremony, but his arrival at the University, gave the much admired star and his fans some unforgettable moments and memories that I’m sure both will always cherish.

“Throughout his visit, Sonu-ji was stopped frequently by adoring South Asian fans wherever he went,” says Vasanthi Sridhar, “The day before the Installation ceremony Sonu-ji met with students in a special intimate forum, where he responded to tough questions with characteristic humor and blended readily into the academic vibe. He was as generous as he was entertaining in obliging every sort of request, leaving the audience animated as never before. On a more serious note, Sonu-ji took out quality one-on-one time to speak with student leaders about Harvard Sangeet’s long-term direction and goals, and how he could help shape that vision. He made his every minute available, and his professed belief in our mission rang true in his dedication to it.”

For Sonu, the moments were special in more ways than one. “Those days prior to the event, took me back to my school days, and have brought some very pleasant memories. Being here reminded me of what I had missed out. I became a play back singer at 18 and though I was at the top of my class in school I could never go to college due to my professional commitments. Harvard is a very beautiful place and I really cherish this opportunity to have been a part of it,” says Sonu, and added, “I could never be a student at Harvard but here I was invited by them and performing at such a historic event, an opportunity most students at Harvard may not get, but it happened to me. I met young people, young Indians, south Asians over here who are so bright, hard working and very cool. They are so energetic, so well mannered.”
For Harvard Sangeet too this was a huge milestone, says Vasanthi Sridhar. “Perhaps the biggest recognition of Harvard Sangeet’s accomplishments came in the form of an invitation to present a South Asian performance at the landmark Presidential Installation Ceremony of Drew Faust. During his speech at the Installation, Gov. Deval Patrick recounted how his grandmother’s innocent reaction to his Harvard admission had impressed upon him that more than any prestige it was an awesome opportunity that his Harvard acceptance represented. In the inclusion of Indian music in the Installation ceremony, Sangeet recognized the same element. Harvard might not be looking for a Bollywood star, but with the world’s eyes upon us, why not give Indian music a face to last?

For us, this face would have to be that of an Indian who commanded consensus at home, and conveyed universal talent, appeal and charisma abroad. This individual would be able to straddle two worlds – old and new, east and west – bridging the gap to bring those worlds together; someone who’d entertain intellectual interactions and deliberations; someone who’d be accommodating in meeting the challenges of this new frontier, and generous and genuine in his or her commitment to the greater mission Harvard Sangeet embodies.

We found our perfect ambassador in Sonu Nigam. Sonu-ji wholeheartedly accepted the honor of the stage, realizing the immense potential the combination of his celebrity and this exalted platform in launching Indian music into the next orbit. Nonetheless, he remained grounded in the realities and challenges of becoming a recognizable icon in this environment.”

Many people do not know why Sonu Nigam chose to perform Vaishnav Janato at Harvard. “I have been a very strong Gandhian and I had loved Vaishnav Janato from my childhood. It is not just me, but the whole world has been inspired by this great and noble man, and I thought why not use this hymn that he loved to sing with his devotees and not only give the composition a fresh, contemporary feel, but also translate the meaning in English and share the beautiful thoughts with the rest of the world.

I had done the composition four years back and was looking for the right opportunity. I thought this was the best occasion to present my interpretation of this beautiful hymn and I think it created a lot of good will among every one who heard it.”

Sonu’s observations were confirmed by Vasanthi Sridhar. “Just hours after his performance, a palpable change had occurred. Now non-Indians and Indians alike congratulated and gestured to him from afar. President Faust herself came out to meet Sonu-ji and the Sangeet team.”

Something that happened due to unavoidable circumstances, turned out to be another lovely moment, ending in a musical collaboration between Sonu and the Harvard Sangeet team at the event. Sonu’s accompanists, stellar musicians Deepak Pandit and Elvis from India could not make it to the US due to unavoidable circumstances.

Sonu’s friends Wayne Sharp and Anil Shukla came from New Jersey with him to help out. “They were kind enough to come and perform and the students at Harvard who accompanied us did a brilliant job by giving us a lot of support,” says Sonu who had no hesitation to reach out to the Harvard students and have them accompany him. It did not go unnoticed says Sridhar. “It was a gesture of foresight that was greatly praised by faculty and administrators, including South Asia Initiative Director Dr. Sugata Bose, who personally commended Sonu ji on it. Sonu ji worked tirelessly with the students, encouraging them warmly, and providing guidance every step of the way.”

Harvard Sangeet was supported by Air India and Ketki Parikh, who flew in from Chicago and helped Harvard Sangeet coordinate and plan things in a very short time frame. Ketki said, ’This experience has been one of my most memorable…. beginning with a call from Vasanthi at Harvard Sangeet early on the morning of September 10th and culminating in Sonu Nigam’s appearance at Harvard this past week. Both Sonu and all of the leaders at Harvard Sangeet trusted me completely with this project and treated me as a part of their own family. It was truly a special opportunity to work alongside them and help in their untiring efforts to make this a success. Sonu for his part, graciously agreed to come all the way from India despite his hectic schedule. In spite of high academic pressure during mid-term season, some of the students practiced with Sonu till 2 a.m in the morning, while Wayne Sharp, a well renowned music composer from New York was kind enough to join the team at 24 hours notice. The whole thing came together rather miraculously. And when Sonu sang “Vaishnav Janto….” in front of new Harvard President Drew Faust and 230 dignitaries from across the globe, cadres of illustrious alumni and a crowd of 15,000 people, I was overjoyed at what was a moment of great honor and pride for all Indians. The event as a whole was an exceptional opportunity for showcasing South Asian music, and for me personally, it was very gratifying to be a part of an initiative that was spreading India ’s rich musical and cultural heritage across the globe.’

With Harvard forging strong ties with South Asia, on an ongoing basis, singers like Sonu Nigam and Harvard Sangeet are bound to be a part of many such momentous occasions. Together they not only did themselves proud but gave a touch of reality to Drew Faust’s rhetoric.

Kavitachhibber.com would like to gratefully acknowledge Harvard Sangeet and Vasanthi Shridhar for facilitating this piece.