Aparna Shivapura in conversation with Mattur Lakshmi Keshava, the advocate of progressive change, development and growth.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A noble cause. Mighty odds and challenges. An unmatchable commitment. A great institution. An untiring perseverance…these might some small ways to describe Mattur Lakshmi Keshava’s journey in his role as a connoisseur of the development of art and culture, in addition to being a key and core member of the great institution Sri Vani Education Center.
First of all, I would like to bring our readers’ notice and focus on how the Sri Vani Education Center can be considered one of the largest institutions today for encouraging art, developing projects and supporting the cause of our culture, art, heritage and great artistic talent. Today the famous Sri Ramanavami Music Festival is considered one of the greatest collaboration of music, devotion, art and culture in Bangalore and across the country. In fact its popularity is so high that its considered today to be a brand in itself with artists, musicians and dancers across the country coming and performing for over a month. The artists today include living legends and names that are renowned the globe over! It is to this institution that Lakshmi Keshava belongs and has been a critical and core member for so many years contributing and playing a significant role in the development of the arts and cultural heritage.
In his own words, Laksmi Keshava begins by saying that, a school is often the best place to begin any act of nourishing and change. Here is a place where along with disciplining the mind, teachers and institutions have a great opportunity to create the right platform for growth and progressive change. Impressive, I must say! Hence, years ago, he recalls taking a lot of ownership and volunteering for a lot of development related activities beyond the call of duty. This ability, initiative and ownership has taken him a long way in today being a highly acclaimed and credible source for the development of the arts. His views are really inspiring for he says, education must be all-rounded and comprehensive. So in those days, he would organized theatre workshops, cultural festivals, music programs and concerts and so on. This ensured that children were exposed to highly enriched environment within the context of education that aided their long term and overall personality development.
In fact Mattur Lakshmi Keshava recalls many such memorable events where he has organized and taken his school children to national and international musical and cultural fairs, SAARC, IFFI and so on including performances in front of the late Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. This is in addition to performances in front of many more such stalwarts and large associations, groups and forums. Such a great achievement and one to be applauded! But instead of resting on his awards, laurels and achievements, he says with utmost humility and earnestness that creating these platforms is inevitable and imperative to cultural growth because there is such an abundance of talent in our children and youth today that its often mesmerizing. When you give direction, channel and create bridges for children, they bloom like beautiful flowers!  These platforms provide a tremendous opportunity for children for growth and expansion. I am actually mesmerized by his views!!!
Not always is it easy, he says. There is a huge challenge with organizing programs, getting the right audiences, right artists, taking care of the management and logistics, getting the right support and funding for the programs. And this is ongoing and continuous not something that will get resolved overnight. But with a lot of pride and admiration, he says that his institution has been the backbone and pillar of this success. Because they always supported and encouraged these initiatives while always believing that this focus and extra-mile was required for their children, for their school and for their philosophy. Excellent, isn’t it? Then over a period of time and initial struggles, things fall in place…the funding and support does eventually come in. Also like I said earlier, today the institution is symbolic of this great achievement. Through these initiatives, when I think back, I realize how many deserving and talented children have gotten the right platform and opportunity is truly admirable. A great connoisseur of our arts, one can safely say!
One of the most important things I keep in mind while organizing these programs and functions all these years is that I DO NOT compromise on quality and standards of performances. As a writer, I must say, this is a great learning and a great take-back that all organizers and connoisseurs must keep in mind. No matter what odds you face or challenges you might have to endure, never compromise on the quality of the arts! You need to sustain STAGE VALUE, he says. Even as I hear him, I truly admire these words since this is what sets Mattur Lakshmi Keshava and his institution apart from others. How to present the artist on stage, how to provide the lighting and create the right effect, how to ensure audio-video perfection, how to have talented technicians, have a great program agenda, how to compensate artists, how to generate audiences, how to have renowned artists and celebrities and much more go into organizing a good program and a great festival. Their standards and levels of thinking itself is a class apart! Because they insist on maintaining this standard, there is no compromise on the performances, nor the quality of what is ultimately visible on screen…right from logistics, to technology, to artists to agenda and much more!!! “We spend a considerably significant amount of time in taking care of the smallest details of a performance including artist management and remuneration, for instance.”
Who do you admire, I ask? He says, I don’t know…it’s so difficult to point one finger at a name…there is a whole world out there to get inspired from…living musical legends, great names in the classical music and dance world, people who have made great sacrifices and worked very hard to come up…the list is endless…he says…What gives you satisfaction, I ask him? He says, again with humility and perhaps a peaceful smile, that when through my initiative or a decision, I have been able to help somebody in difficulty, when that has resulted in the desired objective of the person seeking help, I feel truly that it is satisfying. Also when children in difficulty take help, grow, become successful, remember who helped them and come back to do something back to society, it’s a really gratifying feeling, he says. That results in a chain reaction when they get help and help someone who needs help years later! While the people who we help are happy and thankful, I would like to add that we also feel very happy, he says with a sense of accomplishment. Truly deserving, I must say!
Twenty two years back, the Sri Ramanavami festival began with an agenda of three days and today its completed 31 full days of performance. Such a growth, such an expansion and I must add, such a great vision!  What is your secret to success, I ask and he says, always commit what you promise…keep your word! I think he needs to give a lecture or two at some efficient management classes as great takeaways! The awards and felicitations that is on him is endless…a six time national awardee, a member of the audition board of AIR for over four years…a music resource person for NCERT Delhi and so on…the list is endless…There is no stopping this flow, he says. I am never tired because what I do keeps me happy and satisfied…a great formula isn’t it? We need to consistently persevere at what we do and not stop because of odds and challenges, he says with confidence and a great experience behind him. He acknowledges that he is here and doing what he is passionate about purely because of the support and backbone of the great institution, Sri Vani Education Center.
I must tell all of you…as I speak to Mattur Lakshmi Keshava, I began the discussion to learn in detail about his views on music, culture, arts and talent…but I have discovered a person with infinite talent, passion and perseverance himself. A person with abundance of compassion, affection, a large heart, a great experience, a great name and above all, a great perspective on life and humanity. Our sincere wishes and admiration to this wonderful person.