As doctors and medical professionals working in various spheres of the healthcare industry, our lives are busy, challenging, and stressful. Often, we are left with little time for rejuvenation, so a hobby that is one’s own space for creativity, joy, and relaxation is a wonderful thing to have. Music has been such an outlet for me and I have always enjoyed singing, and even writing and composing my songs. It is something that I always do for my happiness and social entertainment.
During the COVID epidemic in 2020, when we were all confined to our homes, I was giving online medical care to several patients, while monitoring and guiding them and their families. I used to tell patients to listen as much as possible to soothing music throughout the day and refrain from watching too much depressing news on TV and social media. I was also singing cheerful popular songs and sharing videos with friends to keep their morale up.
Song Composer
One of my school friends asked me if I could create and sing a song in our national language, that inspires people to work towards defeating this disease, and also imparts safety information. That’s when I wrote and composed the song ‘Corona ko hai Harana’, recorded it at home, and shared the video with some close ones. What overwhelmed me was when the MyGov Corona portal of India, picked up the song and put it up in their section called ‘Positive Harmonies’ across all their media platforms reaching the song out to the whole nation. Later Doordarshan (DD-TV) used the song to impart guidance on COVID-related precautions and hygiene, as well as to inspire everyone across villages, towns, and cities that we are determined to defeat and beat COVID and emerge victorious! I got so much feedback on how the song was inspiring people, making them feel positive and energized, and that they were playing it to their children too. I was touched beyond words, that even if a drop in the ocean, my music could make a positive difference at a difficult time for the nation. It was such a satisfying experience for me that I could blend my music with my medical profession to provide inspiration, positivity, and a healing influence to so many people!
Yoga Sutras
Realizing the healing and inspiring power of music, and also seeing holistic approaches like yoga and pranayama helping so many people through the challenges of COVID, the same year I composed the 3 main yoga sutras of Patanjali as a song that can be hummed and sung easily by everyone and brings a feeling of bliss, positivity and wellness. Musicians from their homes helped to put the song together and this is the first time that we weaved music together totally online without meeting. Renowned singer Hariharan ji, sang the sutras with me, an unforgettable honor, and this beautiful piece called the ‘Spirit of Yoga’ was launched by MyGov, ICCR, and Ayush Ministry across 90 countries on International Yoga Day (also International Music Day). Another overwhelming moment when I could use music to inspire people to adopt our ancient wonderful yoga practice and also just feel a sense of calmness and peace hearing the sutras in music.
Inspirational Song
Though a glimmer of hope came in at the end of 2020 with COVID vaccines, before its mass implementation, the deadly delta second wave of COVID swept India in early 2021, plunging the nation into distress, agony, and suffering. We medical professionals worked relentlessly managing families affected by COVID, as well as on improving vaccine awareness and uptake, but the absolute low morale of the people was palpable. That’s when I wrote and composed my inspirational song ‘Jannat Hai’. A song that celebrates life amid all its challenges and suffering, makes one appreciate what one has and inspires one to find strength and determination within to live and enjoy this beautiful life which is our heaven on earth. The song crossed a million views so fast and people from all over the country shared their anecdotes on how this song inspired them! Honestly, I too keep going back to this song even today to seek inspiration in low times.
Today even though hopefully the pandemic is behind us, the scars do remain. Many are still coping with its aftermath. The trilogy of these 3 inspirational songs that I could create in that challenging time of the pandemic and reach out to millions of people, has been a journey of growth for me and has helped me evolve as a person, understand and cope with many aspects of life better, and also harness the holistic healing power of music towards health and wellness.
