Shanti
Artist: Malay Kundu (OJ)
URL: www.shantisong.org
Amazing are the hidden talents of HBS students. While many of us spend our time at HBS merely sharpening our business acumen, others find time to pursue their passions beyond the world of business. One such example is Malay Kundu’s (OJ) affinity for song writing and performance.
Specifically, Malay has recently written a song entitled, “Shanti,” which articulates his emotions shortly after the events of September 11, 2001. Stricken by constant thoughts of the grief associated with losing a loved one, Malay began to ponder what such a loss would mean to him.
“I had just celebrated my first anniversary only a few months earlier, and the thought of losing my wife was just unimaginable. It occurred to me how the fact that I was having this thought at all was really indicative of the loss of peace that had enveloped me and most other people in the country,” Malay said.
Waking up to a world that had previously taken peace for granted, Malay composed much of the song in short order, a manifestation of his passion for the message.
“I was in the shower one morning before heading to HBS. Before I got out of the shower, I had come up with the lyrics and the melody for the first verse. I kept singing it until I got to my computer, and then I finished writing the song before leaving for school. I was a bit late to class that day.”
“Shanti,” the Sanskrit word for Peace, is a stirring personification of Shanti (Peace) as a loved one that has left in the morning with merely a kiss goodbye. The balance of the song details the loved one’s longing for Shanti’s return as the day turns from morning to afternoon to evening.
Malay explained, “I’ve been writing songs for about six years now, but this is the first one I have really taken all the way. It occurred to me only a month ago that if I was ever to do anything with the song, I should do it in time for the anniversary of September 11th.”
Accordingly, Malay enlisted the support of a local Boston producer with whom he worked to craft an instrumental arrangement to convey the “honest emotion” behind the lyrics which Malay had previously been singing a cappella over the past year for friends.
“Since I’ve sent the link (www.shantisong.org) out to all my friends and played the song for our section reunion on the first day of our return to 2nd year, the response has been amazing,” Malay added.
In fact, Malay has already experienced a bit of publicity, as “Shanti” was radio broadcast on September 10 on Northeastern University’s WRBB. Malay has also received interest from additional college radio stations and the likes of National Public Radio (NPR) and local PBS station, WGBH.
Malay notes, “While I’m not looking to make any money from Shanti, I am trying to get it ‘out there’ and heard. Being new to the music industry, I’d definitely appreciate any advice or suggestions of people to talk to.”
For those interested in experiencing the song for themselves, “Shanti,” can be downloaded in MPEG audio format from www.shantisong.org.
SHANTI (Peace)
A Request for Peace
Inspired by September 11th
By Malay Kundu (OJ)
Shanti, oh Shanti, oh Shanti where’d you go?
Stole away this morning, so quiet I didn’t know
Small consolation, that kiss before you’d go
Shanti Shanti Shanti Om
Shanti Om, Peace and Hope
Shanti, Shanti please come home
Shanti, oh Shanti, oh Shanti where’d you go?
Can’t believe this afternoon, how bad this day would go
Need you here right next to me, my hand for you to hold
Shanti Shanti Shanti Om
Shanti Om, Peace and Hope
Shanti, Shanti please come home
Smoke fills the skies
As tears fill my eyes
Cruel coin that Fate has tossed
Life was a dream
With you next to me
Now I’m awake and lost
Shanti Om, Peace and Hope
Shanti Om, Peace and Hope
Shanti, Shanti please come home
Shanti, Shanti please come home
Shanti, oh Shanti, oh Shanti where’d you go?
I pray to God this evening in daylight you will show
No matter what will happen, my love for you still grows
Shanti Om, Peace and Hope
Shanti, Shanti please come home
No matter what will happen, my love for you still grows
Shanti Shanti Shanti Om
Shanti Shanti Shanti Om
Shanti Shanti Shanti Om
