Nagpur: Music flows through the blood of most of the people from the ‘seven states’ of northeastern India. A Pauline Sister, Caroline Duia from the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya is no exemption.
The native of Shillong, capital of Meghalaya, shares with Matters India about her music debut and her contributions in the field of religious music.
Caroline, tell us something about you, your family and your talent in music?
Meghalaya, the abode of clouds, is my birthplace. I am the fifth of my parents’ 15 children: 11 girls and four boys. Only 12 of us now survive.
Growing up in a large family surrounded by siblings and loving parents in a very religious atmosphere naturally formed in me a leaning toward the beauty of the divine. May be it was the natural beauty of the land of hills and springs that imprinted within us notes of music, prompting us all to sing out harmoniously.
My father was a teacher, catechist, politician, social worker all in one and used to compose songs. He played accordion, flute, harmonica and whistled (not heard anyone else whistling as beautifully as my father did) and sang beautifully. Mum was a housewife. She too was a singer so it is natural that all the children inherited the talent. At one time we were all on stage in a concert.
My brother Hilary is a also a composer, and brought out an album in Khasi language—Pyiar la ki Kti (Stretch out your hands) with the Daughters of St Paul in Shillong. All my sisters and brothers have always been part of choirs in the parishes we belonged.
When did you release your first Album? What was its content? How many more have you released to date?
In 1998, my first Album—Come Holy Spirit was released by the Publication House of my Congregation—Pauline Communications. The Album has songs on the Holy Spirit, to celebrate the Year dedicated to the Spirit preparing for the Great Jubilee 2000.
In all I have brought out 8 albums: Come Holy Spirit; Our Father; Christ Yesterday, Today, Forever; Miracles; Spread Out Your Wings; Sing His Praise; Vessels of Clay; and Into Your Presence.
What are the themes chosen for your songs? How do you choose? Do they reflect your life experiences?
Come Holy Spirit; Our Father; Christ Yesterday, Today, Forever were to celebrate the three Jubilee Years with the themes proposed by the universal Church. Vessels of Clay celebrated the year dedicated to St Paul.
Spread out your Wings deals with Social themes. Sing His Praise contains Liturgical songs.
Yes, many songs are based on personal experiences, convictions and beliefs.
“Miracles” was a hit, inspiring many people. All the songs in the CD are appreciated by the people. Say something about its lyrics. Why is it touching hearts according to you?
“Miracles” is a hit because—May be people are inspired by the title itself, and listening to the song with this title inspires them to realize miracles are indeed taking place every moment in our lives. Often we pay attention to things we consider as ‘big’ and forget about the small things in life which in reality make the major part of our life.
There are also themes of repentance and suffering which everyone experiences daily; and of course God’s power and presence that actually direct our life also feature in the songs.
What really triggered the beginning of your song writing? Who had been your best inspiration in life, in the field of music?
The saying “Need is the mother of invention” applies here. I started writing and composing songs because of the problems of copyright.
Earlier we used to take the recorded albums from our sisters in other countries; and sometimes we also translated the songs from Italian to English and dub them in India.
Then in 1997, which was the year dedicated to Jesus Christ as part of the celebration of the Great Jubilee Year, I was asked by Pauline Communications to co-ordinate the compilation and recording of songs for the album Jesus Christ (songs that fit the theme for the Jubilee year—Year of Jesus Christ). I found that to be quite a tedious job—finding out about the songs, composers, copyright owners, and so on.
So I said to myself ‘I will do it myself, so we don’t have to ask anyone for copyrights.’ When I began to write, I realized my dormant talents for music. Thanks to my father who used to teach me the ‘Tonic Solfa’. Of course I also owe much to the singing and musician friends who fine-tuned my compositions in the initial years.
As for, who has been my inspiration in the field of music, perhaps, the real one is my father who used to compose songs for every occasion—be it a visit of the bishop, or chief minister or a king, or a feast day, or a cultural day in the village, or to give a surprise my mother.
What do you think you need most while writing songs. Is it silence, seclusion?
I need to be empty—empty of the self, and surrender myself to God and be totally open to the Spirit of God .Without that, what comes at the end of the day is ‘rubbish’ and dissatisfaction.
What are your plans for the future? Do you plan any more new albums?
At the moment I am totally tied up with responsibilities other than music. But I believe that when God wants it to happen, He will make it happen—in his time, in his way. However I am contributing a song or two for our next Pauline Album.
What are the difficulties you faced in fulfilling your dream in bringing to light your songs?
Time and money. . . .
What training did you have in music?
I had a very informal training. I didn’t even know it was a training: my father taught me to play the accordion since I was four years old. As an adult I was sub-consciously trained by associating with singers, musicians and technicians while doing the recordings or otherwise. I am still learning, still training.