Kochi: Like most sensitive people, Carnatic singer Sr. Rincy Alphonse was shocked at the news of Malayali priest  Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil being kidnapped by ISIS gunmen at an elderly-care facility at Yemen in mid-March. “As the days went by, my worries for the safety of Fr. Tom grew,” she says.

In Fr. Tom’s remembrance at the 90th year celebrations of the Sisters of the Destitute at Chunangamvely, 29 km from Kochi, Bishop Mar Jose Puthenveetil dedicated the event to efforts being made to secure his release. At the March 29 concert, Sr. Rincy had sung Carnatic songs.

Sr. Rincy is making waves because she is a Catholic nun who sings Carnatic songs. The lyrics have been written by her mentor, Abdul Azeez, assistant professor (violin) in RLV College of Music and Fine Arts at Tripunithara near Kochi. “I have written songs in praise of God, Jesus Christ and Mother Mary,” says Abdul. “They are a mix of Sanskrit and Malayalam songs, but are based on the traditional ragas.”

What uplifted 29-year-old Sr. Rincy during the concert was the thought that while Abdul accompanied her on the violin, the mridangam was played by Guruvayur Sanoj, and the ghatam (a percussion instrument) by Parur Gopakumar. “There was a Muslim, Hindu and Christian collaboration for a traditional Hindu art form,” she says. Agrees Abdul, “In our small way, we are trying to bridge the gap between communities.”

The nun plans to do more concerts in honour of Fr. Tom till he is released.

Sr. Rincy does her daily riyaaz. She wakes up at 3 am and goes to the convent’s auditorium on the third floor. There, in the deafening silence, she sits cross-legged on the floor and begins singing Carnatic keerthanas and ragas. Her voice floats easily across the building, but doesn’t disturb the sleeping 60-odd nuns.

“We find her voice very soothing,” says Sr. Reesa Parakkal. “When you hear the ragas in the deep silence, it creates a serene feeling both for the singer as well as the listeners. Some nuns have told Sr. Rincy they have a problem on the rare days when she does not sing.”

Sr. Rincy’s life changed when Provincial Superior Mother Sneha Neriamparambil heard her sing in 2011. “You have a good voice,” she said. Thereafter, Sr. Rincy did a two-year diploma course at the SRV Music school at Thrissur, followed by a three-year BA (Music) from the RLV College in Carnatic music. “I am a fan of Chithra (playback singer)” she says. “She has sung some wonderful Carnatic songs. Carnatic music is mostly devotional and spiritual.”

Today, her dedication to Carnatic music is visually palpable. “Whenever I sing a raga, I feel happy and peaceful,” she says. “However, there are some ragas, like ‘Sahana’, which create sadness, but at the same time, they are comforting. I believe that ragas have a healing power.”

When she has a headache, she sings the raga ‘Hamsadhvani’. “After a while, the pain goes. I used to suffer from migraines earlier, but that has gone completely now,” she says.

Asked about her future plans, Sr. Rincy says, ““I want to do more concerts, in honour of Fr. Tom, till he is released. I also want to popularise Carnatic music among people who know little about the art form.”

(Source: The New Indian Express)