Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi, better known to her fans as M.S. Subbulakshmi or simply MS, passed away on the night of December 11th in Chennai, India. The Maria Callas of India, MS added a new dimension to music and devotion through the instrument that was her voice. The woman whose Hindu devotional songs to which I awoke during many of my childhood weekends is gone. She was 88 years old and had led more than a full life, but how do you replace someone with the vocal capacity and intensity of MS? Echoing the feelings of an admirer, “no one else can create this feeling which takes us straight to heaven.”
For more information on M.S. Subbulakshmi:
- A well-written and comprehensive article – MS Subbulakshmi: Genius Of Song
- M.S. Subbulakshmi: Nightingale of Carnatic music
- M.S. Subbulakshmi: Portraits of a diva
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More sad news followed when I discovered yesterday that University of Wisconsin Geology’s graduate secretary, Sharon Meinholz, passed away from a heart attack. This comes as a complete shock because she was only 51 and a non-smoker and non-drinker with a healthy lifestyle. Refreshingly liberated and progressive for a woman who hadn’t traveled much outside of Wisconsin, Sharon and I were unlikely friends. Again, this is not completely surprising given that our connection was founded on and strengthened by our gifts of curiosity and gab (truly, no one could walk by Sharon’s office and not get sucked into what I jokingly referred to as her vortex). She always had a word of encouragement, kept me on track, and made me laugh during episodes of Frustrated Grad Student Syndrome. What a great woman.
In honor of all the work she did for our graduates, all of whom she knew on a first-name basis and never forgot, the department has set up a Sharon Meinholz Graduate Student Fund. If you are able, please feel free to donate.
