RAG and Raga: How AI Retrieval Mirrors the Art of Indian Classical Music

Would you ever think that a highly evolving sphere of knowledge like Artificial Intelligence have anything to do with a 6000 year old discipline of Indian Classical music?

My world has been revolving around RAG and Raga for a reasonable time and I have been meaning to put it on pen and paper for a while. Most people have heard the term RAG in the recent past in the context of Artificial Intelligence, however you may not be familiar of its uncanny resemblance with Raga - let me explain!

Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) is an approach in AI where a language model is enhanced by retrieving relevant external information at query time and that information is used to generate a response. It comprises of two steps - 'retrieval' to query the information from a vector database and 'generation' wherein the retrieved context is passed into a large language model, which then generates a response grounded in that external information.

RAGA on the other hand is a melodic composition which is a part of Indian Classical Music, which has its roots in musical chants created between 3000 to 6000 years back. A raga uses a specific series of notes in the Solfege (SaReGaMa ) in ascending and descending patterns and characteristic musical phrases to evoke a distinct mood or emotion. A Raga is not a song - it's a framework. A musician draws from years of internalized notes and phrases, characteristic melodic patterns, emotional “flavors” (rasa) and a grammar that guides what can be expressed.

When they perform, they are not inventing from thin air. They are retrieving from a deep internal library—musical memory, lived experiences, discipline and then generating something new through improvisation. The art lies in how skillfully they move between memory and creativity.

I feel blessed to be navigating both realms with equal fervor. As part of my work or natural curiosity, i have been ramping up my knowledge of Artificial Intelligence and RAG amongst it. On the other hand i have been devoting considerable time and effort to learn various Ragas for the last five years including Desh, Bhairav, Bhairavi, Bhimpalasi, Kafi, Patdeep, Purvi, Kedar, JaiJaiwanti and Marwa to name a few.

I am currently pursuing Visharad, a seven-year Bachelor's degree in Indian Classical Music, and preparing for my fifth-year examinations.

Perhaps this is where technology and tradition quietly meet:
structured retrieval, disciplined learning, and the timeless human urge to create.

A Bleeding Heart 🪴❤️

Giving away a Bleeding Heart brought me a lot of solace today, literally and figuratively!! There were two Amish contractors working on a deck in our backyard, since yesterday and apparently one of them wanted a Bleeding Heart plant, seeing mine on the patio. I was in the office yesterday, so Tridib remembered and told me this morning.  

When I went out he said, "Can you give me one plant if you have, I will give my wife? " I was growing two cuttings for my neighbor and I gave them to him. A few moments later, I wondered on how many men would ask for a plant for their wife and went out again and actually gave him a much bigger pot, I was growing for myself. He was so happy that it was blooming and seeing me smile wide, he said "You look very happy to give that away", but he didn't know the reason. ☺️

We can't bring Zubeen back, but we can live a life of good deeds and keep his spirit alive, within and without.

The pot I gave is the third (smallest)one.It is behind me in the second picture. These pictures are from a month back, so it was blooming much more today. I clicked the Amish man's picture by chance, since the little one and Tridib  were on the other side (which I cropped out) and I wanted to capture a memory of the deck being built. His hat did bring back a memory.

#WordsUnwritten #ZubeenGarg 

Machu Picchu - A World of Wonder!

A sacred moment when you release your breath and let everything go. You surrender your soul to the mountains and the gods that reside in them. Your existence doesn't matter anymore. 

A treasure you have encapsulated within your closed eyes, to view whenever you want. The fabric of your being unites seamlessly, with the colorful weaves of an age-old Andean civilization. An ageless dream comes true!

#machupicchu  #huaynapicchu #inkacitadel #southamerica  #wordsunwritten

To Share or Not to Share?: The Social Media Jinx

I had a rebellious adolescence and youth in terms of fighting societal norms. It wasn't like I was staging protests, like the Ziddi Girls on Prime, but there were many beliefs that I did not agree with and I either wrote poems about them and got them published in newspapers or did my thing violating them, with my own right mind.

One of them was fighting superstitions, particularly nonsensical ones, like the one associated with black cats. There is a common belief in India, that if a black cat crosses your path, you should retrace your steps and wait until someone else walks over it and not walk over it yourself if you want to avoid extreme misfortune.

However, apparently black cats are considered lucky in Khasi tradition and hence there were several well cared for black cats that roamed around where we lived in Shillong. One of them used to live in Upland Road and regularly cross my path while going to school in the morning from New Colony to St. Mary's. I used to always walk over that and nothing untoward ever happened. I proudly proclaimed to whoever mattered that 'See, it's a lie, nothing happens when a black cat crosses your path'. The animal lover in me found great satisfaction in breaking that myth first hand.

In recent times, my belief about superstitions have changed to some extent though. I am sure many of you have experienced the social media jinx. I have seen few friends share about it in good humor. But let me narrate you few of my personal experiences and you can share yours too.

A lot of times, when I shared pictures during vacations especially ones with the family, something very untoward happened within twenty-four hours. 😀  In New Orleans, we broke into a humongous fight in a hotel room out of nowhere and for no good reason that I can even remember, in Florence we were not even on talking terms, in Maine I hit my forehead so hard on a wooden bar below a staircase, that Milo trembled with the sound, in Virgin Islands I fell and slided on cobblestone, in a sudden spell of rain that lasted two seconds, badly bruising my fingers and knees and completely smashing my phone screen. Deep i my heart, I know these are all coincidences, but they set in my mind the fear that my mother always tried to instill - " Facebook ot besi nidibi, maaje maaje dibi, manuhor mukh laagibo'. It finally resonated!!! 😄

Since then, although I still regularly hit the share button out of a compulsive disorder like others in my generation, I have been wary!! The final straw in the hat was when I once shared pictures of my two Impatient plants that were thriving and covered in pink and orange blooms all over. Within two days, they shriveled into nothingness!! I made it a point to not share pictures of my plants and vegetables as much, even if I was shared my own 😁

Let me know if you have had similar experiences in the comments.

Resolutions

I firmly believe we need monthly resolutions instead of waiting for the earth to make one whole rotation around the sun. A year is  too long to plan for and adhere to something.

Minimalism, decluttering, eliminating waste, turning inward and drawing boundaries are my goals. I've already been working on them for the past several months, but there is a long road ahead. I am a work in progress!

It's necessary for self-improvement and wellness in every aspect. All you need is a  few good friends, a few good things, more time and purpose, more space in your mind to think and absorb good thoughts!!

What are your priorities?

Reflections!!

This is long due to be expressed. It's been written in my head long back, just being no longer unwritten now. Also, it's a general observation and not related to any specific individual(s). In my teenage years,  as consciousness of social practices aroused, I turned into an angry young woman, kind of a feminist. It seemed like females were being tortured in every stage of life, even before they were born, even by their very own. Abortion,  infanticide, dowry deaths hit them like plague. Such ills still exist and need to end and my post by no means trivializes any of that.

But what about the MEN? They die micro deaths every day. They don't even say anything.I just read about a man ending his life due to continued harassment by his wife and her family, including demanding hefty sums to allow him to see his son, that prompted this post. This is an extreme case, but I have observed female behavior for the last two decades. In a lot of cases, they seem to check out on their husband's family, the moment they get married. And trust me this has nothing to do with how they are as people, to the rest of the world and I know both sides may have some blame. But I have seen the nicest of girls, behave in the meanest of ways, when it comes to their in-laws. These girls go the farthest lengths to make sure their own mother and father are happy and comfortable and their siblings have the best of both worlds. But when it comes to their mother or father-in-law they would get mad for the most trivial of things like - ' Why does he/she keep asking me? Can't he/she take the spoon themselves? ' . To put in perspective- An aging person had just asked for a spoon. 

In another instance,  a coworker was complaining to someone over phone unaware that I have native fluency in Bengali,  " Uni bhabche, chele eikhaan thike taaka pathabe" referring to her in-laws expecting some funds from their son. What could be so wrong about that? Wouldn't the girl help her parents if they needed money for some reason? Again not referring to extreme cases, but most females don't seem to have any concession when it comes to in-laws.

A mother-in-law once told me, " Namghorot jau je, suwali thaka maak bilaak dekhilei gom pai, mukh bilaak ujjal' referring to her own plight of having only sons and daughters-in-law and wearing a fatigue instead of a glow. On many instances,  when we go to the airport to pick someone from a flight from India, it is evident from the facial expression on whether the husband or the wife's parents are coming.  The men are generally happy in both cases, but the women are only happy when it's their own parents. I make assumptions and my guess often turns right when the passengers arrive.  Atleast to the extent I can recognize, by the intensity of the hugs 😀 

I think our men are generally very nice to their in-laws and deserve fairer treatment.  They deserve happiness as well and the ability to be together with the family of their birth and the family they created happily, sometimes.

We need to look at our reflections and channelize our inner dog. Don't miss the dog in the mirror. We need to think like them sometimes and greet everyone happily. ☺️

#womaninthemirror 

Oh Shillong!

I spent a night in Shillong recently, after 11 years. This is a picture of me, taking it all in. I have a lifetime of memories in this mountain town. Since the time I left it behind for college, there has probably not been a day when I didn't remember it, generally with a sense of blissful nostalgia.

However, in the past three years or so, the memories have started to hurt more than bringing solace. Everything about Shillong stands to be a stark reminder of a world that will never be. My father and his love, our homestead and every single thing in it, the books, the carpet, the steel utensils, the water taps. 

Yet, during our recent visit,  I made it a point to visit Shillong. It was healing. The lost world came alive by the sight of my dad's college, Shillong College, as we drove by, the sweets and nimkis at Delhi Mistan that he so loved and always got us rejuvenated the palette, the sights of Ward's Lake that he solitarily rambled, brought solace!

My Experiments With Truth: Jealousy

It takes a lot to reveal your dark side, but here I am ready to risk that. I consider myself immensely fortunate that the green-eyed monster doesn't have a lot of influence on me. Even through times when I was hopelessly and desperately struggling to have an offspring, the concern for the well-being of others, completely erased any envy that it may evoke in some, in a similar situation. 

That status quo, changed, twice in quick succession, several years back. First time was when Kate Middleton married the future king of the Brits. It seemed like the world was served to her in a royal platter, only because she was drop dead gorgeous and had successfully orchestrated  a love story by enrolling in the same college as Prince William overnight, once his college selection was announced. The second time was a similar situation. Amal Clooney not only married the most handsome and most eligible bachelor on the planet, "The George Clooney", but she was also a successful international rights lawyer and even better looking than him.

Envy filled my heart. Deep down I think it was just the trousseau of beautiful dresses that made me feel that way. For once I felt like "Life was not fair"🤔😀The paparazzi didn't help! They just plastered pictures of these two gorgeous ladies in the best dresses the world has ever seen, in the most exotic locations, one with "The Prince" the other with "The George Clooney".

The years passed by and after the initial affliction i stopped thinking about it. Life went on for them and for me. Coincidentally, we were in London in March of this year when Kate announced her cancer diagnosis. I was heartbroken. My husband said "What happened, I thought you didn't even like her? "

Later I saw tabloid covers about Amal and George growing apart due to physical distance between them due to their professions.

I kept hoping and praying that Kate Middleton recovered, especially after recently seeing people i know closely go down with cancer in a matter of months. 

It was actually so receiving to see Kate smiling again attending a Wimbledon event and George and Amal seem to be making amends as well, as per reports!! ☺️ 

Morale of the story - Be happy in your own skin and your own life. You don't know what others lives are like deep down and how they will turn out to be  Spare them the jealousy, but more importantly spare yourself the negativity.

Tomorrow is not promised!!

We make plans and more plans. We are our own micro Government. We try to manufacture our future by putting our present on the assembly line. We mortgage our present for future equity. Only if that one thing happened, we would be happy forever and that forever never comes because there are more and more milestones to accomplish. All this while, life passes us by. It is essential to plan for future, but we also need to make sure, we don't let the moments slip by unnoticed,  uncared for, uncredited.

Live, breathe, experience, every moment of your present, sun, rain or snow, because tomorrow is not always promised!

The Warp and Weft of a Mother's Love!!

My mother in law is 87 years old. When Tridib visited her last November,  she insisted that he should bring back with him one of her mekhela-sadors for me to wear. When I spoke with her thereafter, she asked me if I liked it and expressed her wish for me to wear it to some gathering.  I obliged with a serene heart. It was definitely peaceful to be enveloped in her pristine love, quite literally! 

A Generous Heart!!

The joy of gifting originates in the generosity of the heart and not in the magnitude of wealth. A roadside vendor we met during a recent trip to Nassau, Bahamas reinforced that thought manifold. 

We were a large group moving from one sight to another in a bus, trying to hit a few places before the scheduled return time of the cruise we were traveling in. Our last stop was the famous Fish Fry area, with a lot of restaurants serving fresh fish like sea bass. By that time we knew we wouldn't have time to stop at a market and shop for souvenirs.  So my friends and I were checking what we could find at a small nearby vendor. I believe none of us bought anything since we couldn't decide. A few minutes later one of my friends came with two stone turtles with Bahamas written on them, she said he gave her one and also sent one for my daughter who was looking at them. I was dumbfounded. I have only heard of tourists being charged extravagant amounts by local vendors in touristy places. This was the first time someone was giving away free souvenirs.  

I was so touched, I went back to the guy with my friend, to give him a token sum. He took it, but wouldn't let me leave without handing me one more thing my daughter was apparently looking at, a pink flamingo key chain. My friend gave him few dollars as well and we bid adieu.

As our bus crossed his store, I managed to get a quick shot of this man. He seemed like he was barely making ends meet, but his generosity was exemplary. If you happen to be in the Fish Fry area in Nassau, do look for him and buy some souvenirs from him.He was located diagonally opposite to Oh Andros restaurant.

I wanted to share this story in the spirit of the season of giving and receiving.Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!!

Oh Mum!!

The chrysanthemum flower has always held a special place in my heart because in Eastern Indian languages like Assamese and Bengali, it is called ChandraMallika, which is an amalgamation of my dad's name and mine. I remember his face breaking into a gentle smile whenever he saw one because of that connotation.

Only very recently, I learned that it is also the official flower for November, my birth month, when a friend gifted me a custom jewelry box with my name and a mums blooms on it.  On checking further, I learned that this flower has ancient history originating in China and regarded as one of the Four Gentlemen of China” — a group of prestigious  plants that each signify a new season with mums signifying autumn. In Japan, they are held in such high regard that the Emperor’s throne is referred to as the Chrysanthemum Throne. In Australia,  they signify "Mother's Day" since they bloom there in May. All over the world they signify qualities like purity, perseverance, honesty and the like. 

This autumn, my mum and I (pun intended) witnessed the most beautiful exhibition of mums in Longwood Gardens.

This is a single plant with 1200 blooms

            Jewelry box gifted by a special friend!

Hickory Run Boulder Field, Pennsylvania

Once upon a time, long, long ago, while wondering in the Pocono Mountains, from hill to valley, four friends came across a field of boulders. They were awestruck by the sheer size of the field. They had never seen or even heard of anything like that before. On getting closer, they learned from a sign that the field was created around 20,000 years ago by glacial activity. The friends were Rishi, Ria, Rimi & Tridib, loitering in carefree abandon. Since then a special few have been taken to visit this field. This time it was Ma's turn!!

The Boulder field is a true relic of the past. This area is a National Natural Landmark, and State Park Natural Area. It has remained relatively unchanged for more than 20,000 years. The Boulder Field appears striking because of its flatness and absence vegetation over the large area of 400 feet by 1,800 feet. Some of the boulders measure as much as 26 feet long. It is 10-12 feet deep on average and apparently water still runs under the field forming the Hickory Run stream.

Desiderata

When we lived in Shillong, India a long time back, we received several magazines in our home. Among them, The Readers' Digest and Teenager were subscriptions and the Sun magazine and India Today were regularly purchased from the newsstands by my father and brothers. 

In one such issue of probably the Sun, came a poem the Desiderata. It was translated in 1927 by Max Ehrmann with an unknown author. The yellow page with black cursive font was pulled out by my elder brother and hung on wall. I was about ten years old at that time and very impressionable, especially by my whatever my brothers did. I took it in and it remains a lesson for life.  I wanted to share  today on World Mental Health Day as below. Meanwhile, this year has been a year for hiking activity for me, absorbing the energy of the forest in silence. Thanks to Bank of America for the Columbus Day holiday, we could go on a hike yesterday as well. (pic below 😊)

          Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.
 

--- Translated by Max Ehrmann, 1927

--- Author unknown

Oh My(rtle)!!

My little crepe myrtle saplings from two years back are at my shoulders now. I have eight of them. Three of them are blooming, one has sprouted a few buds and the other three are waiting to hit adulthood to bloom, even though they have grown bigger in size. It seems some trees take about three years to flower, when grown from seed. Maybe next year will be the year for them to blossom!

In our old house, the crepe myrtle we had, would throw a pink velour fury at this time of the year and we would wholeheartly appreciate its beauty. It was the backdrop of many of our beautiful pictures. 

I've managed to spread the seeds of love for that resplendent tree, quite literally. Here's testimony to the fact that when you nurture anything,  it thrives and  blossoms! The pictures are from 2023, 2022 and 2021 in that order. #labordayweekend update!

Friends!!

If it wasn't for friends where would we would we be? Friends make the world go round, supporting us in different ways from toddler years to old age. I have been more than blessed to have the loving companionship of several friends who are dear to my heart. 

This picture has a friend from college days, few from early days in US and also newer friends. It is a representation of the joy that all my friends have brought about, through the years. Happy Friendship Day to all of you!!

Zen and The Art of Complimenting!

Where and when did you receive your most touching and your most badass compliment? I'll go first and please follow suit in the comment box.

When I was a little child, one of my mom's colleagues in Shillong, Bina Jethai used to say, ' Ei morom loga soku keta ba kaar ghorot jabo?' which translates to 'I wonder in whose house these lovely eyes will go' but in literal terms meant, 'I wonder who would you get married to'. Her voice still rings in my ears, her sublime face still distinct. Such is the power of complimenting and the way it touches lives.

More recently I was dressed for an outdoor party at a friend's place and  asked my mom if i looked okay. She told me 'You look like a Babydoll' her voice exuding humor. It was her

way of saying, Why do you ask? Yes ofcourse, You always dress up nicely, Do you really need my opinion? - all at the same time. 

In an era of social media induced auto-generated inundation of compliments, their value is degenerated. I make an effort to make them more specific at least half of the time. If the right compliment can make someone's day or more, then why not?

A few other real life compliments make me smile whenever I remember them. We lived Kolkata in the early 2000s and I was seeing an elderly lady Sharmila mashi, who was an acquaintance, after a while and asked her if she remembered me. She responded in Bengali saying,  'Ei chehera ta ek baar dekhle ki bhoola jai? ( Can one forget this face, after seeing it once? ). On another occasion,  seeing me fretting over something,  a coworker had said, 'Whenever you feel sad, go and look at yourself in a mirror?' 😃

The most badass compliment I received was also from a coworker, early in my career. Even in the most developed country in the world  America, women are often not treated fairly or equally in the workplace.  When I started working here, I was surprised to see that the otherwise very independent girls, would still not speak up in such circumstances. I on the other hand was known to be 'NICE' ,but if someone hurt my interests and stepped on my toes, it wouldn't take a second to raise my voice. I did it inadvertently and one of girls I worked with who was observing said one day, ' You can morph from a butterfly to a superbitch in seconds' . It still makes me feel powerful, although my personality and attitude towards resolving such things has transformed to some extent, over the years. 

I have this and other posts written in my head for a while. I am just transcribing it to digital now. Hope you like it and please share your experiences with compliments.🙏🙏🙏

My Experiments With Truth - Part 1

I have tried giving up different things at different times in a sense of renunciation and practing self-control. This year I gave up one of my favorite hobbies, SHOPPING!!

In full disclaimer, I did buy a few Indian clothes, primarily during my trip to India, but other than that I didn't buy anything else except few very essential items,  not just for myself but also for my daughter Mahika.  

Before this run of giving up, my fingers were on constant click-to-buy mode any hour of day or night, since I primarily shop online. It's been seven months into the year and I have managed to get past the thrill of it and the retail therapy it provided, only until the un-boxing. After that, the items I purchased were only something I already possessed and stashed somewhere in my closet, or worse still in my basement. 

This year, I've been tapping on my basement 😊. So far I've had great finds purchased in yesteryears, that I've been adorning to parties and events this spring-summer!

I may have to buy a few things for Mahika, due to heavy wear and growing out of clothes, but I intend to continue my shopping hiatus for some more time.  The best part of it is the realization that my happiness is free from dependence on retail consumerism. Here's a dress from my basement collection. Doesn't it look pretty good? 😊

Beloved Taffy!!

When the time is right, things happen!! It was in our destiny to have a new kitten walk into our lives at this juncture and here he is. Welcoming Taffy Borkakoty, out new orange tabby kitten into our home and hearts!! 

Milo, the golden retriever,  is smitten, almost love-sick. All he wants is the kitten. Mitch, our 15 year old tabby cat, was nonchalant for all but two days and has been playing constantly since then. 

Mahika is being the guardian and we are all elated by Taffy's delightful presence. Aita ( grandma)is making DIY toys for him 😊 and daddy finally got someone in the household named after him. Taffy is a broken down version of the name David, meaning 'beloved' and is of Welsh origin. Welcome Beloved Taffy!!❤️

Happy International Women's Day!!

Happy International Women's Day to everyone!!  While we continue to #EmbraceEquity and promote inclusiveness,  let us also work on strengthening ourselves by enriching our minds with knowledge, with which comes empowerment and supporting and lifting our fellow women versus breaking and hurting one another, in all aspects of our life. 

Introspection can change the world!!

We were fortunate to visit NASA recently and learned a lot about our Aeronautics and Space Program. Here's a fun fact -

As of March 2023, 72 women have flown in space. Of these, 44 have worked on the International Space Station as long-duration expedition crewmembers, as visitors on space shuttle assembly flights, or as space flight participants on short-duration missions.

#internationwomensday #iwd2023 #nasa #stem