The Second Wave of the Coronavirus Pandemic was a difficult period, particularly in certain parts of India. Perhaps the blessings of Devi Bharati on the occasion of Navarathri in 2021, and M. S. Subbulakshmi, India's Queen of Song, inspired her musical heir, to rise to the occasion. Sooryagayathri of Kerala displayed great poise and determination to perform for her fans across the globe, and to help further Each One Educate One’s (e1e1) mission to empower and uplift rural girls through education. Numerous obstacles were no match for an artist keen on singing despite unforeseen obstacles and for e1e1’s message of hope that continues to affect the lives of its worthy recipients and its generous participants.
e1e1's North America-based media team leapt into action when the opportunity to increase awareness of this much-needed and admirable endeavor became a real possibility. Members of the team spoke to Sooryagayathri in the course of the program to ask her the questions that her admirers and well-wishers wished to have answered. Registrations to join the live event and interact with the artist exceeded 500 in number, and the live program was broadcast on three different web-based platforms including YouTube and Facebook. It was also rebroadcast one week later at a time favorable for her adoring fans in India, and over 1000 people tuned-in to the encore presentation.
The highlight video gives us a glimpse of Sooryagayathri's mastery of the Indian classical and devotional music art forms. Renditions of "Sri Chakra Raja Simhasaneshwari" and "Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma" reminded the audience that the Divine Mother was always looking after and guiding Her children. Other such as "Radha Sametha Krishna" and Kurai Ondrum Illai" beautifully expressed the yearning of devotees for their Beloved. In addition, all-time favorites such as the "Hanuman Chalisa", "Brahmam Okate", and "Vaishnava Janato" instilled courage in the hearts of listeners to march on, and to go beyond all current and future difficulties.
Audiences were also shown personal and heartfelt testimonials that revealed just how deeply Each One Educate One program has influenced the lives of students, educators, and supporters in many powerful ways.
In the ongoing series of e1e1 online events - 'Continuing Conversations', we had P. Unnikrishnan who is one of the most respected singers in the Indian Carnatic music and playback singing community, with a successful career spanning nearly 3 decades perform along with his daughter on the 20th of December 2020.
Over 400 people participated in the live event over Zoom, YouTube, and Facebook, with requests pouring in for renditions of their most famous tracks. Unnikrishnan and Uthara Unnikrishnan delighted the viewers with enchanting performances of devotional songs like 'Venkatachala Nilayam Vaikuntavasam..', 'Pibare Ramarasam..', 'Kurai Ondrum Illai Maraimoorthi Kanna..'
A brief overview video of the e1e1 program was presented for the benefit of those attending these events for the first time. One of the US e1e1 team leads, Jayadev, offered his perspective about the program specifically emphasising on the program's current focus on girl child education. An update on behalf of all the partner schools by Mr Rajashekar, Chairman of the Mandya school, outlined all the measures the schools were taking in these past months, coping with the Covid Pandemic.
It was a wonderful experience for the team to organize this virtual event, to brighten up people’s day during these difficult times and spread the message of love and oneness.
Music transcends language, culture, and brings people together in times of crisis. When we listen to music, for a precious, few minutes we are able to forget that we are living through tough times and simply rejoice in the fact that despite everything, there are things in our lives, like music, that we can take succour in.
The recent online global event - ‘Generations of Music’ hosted by the US e1e1 team to commemorate India’s 73rd Independence Day did precisely that, with over 500 e1e1ers from across the globe coming together to bask in these moments of wellbeing.
A BIG THANK YOU to all of you who made the event a special one. It was a great pleasure and honour for us to have Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and his sons Amaan and Ayaan join us in the celebrations with their magical rendition. They are part of the e1e1 family, and we are humbled by their continued support.
For all those who missed the event's live streaming or would simply like to relive those moments once more, please click on link below to watch a recording of the event.
Dr. Abdul Kalam Anniversary Event
Action 2020
On the auspicious occasion of the commemoration of the 5th Anniversary of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, the e1e1 program received acknowledgement of its work from other fellow organisations who are contributing their bit to the nation building process.
This acknowledgement came in the form of the 'Dr Abdul Kalam Award for Excellence'
Team e1e1 dedicates this award to all the children in our partner schools whose lives have been touched by this program and the teachers and staff who are making it all happen.
Please click on YouTube link below to watch the e1e1 presentation.