Prime Minister Narendra Modi met noted composer Ramesh Vinayakam and his family in Chennai while campaigning for the state's upcoming assembly elections scheduled to take place earlier this month. After a brief conversation, he explored the Gamaka Box Notation System and participated in a musical session.
Taking to his X handle to share a video with the renowned artist, he wrote, "In the midst of election campaigning, had the opportunity to meet Thiru Ramesh Vinayakam Ji and his family in Chennai. Ramesh Ji is a music composer and has devoted his life to popularising Indian music. He gave me a glimpse of his work in making the Gamaka Box Notation System. This is an innovative way to take Indian music to the world!"
A practising Carnatic musician for decades, Ramesh Vinayakam demonstrated the Gamaka Box Notation System, which he developed in 2009. The system provides a modern and technologically compatible method to preserve and document Indian music, bridging traditional knowledge with advanced tools. Known for merging traditional Indian musical knowledge with modern technology, his invention is seen as a landmark step in revolutionising Indian music.
While sharing his innovation and explaining the process behind its usage, he said, "There has never been a science and technology for music. This system can be implemented to create a complete knowledge repository of all Indian music through AI and machine learning."
During their meeting, PM Modi also learnt to play Vande Mataram on a tablet under Vinayakam's teaching. "You have been the best student, sir," said Ramesh Vinayakam, praising him after the session. He also gifted PM Modi a pencil, a rubber, and a blank manuscript, a tradition he follows whenever someone learns from him. Later, Vinayakam also performed a devotional number, leaving the Prime Minister visibly delighted.
(With inputs from ANI)