Music To My Ears

Rahul Ram, bassist and frontman of Indian Ocean, one of the country’s pioneering indie bands, talks about how his travels have evolved with his life, his love for the various Northeastern cuisines, and how India influences his music.

- Satarupa Paul

 

What is your idea of discovering India?

It has changed over the years. When I was younger and much poorer, all my discoveries were linked to work. Like visiting my wife, while she was working in a village in Himachal Pradesh, up near the Great Himalayan National Park, and then with an NGO in the Sainj Valley, when I travelled to the nearby Tirthan Valley as well. In school, I was part of an environmental group that was assisting in surveys of national parks and sanctuaries. So, I visited several of those then, including Rajaji, Corbett, Amarkantak, Wayanad, Eravikulum and more. Later I worked for five years in the Narmada ghati. I guess I truly discovered India then, in the sense that I’d walk to Adivasi villages that were 20 km from the nearest bus stand, with no roads or electricity or even a shop… you’d have to walk five km to even buy a matchbox!

The way I travelled changed when I started touring with the band. I got to see the Gwalior Fort, which is really something! We visited places that I had never been to before, such as Trivandrum and Vizag. But it was all cities then. In the last few years, I’ve done two trips to Ladakh with my wife and two dogs. I’ve also taken up a place on rent near Manali, so I go there often to look at the mountains and feel peace. How you discover India evolves as your life changes.

How does travel inspire your work?