The place of the Raga in Indian Classical Music is indeed unique. The Romance of the Raga is an attempt to outline the evolution and perspective, as also the sheer variety and distinct styles, of this powerful and enthralling medium of spiritual and aesthetic form of musical expression.

Based on the belief that sound is God and Nada Brahma or Intelligible sound is the fusion of the physical breath with the fire of the intellect, the book proceeds to unravel the priceless historical traditions of Indian Classical Music.

It provides a glimpse into the variety of techniques a styles that are employed for presentation of the Raga and highlights the significant contribution made by some of the shapers of India’s musical destiny towards the enrichment of both the systems: Hindustani and Karnatak.

The work also portrays the predominant characteristics of inner dynamism and resilience, as also the unlimited potential, amazing elasticity and the power of assimilation of the Raga, as a medium of creative musical expression. Further, the variety and range of musical expression. Further, the variety and range of musical instruments and confluence of Indian Classical Music and miniature painting have been illustrated with a view to enunciating the all – important aspect of the thematic content of the Raga.

A civil servant of the 197 batch of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Vijaya Moorthy is presently and Accountant General, who has worked in various capacities in Karnataka, New Delhi and Andhra Pradesh, prior to which she had held the post of Internal Financial Adviser in the President’s Secretariat, Rashtrapati Bhavan. In fall 1995, she was deputed for the audit of the Headquarters of the United Nations Organisation at New York. Vijaya Moorthy is the granddaughter of late Shri V.V. Giri, the president of the Republic of India (1969-74). She is a student of History from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University, from where she graduated with distinction and thereafter obtained the Master of Art degree in the same subject in 1978.

She was initiated into Sitar and the rigours of Indian classical music, Comparative Music, Music from the age of 15, by the renowned Violin Maestro, Shri S.N. Gulati. She is a student of Piano at the Hyderabad School of Symphonic Music.

Shri Gulati, with his in-depth knowledge of Indian Classical Music, coupled with his research in Western Classical Music at the Conservatorium of Amsterdam, Holland, acquired the unique distinction of complete fluency at the Violin both in Hindustani Classical Music as also in Western Techniques of Harmony and Counterpoint, as also in playing the Viola (Alto Clef), his compositions reflect a blend of melody and harmony. Thus with his rich heritage of musical tradition, Shri Gulati painstakingly continues to impart his wealth of knowledge and skills to his disciple.

Vijaya Moorthy has further benefited immensely under the able guidance of the world famous Sarod Maestro, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. She has thus received the appreciation of the audience during the course of her various public performances.