The love-struck nayika asks the lord how he can be so indifferent. As she bathes in the moonlight and the breezy cool winds caress her, it reminds her of her lord’s touch. The singing of the cuckoos and the mangroves that rent the air with their fragrance makes her pain all the more intolerable.

On the track Indian Girl, jazz guitarist Alex Machacek shows off his producing chops. Released in 2004, the song deftly combines pop with jazz as the vocalist sings against racism. The tune is indicative of a couple of things about the Austrian. Firstly, the track shows off his Indian connection — it has been sung by his wife Sumitra. Of Indian-origin, she has lived in Vienna most of her life. Secondly, it is an insight into the range of styles that Machacek works with. His fingers glide along the guitar when he is playing progressive-jazz rock fusion as part of the famous jazz band BPM. Even when he is part of straight up jazz trios, the riffs are played with equal panache.

It has to be admitted that, in the case of some artists and their work, we find the process of creation as fascinating as its product. You watch an Odissi performance; you are impressed by its technical perfection, and you go home thinking of the unlimited possibilities of the human body. You watch another Odissi performance which, besides being technically perfect, also touches you deeply; and you go home with a song in your heart. Then you watch an Odissi performance which, besides being technically perfect and touching your heart, also excites your mind, and you go home with questions buzzing in your head. Sharmila Biswas is one such dancer, whose choreographies stimulate questions.

A few weeks ago, just before Israel started bombing Gaza, British-born guitar virtuoso John McLaughlin played a concert in Ramallah. This was the second time that he’d performed in Palestine since 2012, reiterating his commitment to bringing the world’s attention to the oppressions of the people of the Occupied Territories. “The situation must change,” he has said, calling for the demolition of “the wall that divides Israel from the West Bank, and Palestinian families from each other ”.