Saturday, December 12, 2009, 5:30 PM, Hall C, Science Center, Harvard University, 1 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA.  People take their seats, dispersed across the three sections, for the event to begin, very much the same way as they have done for the annual poetry reading series sponsored by the university’s Department of Sanskrit and Indian Studies.  The series—focusing on poetry in a multitude of Indian languages and read in the original language or English by poets and reciters with South Asian heritage—started in 1997, initiated by Harvard’s own scientist and poet Bijoy Misra, who has organized it ever since.  For the returning attendees, the scenario would be quite usual except for one thing that was noticeably missing from it this time.  Since 1997, adorning the event, every year the last two seats in either the third or the fourth row of the left section would be occupied by a very special couple, Brother Blue and his wife, Ruth Hill.  Brother Blue, in his colorful attire and his hat pinned with buttons, ornamental flowers and blue butterflies, and Ruth in her elegant casual dress, would occupy those seats like a defining detail on a painted canvas.  This time that very distinct detail was missing.  The seats were occupied by others and no Brother Blue (1921-2009) anywhere in the hall.  Ruth was there, however, in the middle section, sitting among friends.

But was Brother Blue really missing?  As soon as the program began with an introduction, engagingly told through a self-composed story, “Butterfly in the Mountain,” by Bijoy Misra, the spirit of Brother Blue could be felt pervading the entire hall.  It was as if the colorful image of him, smilingly facing the audience with a blue butterfly painted on his right palm, projected electronically on the backdrop, with the event’s program listed below, wasn’t just a photo of him.  It was Brother Blue himself, presiding over the event, his spirit emanating through each presentation in the program.  Brother Blue, the master storyteller, a Cambridge/Boston icon, told stories of a common humanity, compassion, justice, love and peace—touching hearts of all ages.  He said, “I SOUL my stories out in poetry, song, dance, mime, prayer, chants, shouts, using everything I’ve got to speak from the MIDDLE OF THE MIDDLE of me to the MIDDLE OF THE MIDDLE of you.”  He drew from all sources, all cultures—the world of Brother Blue transcended all borders.  His stage was the sidewalk, the Commons, classrooms, lecture halls, jailhouses, theatres, radio and TV stations.  The program that followed—a mesmerizing selection of stories, songs, music, poetry, dramatic oration, and recollections—was not only a fitting tribute to Brother Blue’s legacy, it was also a celebratory invocation of his spirit, very much present throughout the event.

After the introduction by Bijoy Misra, the program continued as follows:  “A Song for Brother Blue,” lyrics and music by Lenny Solomon; “God’s Book,” a story by Laura Packer; “Brother Blue, and Ruth Too!,” a poem by Sajed Kamal; “Learning the Power,” a story by Kevin Brooks; “People Get Ready” (by Curtis Mayfield), sung by Jean Gauthier; “The Butterfly Effect,” a story by Michael Anderson; excerpts from  “King Lear” (Shakespeare), acted by Johnny Lee Davenport; “Blue All Over,” a poem by Chandrakant Shah; “Freedom,” a story by Mohan Dali; “Equality, God is One” (Indian folk song), sung by Preeti Nagar and Prem Nagar; “Love a Stranger!” (compiled from Whitman), read by Maya De; “Aahhh!”, a story by Valerie Tutson; “Brother Blue” (by Pramod Thaker), sung by Maria Cusumano; excerpts from “Midsummer Night’s Dream” (Shakespeare), acted by Maurice Parent; “The Last Journey” a poem by Jayent Dave; “Brother Red, Brother Blue, Blue Butterfly!”, a poem by Rahul Ray; and finally, “Come  Take My Hand,” lyrics and music by Lenny Solomon.  Seldom does one come across a 90 minute program which succeeds in captivating the audience through every single presentation.  The amazing diversity of the program with a unifying theme of the tribute had much to do with it.  And no less a contributory factor was the skillful and affectionate rendering by all the performers, as if together invoking the free spirit of Brother Blue himself!  

It was the convention of the poetry series to end with storytelling by Brother Blue.  Unfailingly, during this time he would also express his love and gratitude to Ruth, oral history coordinator at the Schlesinger Library at Harvard, acknowledging her inseparable role in his life as his partner, advisor and mentor.  Fittingly, this Tribute to Brother Blue ended with a celebration of Ruth.  Each presenter returned to the front of the hall, saying a few words about her, and then lining up in a semi-circle to receive Ruth with a bouquet of flowers.  It took place at the foot of the backdrop with the image of Brother Blue, who—for sure—was endorsing “Celebrating Ruth” with his characteristic “Aahhh!”     

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