The keys’ to happiness

Impeccably dressed with her hair rolled into a neat bun and her face glowing, Francine Astani states that it is her firm belief that music i...

Impeccably dressed with her hair rolled into a neat bun and her face glowing, Francine Astani states that it is her firm belief that music is the greatest healer and uniting element in the world. And she should know. Born in Tehran, the 47-year-old pianist has seen blood and gore at close quarters and gone through the agony of fleeing from her homeland to find peace and solace in a land as far away as France. So today when she travels all over the world trying to spread the message of love, unity and simplicity through the keys of her piano, it is one message that comes straight from the heart.

Of Baha’i faith, Astani lives in Cannes, France with her husband and two daughters while her art takes her to different parts of the world, from Chicago to Venezuela to the Far East. Last month the talented lady was in Panchgani, her third trip to the place, for three concerts – two at the Baha’i Academy and one at the New Era School – all for charity.

“Most of the time I travel on my own expense and the benefits go towards some humanitarian or community cause. At Panchgani the concerts were in aid of the construction of a new building for the Baha’i centre in the town. In fact the proceeds from my last concert in Los Angeles also went towards this cause,” she explains. On her way to the Lotus Temple in New Delhi, Francine as always, took a few hours break in Pune to meet Baha’i students before she boarded her evening flight.

“India had touched me deeply ever since my first visit to the place. I have read a lot about Gandhi and his philosophy. He did for the Indians just what the Baha’i community wants to do – bring equality to all people,” she elaborates, “The main problem in today’s world is that no one seems to have a conscience left. The real message of all religions – of love and purity – has got lost in the maze of rituals and rites. The body lives, while the soul seems to have been lost. And I use my music to reach out to the soul.”Francine calls her music moralistic and spiritual. “I compose and sing my own songs as I play the piano at the concerts. All my verses are aimed towards enlightenment and talk about the real world as opposed to normal music that usually talks of the dreams and a world that does not exist.”

For reality is something very close to the pianist’s heart. Reality of the strife in Iran, shattering her dreams of going in for a doctorate, of the the revolution where her close friend was killed and of a life gone out of control at the age of 27. “We came to France as most of our family and friends were here and though the initial years were very unsettling, today I am at peace with myself and my work. However the desire to return to the land of my birth someday, even for a visit, remains a cherished dream.”

In Cannes, Francine also owns a large up-market boutique named after her elder daughter Caroline, that does thriving business. Her merging of the commercial venture with her love for simplicity is according to her a mere reflection of the Baha’i teachings that advocate the combining materialism with spirituality for a complete life.

While Francine has created a name for herself as a pianist, her daughters have not treaded the same path, as yet. And while the 17-year-old Natalie who had accompanied her mother on the trip, is all praise for the beauty and warmth of the people of Panchgani, Pune has quite obviously left her less than impressed. The word actually used by her is “shocking”. “I am shocked to see the number of beggars in the town and if you give money to one, suddenly five more appear from nowhere and surround you,” she shrugs, adding that the large population of the city however aptly reflects the diversity of the country.

Story continues below this ad

Incidentally Pune has about 250 persons belonging to Baha’i faith with the student community being an active body in town.