Ontora Deychoudhury's Blog for English 101, Section 21003, Fall 2024

  Music and Mind: Exploring the Impact of Indian Classical Music on Mental Health Abstract: For both the listeners and artists, Indian classical music has been a vessel of emotional expression and a source of spiritual depth. It has been culturally acknowledged that various raagas, which are sets of notes organized in distinct manners, have the capability to shift the moods of listeners. From the mysterious moodiness of raaga Malkauns, to the sweet sensuality of songs composed within raaga Yaman, the ability to evoke various emotions is bountiful.  This research explores the potential of Indian classical music as a non-traditional, therapeutic tool for mental health. A challenge, however, lies in the limited research on Indian classical music compared to the extensive studies on Western music, highlighting a gap that requires further exploration. This paper aims to bridge this gap by using cross-cultural perspectives and anecdotal evidence from practitioners. Additionally,...

  In  Being Mortal , a documentary by FRONTLINE PBS, Dr. Atul Gawande highlights the importance of prioritizing patients’ quality of life during end-of-life care. The film explores the challenges faced by patients, families, and medical professionals in navigating difficult conversations about mortality and treatment decisions. One impactful scene features an elderly woman who, despite her declining health, chooses to stop aggressive treatments to focus on spending meaningful time with her family, demonstrating her preference for comfort and connection over medical intervention (FRONTLINE PBS, 47:15). This decision underscores the idea that healthcare should align with a patient’s personal values rather than solely striving to prolong life at all costs. By respecting a patient’s wishes and fostering open, empathetic communication, medical professionals can provide care that is both compassionate and effective. This scene illustrates how focusing on individual needs leads to mo...

 Arguing for Radonda Vaught Introduction: (Awa Diallo) Good morning everyone. Today, we will be discussing a case that has sparked not only widespread media attention but a larger debate within the healthcare community itself: the case of Radonda Vaught. Radonda, a former nurse at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, was found guilty of negligent homicide following an error where she accidentally administered the wrong medication to a patient, Charlene Murphy, ultimately leading to Murphy’s tragic passing. This outcome has led to significant backlash, with many nurses and healthcare professionals voicing their concerns, arguing that Radonda’s conviction reflects a deeper systemic failure rather than solely an individual fault.   Our position today will be to advocate for Radonda Vaught and argue that the accountability in this case extends beyond her actions. This debate isn't simply about one nurse’s error; it’s about uncovering the systemic issues that contribu...

  Rao, M. L., et al. "The untapped potential of Indian classical music." Indian Journal of Psychiatry , vol. 59, no. 2, 2017, pp. 220-222.  The present article aims at reviewing the literature to understand how Indian classical music could help in treating different mental disorders. It also explains how Indian raagas are traditionally connected with curing ailments, inducing sleep and improving psychological health. The authors describe cases where certain raagas are believed to induce certain moods or help reduce anxiety. The study also urges further research in order to investigate more systematically the impact of raaga -based therapy in psychiatry. It is meant to help connect the conventional approaches and the scientific ones, supporting a holistic approach to tackling mental disorders.  This source is relevant for this research paper since it offers a scientific angle as to how mental health benefits can be measured from Indian classical music. It is both histori...