The Godfather of Indian Classical Music: Allauddin Khan

It was a noon time. A poor man was trying to sell his sub standard music drums called as Dafli which are played with the help of hands. He was merely successful in doing go. Along with him were sitting his poor children waiting for a customer; if he buys the drum they are going to get the food. Suddenly a man comes to the man. Not bearing the pain of the poor condition, he just lifts up one of those drums and starts playing them. Within a moment, the whole crowd is enchanted by that magical rhythm played on those very ordinary drums. For the entire time, people are out of their senses. The performance is over. People within a moment, hypnotized by that divine music, take out whatever they find in their pockets and put it in front of the man. That man collects all that money, hands it over to the owner of the drums and without speaking a single word, leaves the place.

This soft hearted and India’s most loved and most respected musician was,Ustad Allauddin Khan. What we call as divine music is the music of Allauddin Khan. Allauddin Khan with a lot of efforts was accepted as a disciple by famous Veena player Ustaad Wazir Khan of Rampur. He was court musician to the Maharaja Of Maihar Estate.

Ustaad Allauddin Khan unlike other musicians, never practiced music as an profession. He was completely absorbed in music or rather music had absorbed him completely. He had reached the highest peaks and also the deepest and most subtle roots of the music. Allauddin Khan was a Sarod player, but he could play any instrument with so much mastery that anybody would think that this man must have wasted his whole life in playing that instrument. He could play all sort of instruments with equal ease and equal command.

As a musician he was the most successful; but as a Guru or Music master also, no one will deny the fact that he was most successful. He was father and Guru of world famous Sarod player and one of the finest musician of this country, Ustaad Ali Akbar Khan and very divine SurBahar player, Shrimati Annapurna Devi (Pt.Hariprasad Chaurasia is a pupil of Annapurna Ji). Many of the most successful musicians like Sitar player Pt. Ravishankar, Sarod player Pt. Nikhil Banerjee, flautist Pt. Pannalal Ghosh were his disciples. If we consider producing a chain of worthy disciples as a success, no one is as successful as Ustaad Allauddin Khan.

Another big contribution of Ustaad Allauddin Khan to the world of music is world famous Maihar Band. This band was Started By Allauddin Khan by training orphan and disabled people.He himself taught them various instruments and took the band to very high reputes.

Along with the musician, Allauddin khan was a very spiritual person. Greatest musicians of those times and also today’s music lovers, with love and respect call him Baba, which means father. He was also one of those rare musicians who explored themselves through music. He was equally in love of all religions and also always absorbed in the godliness. Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, also known as Osho was very much interested in Baba Allauddin Khan and used to visit him frequently. When Osho was asked that if he knew any musician who had attained enlightenment through music, Osho answered that it was only Baba who had realized the self through his music. As Osho says, while playing the Saord, Baba got his enlightenment. As at that time Allauddin Khan was above 100 years old, his delicate and fragile body could not bear that load, and Allauddin Khan left his body at the very moment.

This essence of his divine search can be felt in the music of Baba Allauddin Khan and it is a real mystical experience to listen to his music.


This article by Mandar Karanjkar

Allauddin Khan

Allauddin Khan (Urdu: علا الدین خان Bangla: ওস্তাদ আলাউদ্দীন খ়ান, also known as Baba Allauddin Khan) (ca. 1881 – 6 September 1972), was a Bengali sarodiya and multi-instrumentalist, composer and one of the most renowned music teachers of the 20th Century in Indian classical music.

In 1935, he toured Europe, along with Uday Shankar's ballet troupe, and later also worked at his institute, 'Uday Shankar India Culture Centre' at Almora for a while.[5] During his lifetime, he composed several ragas and laid the foundation of a modern Maihar gharana. Amongst his recording which are rare, the most important ones are those he recorded with the All India Radio in 1959-60.

He was the father of sarod maestro Ali Akbar Khan and Annapurna Devi, and the uncle of Raja Hossain Khan, as well as the guru of Ravi Shankar, Nikhil Banerjee, Vasant Rai, Pannalal Ghosh, Bahadur Khan, Sharan Rani and other influential musicians. He himself was a disciple of many great musicians, including Gopal Chandra Banerjee, Lobo, Munne Khan, and most importantly after a lot of struggle managed to become a shagird of the legendary Veena player, Wazir Khan of Rampur.

He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honour in 1971, and prior to that in 1954, the Sangeet Natak Akademi awarded him with its highest honour, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship for lifetime contribution to Indian music.

Early life and background

Allauddin Khan was born in Shibpur village in greater Comilla (now in Bangladesh), the son of Sabdar Hossain Khan, also known as Sadhu Khan. Allauddin's elder brother, Fakir Aftabuddin, first taught him the basics of music at home.
At the age of ten, Allauddin ran away from home to join a jatra band, a traditional Bengali form of theater. This experience exposed him to the rich folk tradition of Bengal. After some time, he went to Kolkata, and was accepted as a student by singer Gopal Krishna Bhattacharya, alias Nulo Gopal. Allauddin committed to a 12-year practice program; However, Nulo Gopal died of plague after the seventh year. Khan then became a disciple of Amritalal Dutt, a close relative of Swami Vivekananda and music director at Kolkata's Star Theatre, with the goal of becoming an instrumentalist. At this time, he also took lessons in European classical violin from Lobo, a bandmaster from Goa.

Sarod career

Khan got interested in sarod after a concert at Jagat Kishore Acharya's, zamindar of Muktagachha, where he listened to Ahmed Ali Khan, a student of Asghar Ali Khan (Amjad Ali Khan's granduncle). Alauddin became his student, and studied the sarod under him for five years. His next step was to go to Rampur for lessons from Wazir Khan Beenkar, court musician of the Nawab there, and one of the last direct descendants of the legendary Tansen. Through him, Alauddin was given access to the Senia gharana (Tansen school of music). He later became the court musician of Brijnath Singh Maharaja of Maihar Estate in Central Province.

Maihar Gharana

During his time as a court musician, Khan completely reshaped the Maihar gharana of Indian classical music. The Maihar gharana was established in the 19th Century, but Khan's contribution was so fundamental that he is often thought to be its creator. This was a period of rapid change for Hindustani instrumental music, thanks not least to Khan, who infused the beenbaj and dhrupad ang, previously known from the been, surbahar (bass sitar) and sur-sringar (bass sarod), into the playing of many classical instruments.
For though he gave concerts on the sarod, Allauddin played many instruments, something that shaped his pedagogy. He put together an orchestra with Indian instruments, the String Band now known as Maihar Band, and while his son, Ali Akbar Khan, was taught the sarod, his daughter Annapurna Devi (Roshanara Khan) learned the surbahar, students such as Ravi Shankar and Nikhil Banerjee played the sitar, Rabin Ghosh played on violin and Baijnath Singh and Pannalal Ghosh the bansuri bamboo flute. Baijnath Singh was first and Vasant Rai was Allauddin Khans last student. Of course Ravi and Ali Akbar Khan were to be very famous and spread this gharana over the world – something that Allauddin himself had started when, in 1935–1936, he went on an international tour with Uday Shankar's dance troupe.
Allauddin stayed at Maihar from 1918 to his death. In 1955, he established a Maihar College of Music. He was given the Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1952, and the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan – India's third and second highest civilian decorations – in 1958 and 1971, respectively.
Personal life

Anecdotes about Khan range from throwing a tabla tuning hammer at the Maharaja himself to taking care of disabled beggars. (Nikhil Banerjee said that the tough image was "deliberately projected in order not to allow any liberty to the disciple. He always had the tension that soft treatment on his part would only spoil them".)

A few years before the turn of the century, he married Madanmanjari Devi (1888–?). He had one son and sarod heir, Ali Akbar Khan, and three daughters, Sharija, Jehanara and Annapurna who grew up as Roshanara Khan. Sharija died an early death suffering from diseases in her childhood and when Jahanara got married and a jealous mother-in-law burnt her tanpura, a shocked Alauddin Khan decided not to train his only remaining daughter. One day, however, he came home to discover Annapurna teaching her brother Ali Akbar Khan, and her talent made the emotional father change his mind. Annapurna learned classical vocal music, Sitar, and Surbahar from her father. She later married and divorced Ravi Shankar.

Ragas created by Allauddin Khan

Khan was fond of sankeerna (compound) ragas, and created many ragas of his own, including Arjun, Bhagabati, Bhim, Bhuvaneshvari, Chandika, Dhabalashri, Dhankosh, Dipika, Durgeshvari, Gandhi, Gandhi Bilawal, Haimanti, Hem-Behag, Hemant, Hemant Bhairav, Imni Manjh, Jaunpuri Todi, Kedar Manjh, Komal Bhimpalasi, Komal Marwa, Madanmanjari, Madhabsri, Madhavgiri, Malaya, Manjh Khamaj, Meghbahar, Muhammed, Nat-Khamaj, Prabhakali, Raj Bijoy, Rajeshri, Shobhavati, Subhabati, Sugandha and Surasati. Many of these have not become common Maihar repertoire; Manjh Khamaj is perhaps the best known. Some of Allauddin's recordings have been released on CD, on the Great Garanas: Maihar compilation in RPG/EMI's Chairman's Choice series.

Films

Raga (1971). Directed by Howard Worth.

BABA ALLAUDDIN KHAN-raag jaijaiwanti on sarod

BABA - documentary

Pandit Ramarao Naik

Pandit Ramarao Naik, disciple of Ustad Faiyaz Khan, was an uncompromising exponent of the aggressive Agra gharana. He lived in old-worldly grace, singing and teaching in Bangalore.


Ramarao's father, a self-taught violinist, hailed from Neeralgi in Dharwad district. Sometime in the 1920s, he moved to Mysore and became a clerk in the maharaja's army. There the young Rama Rao happened to hear Hindustani music, thanks to the tastes of the Rajput, Maratha and Muslim soldiers. He spent long hours listening to gramophone records when other boys his age were mugging up their lessons in school.

Venkaji Rao learnt about his son's love of music, and found a teacher for him in B H Srinivasa Rao. Rama Rao learnt Karnatak music from him, and became a teacher himself. He charged Rs 5 a month. In 1993, when I met him at his house in Bangalore's brahmin-dominated Chamarajpet, he said, "Purandaradasa's songs bring the Lord before your very eyes. Many of his compositions should be sung only in the grand Karnatak ragas."

Theatre beckoned him too. For some time, Ramarao played the role of the thief in Sadarame, produced by the famous Gubbi Drama Company. When the company closed down, Rama Rao arrived in Bangalore looking for a job. He found one as a daily-wage worker at Binny Mills.

Around this time he started learning Hindustani music from Govind Vittal Bhave. Swami Vallabhdas, a prominent disciple of Ustad Faiyaz Khan, visited Mysore in 1930. Ramarao accompanied him on the harmonium, an instrument he had taught himself. Swami Vallabhdas invited him to Baroda to learn under his guru.

Faiyaz Khan was the court musician at Baroda. The master of the Agra gharana was a star attraction everywhere, and had little patience to teach. But he allowed his disciples to sit with him on the concert stage and sing along. Ramarao caught his attention, and was soon accompanying him on the tanpura and the harmonium.

Faiyaz Khan's brother-in-law Ata Hussain Khan and Swami Vallabhdas took Ramarao under their wings and taught him the complex Agra style. He spent 10 years in that city, eating fruits, and the pulses his guru got cooked in a separate kitchen.

Many critics say Ramarao was the most faithful exponent of the aggressive Agra style. In Bangalore he taught several students. Mohan Nadkarni, the well-known music critic, feels he was not known widely in other parts of India as his rituals and fasting did not allow him to travel easily. Ramarao was also caught up in domestic troubles.

Ramarao spoke excellent Kannada and Hindi. He wrote occasionally in Kannada, and composed in Hindi. He had no connection with the market-savvy English-speaking world; he lived in old-worldly grace, chatting, taking joy rides on the pillion of Sumati's TVS Scooty, attending to the concerns of his extended family, singing bhajans at the neighbouring math, and teaching. All his students vouch for his greatness as a teacher, especially his ability to explain abstract musical ideas with clarity and to spark in them a passion for musical exploration.

Padmavati Gokhale Shaligram

Padmavati Shaligram (Gokhale) – Hindustani Classical

Padmavati Shaligram – a Hindustani Vocalist who had spent more than 75 Years on Stage.

Born in 1918 in Kolhapur, Padmavati Shaligram (Gokhale) is one of the senior most vocalists of Hindustani music. She was groomed in the Jaipur – Atrauli tradition by her father and uncle who were students of the legendary Alladiya Khan, the founder of the gharana. She has been performing in public since she was thirteen and climbed to the height of success and glory very early in life. She has been a top ranked performer with the All India Radio, besides featuring in numerous concerts in both the northern and southern states of the country.

At its 13th Sangeet Sammelan (November 11-13, 2005) ITC SRA rediscovered Padmavati Shaligram for the Kolkata audience after decades, on the platinum jubilee year of her singing career. The sprightly Padmavati came, saw and conquered with her stupendous taans. This apparently frail and petite 86-year-old lady had to be helped on to stage. But all fears for her frailty vanished within the first 2 crystal clear notes that she sang. Her simple and direct approach had an old-world charm.Yet it was scintillating and full of vitality. (I have uploaded both the songs..)

Endless taan patterns at an electrifying speed used to be her forte in her prime. The mesmerized Kolkata listeners witnessed that the same was just as true now. She sang with passion and a rare rustic appeal and left the stage to a standing ovation


She has recieved:

"Sangeet Natak Academy Award" - 1988; Awarded by Govt. of India, Highest award for arts in India.
Kalidas Award - 1994-95
Award from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal
She has performed all over Hindustan (India and Pakistan) before partition. Ustad Alar Khan used to accompany her. She acted in at least 4 Hindi, Marathi and Telugu moviles.


Tracks

Rag Nand – Sung @ Calcutta at her 86th year….
Kausi Kanhara – Sung @ Calcutta at her 86th year
Kamod
Jaijaiwanthi
Todi
Poorvi

Dr. Sharayu Kalekar

Sharayu Kalekar, was a leading torch-bearer of the Rampur Sadarang tradition of Hindustani classical music. Dedicated all her live to classical music, the music icon was a brilliant exponent, musicologist and Principal of Government College, Chandigarh.

Dr. Kalekar has participated in various seminars, workshops, and refresher courses of national and international level, sponsored by different universities, Sangeet Natak Academy, Lucknow (UP), Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi and I.C.C.R. Delhi. She was nominated as the representative of the State Government (Chandigarh) U.T. for the general council of Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi. She was the member of Executive Board and General Council of Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi for five years nominated by the Govt. Of India. During her long splendid career, Dr Kalekar was associated with many institutions, Boards and prestigious Universities for Research Guidance and valuation of Ph.D thesis.
She visited Mauritius, Kenya and Bangladesh as a music performer, teacher and an expert sponsored by the Govt. Of  India. Dr. Kalekar has been honoured with numerous musical awards. She received Sangeet Sewa  Puruskar from Harvallabh Sangeet Samiti, Jallandhar in 1977, honoured by Prachin Kala Kendra, Chandigarh in 1998 and received the prestigious State Award for Indian Classical Vocal Music from Sangeet Natak Academy Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow for the year 1996 for her services in the field of music.

Shruti Sadolikar

Shruti Sadolikar Katkar (born 1951) is an Indian classical singer of the khyal style in the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. She is a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Hindustani vocal music for 2011.


Early life and career

Sadolikar was born 1951 into a family from Kolhapur which was known for its musical tradition and owning sugar mills. She received training in Indian classical music from childhood. Her initial training was given by her father, Wamanrao Sadolikar, who was taught by the founder of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana, Alladiya Khan, and his son Bhurji Khan. Following her studies with her father, Sadolikar learnt music for twelve years from Gulubhai Jasdanwala, who was known for his large collection of raga compositions, including compositions in rare ragas. Sadolikar earned a master's degree from SNDT Women's University in Mumbai and wrote a thesis on Haveli Sangeet, a type of temple music.

Sadolikar performs all forms of Indian classical and semi-classical music, including thumri, tappa, and natya sangeet, and has performed in India, Canada, the United States, France, Switzerland, Germany, and the West Asian countries.[5] She had several musical and educational recordings published and holds the Homi Bhabha Fellowship of the National Centre for the Performing Arts. In 1999, Sadolikar produced a play named "Sangeet Tulsidas" for which she set the music, and she performed for SPIC MACAY to interest young Indians in Indian classical music. Sadolikar has regularly performed playback for Indian movies. She had Katkar added to her name after marriage and is a student of Azizuddin Khan, son of Burji Khan. Sadolikar works as Vice Chancellor of the Bhatkhande Music Institute University in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.


Shruti Sadolikar - Raag Maru Bihag

Pandit Yashpaul

Pandit Yashpaul (born 22 March 1937) is a performing artiste of the Agra gharana of Hindustani Classical Music. He has made significant contributions towards the preservation of the heritage of the classical vocal music of India’s north western region. He received his music training under the gurus Pt. Kasturi Lal Ji Jasara (Qasoor Gharana), Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan Saheb and Ustad Yunus Hussain Khan Saheb, the virtuosos of the Agra gharana of Nohar Bani. He also bears the influence of the inspirations of the Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Saheb and Pt. Malikarjun Mansoor Ji.
He is a composer, educationist and musicologist. He has composed many compositions in common and rare ragas with his nom de plume Sagun Piya. He has received many awards including the Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 2011.

Early life

Pandit Yashpaul was born in Gujranwala in 1937. After the partition his parents migrated to India and settled in Jalandhar, where he was initiated into music under the care and training of Guru Pt. Kasturilal ji ‘Jassra’, who himself was the disciple of Late Ustad Chhotte Ghulam Ali Khan Saheb of Lahore.

Teaching Methodology

Pandit Yashpaul believes in the guru - shishya parampara under which the student is taught the core techniques of the gharana. He puts emphasis on swar-sadhna and the purity of the raga. His teaching methodology involves instilling a unique aesthetic sense in individuals. He teaches only one student per class as he believes that education must take place by one-on-one interaction.

Career

Pandit Yashpaul first performed when he was 11 years old at the "Hariwallabh sangeet samelan". He is the oldest alumni of Swami Harballabh Sangeet Akademi Jalandhar. He has been performing from the All India Radio since 1952. At present he is a performing artiste of All India Radio (Akashvani & Doordarshan). So far he has performed in many nationally-broadcast programmes of music, as well as annual Akashvani Sangeet Sammelans.

Awards and honors

Awards received by Pandit Yashpaul include:

National Sangeet Natak Academy Award
Award of National Scholarship,1962 (Ministry of Education Govt. of India)
Punjab State award
Punjab Sangeet Natak Academi award
Dedicated Educationist award
Sangeet Sumeru award
Sangeet Shiromani award
The Music Monarch of India’s north western region (the life time award by FFF)
Honored by Senior Citizens Association of Chandigarh
Received Pb. University Colour in 1958
He is the founder and former Chairman of Deptts. of Music i.e., M.C.M. D.A.V. College for Women and Punjab University Chandigarh respectively




Noted maestro of Agra Gharana Pandit Yash Paul. Pt. Yash Paul is a traditional and eminent performing artiste, in the field of Hindustani classical vocal music. He was awarded The Top Grade by the directorate general All India Radio Ministry of I&B Govt. of India New Delhi. He is an affectionately respected adored senior most, performing artiste from this region. He is an artiste of par excellence and a restless innovatory genius. He is a dedicated educationist as well. He has made a signal contribution to the training of young vocalists, many of whom have achieved high distinction in this part of the country. He has innovated special features of his system of training to benefit the learners. He established his reputation as a popular performing artiste, composer and teacher.

Chhannulal Mishra

Pandit Chhannulal Mishra (Hindi: पंडित छन्नूलाल मिश्रा) (born 3 August 1936) is a Hindustani classical singer from Banaras, a noted exponent of the Kirana gharana (school) of the Hindustani classical music and especially the Khayal and the 'Purab Ang' - Thumri.
He has been awarded the 'Shiromani Award' of Sur Singar Sansad, Bombay; Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi Award; Naushad Award of U.P. Govt., and the Bihar Sangeet Shiromani Award. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian honor, in 2010.

Biography

Mishra was born on 3 August 1936 in Hariharpur, Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh, in the home of Badri Prasad Mishra. His grandfather, “Gudai Maharaj” Shanta Prasad was a noted tabla player. Pandit mishra was conferred the Padmabhusan award by the Government oF India on the 25th Janauray, 2010.
He first learnt music with his father, Badri Prasad Mishra and was then was educated by 'Ustad Abdul Ghani Khan' of the Kirana gharana. He was trained thereafter by Thakur Jaidev Singh.
Today, he is considered one of Indian finest exponents of Hindustaani classical music because of his unique blend of the Banaras Gayaki and the Punjab Gayaki, in his khyal, dadra, thumri, chaiti, kajri, hori and bhajans.

Discography

Audio releases

Anjali (Hindi: अंजलि, literally Offering) – Audio CD with 10 tracks which include four Stutis, two Shlokas, two Chalisas, one Stotra and one Vandana dedicated to various aspects of Shakti - Durga, Mahakali, Kali, Saraswati, Vindhyeshwari, Sitala, Ganga, Bhavani.
Echoes of Benaras Volume 3 – Audio CD with three Thumris, one Sawani and one Chaiti.
Holi Ke Rang - Tesu Ke Phool (Hindi: होली के रंग - टेसू के फूल, literally The colours of Holi, the flowers of Tesu) – Audio CD with eight songs on Holi, seven describing the Holi of Radha and Krishna and one describing the Holi of Parvati and Shiva .
Kabir (Hindi: कबीर) – A set of two audio CDs with 12 Bhajans authored by Kabir, a middle-age mystic from Benares.
Krishna Madhav (Hindi: कृष्ण माधव) – A set of two audio CDs with 12 Bhajans dedicated to Krishna.
Purvaiya - Chaiti (Hindi: पुरवइया - चैती, literally From the Orient - Songs of Chaitra) – Audio CD with nine songs of the Chaiti genre which are traditionally sung in the Hindu month of Chaitra (March-April) which falls during spring.
Purvaiya - Kajari (Hindi: पुरवइया - कजरी, literally From the Orient - Songs of Rain) – Audio CD with eight songs of the Kajari genre which are traditionally sung during the rainy season.
Rama Raga (Hindi: राम राग, literally The Raga of Rama) – Audio CD with a one-hour rendition of the three words Raja (King), Rama and Raga in various Ragas.
Tulsidas - Ramcharitmanas (Hindi: तुलसीदास - रामचरितमानस) – Audio CD with five excerpts from the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas in different Ragas.
Shiv Vivah (Hindi: शिव विवाह, literally The marriage of Shiva) - Audio CD with the marriage of Parvati and Shiva from the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas sung in eleven different Ragas, along with four Bhajans dedicated to Shiva.
Spirit Of Benares – Audio CD with two Khayals, two Thumris and two Dadaras.
Krishna - From The Heart Of Benaras – Audio CD with nine songs dedicated to Krishna.
Sundar Kand (Hindi: सुन्दरकाण्ड) - A set of four audio CDs with the entire Sundar Kand of the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas sung in different Ragas, along with two Bhajans dedicated to Hanuman.

Bollywood Song

Aarakshan (Hindi: आरक्षण) (2011) – Two songs Kaun Si Dor with Shreya Ghoshal and Saans Albeli.


khelain masane me hori chhannulal mishra

Vasundhara Komkali

Vasundhara Komkali is a vocalist of Hindustani music genre. She is the wife of the music maestro late Kumar Gandharva & Mother of Kalapini.

Vasundhara Komkali is well-known name in the arena of Indian Classical music. She has created a niche for herself in the hearts of millions by her unique style of singing.


Vasundhara Komkali has been regarded as one of the prominent Indian classical vocalists. Her rise as the classical vocalist took place in the very recent years. Vasundhara Komkali under the expert tutelage of Pt. Kumar Gandharva has received training in Indian classical music. She was also being trained in classical music under Dr B R Deodhar, `a doyen of Gwalior Gharana and a disciple of Pt. Paluskar`. Today she has earned a prominent place in the arena of Indian classical music for herself.

Early Life of Vasundhara Komkali

In the year of 1931, Vasundhara Komkali was born in Kolkata. She was brought up in an environment where she was always encouraged to learn music. Her musical career started taking its proper shape when she came to Mumbai in the year 1946. Vasundhara Komkali is the student of the Gwalior gharana. There she underwent training under Dr B R Deodhar. She got married to her guru Kumar Gandharva at the time of her training under him. As the disciple of Kumar Gandharva she started companioning him at the time of his executions. She started executing as the `supporting vocalist` to Kumar Gandharva. In ameliorating her talent, this experience helped her.

Career of Vasundhara Komkali

Vasundhara Komkali used to help Kumar Gandharva in preconceiving as well as executing many themes such as Geet-Varsha, Geet-Hemant, Geet-Vasant, Rituraj-Mehfil, Triveni, Surdas, Tulsidas-Darshan, and Mala-Umajlela-Balgandharva. Audience have always been mesmerized with her extremely melodious and potent voice. She has also executed khayal, bhajan and lokgeet espousing the footsteps of her guru Kumar Gandharva. This noted Indian classical vocalist to her credit has been a regular broadcaster of AIR and Doordarshan. There are many released solo cassettes in her name.

Awards won by Vasundhara Komkali

In the domain of Classical music Vasundhara Komkali is being honoured as the `Sangeet Praveen`. As the performing artist, she has travelled in an extensive manner and simultaneously performed in many highly esteemed music festivals. She has executed her `gayaki` as a solo-artist as well as a concomitant vocalist to the celebrated Kumar Gandharva. To her credit, the first and second volumes of the Anoop Raag Vilas series she has published as a reprint.

Vasundhara Komkali and daughter Kalapini Komkali's

Abdul Rashid Khan

Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan (born November 1908) is a vocalist of Hindustani music genre. His sings in the tradition of Mian Tansen. Apart from khayal, he sings dhrupad, dhamar and thumri with equal versatility.

Early life

Khan was born in a family of musicians tracing back to Behram Khan, who was a singer of traditional Gwalior gharana gayaki. His father's elder brother Bade Yusuf Khan and his father initially trained him. This was followed with extensive taleem from his family elders, like Chand Khan, Barkhudar Khan, Mahtab Khan who had imbibed the Gwalior Gayaki. He further developed this style suiting his own artistic sensitivity.

Career

Khan's traditional compositions have been recorded by the BBC and Iraq Radio. Organizations like Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academi, Lucknow and ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata have recorded and preserved more than 1500 compositions. During the past several decades, he has been a regular performer on Akashvani and Doordarshan Lucknow. Khan has participated in many national and regional conferences like Sadarang Conference, Godrej Conference, Lucknow Mahotsav, Dover Lance Conference, ITC Sangeet Sammelan, Prayag Sangeet Samiti Sangeet Sammelan all over India and has been felicited by Critics, fellow artists and many reputed recognized institutions like Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academy, (1981), Banaras Hindu University (1993), Eastern Zone cultural center and Press club Kolkata.
Khan has composed more than two thousand compositions and is also a prolific writer and poet under the pseudonym "Rasan Piya". Many compositions (bandish) that he sings are his own creations. He has trained numerous students in his lifetime. He is now a "guru" at ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata.

Awards

ITC award (1994)
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2009)
Kashi Swar Ganga Award (2003)
Ras Sagar (titlle) Award 2004

He has been a member of the All India Radio Audition Committee, New Delhi and has been awarded with many titles by the different reputed organizations like 'Sangeet Maharishi', 'Sangeet Sartaz', 'Rassagar', 'Bandish Samarat'.


Ustaad Abdul Rashid Khan: Performing at the age of 102 years-Part 1