Pandit Ravi Shankar Centenary Celebration, 2021

Celebrating 100 Years of Pandit Ravi Shankar

2020 has been an exceptional year in many ways.  We have experienced extreme situations, emotions and learnt to manage things differently.  So is the case with musical performances.

While we all understand and acknowledge that LIVE Concerts are distinct because exchanges happen at many levels and layers, we have embraced and integrated technology like never before in delivering fine art performances. And the credit goes to the collective efforts of all the artists across the globe.

With best of our intentions to conduct LIVE concerts, we are constrained due to uncertainty that still prevails on account of COVID.  Yet, there are certain occasions that are beyond any situation or barrier.  One such occasion was 100^th birth anniversary of an extremely gifted, music maestro of the century, our very own Pandit Ravi Shankar.

Shruti Sarita Art Trust presented yet another unique virtual endeavor in the field of classical music.

Public at large knows that Pandit Ravi Shankar was a sitar maestro, an eminent composer, Guru and a teacher of music who groomed thousands of successful students across the world in Indian Classical music.  However, it is important to mention that Pandit Ravi Shankar created and established several raagas which are often mistaken to be ancient raagas besides introducing a musical instrument called “Hans Veena”. 

Through this special presentation “Tribute to Pandit Ravi Shankar” comprising of 5 series, we were honored to introduce 3^rd and 4^th generation of Maihar Gharana who played the raagas created by the Maestro.  The 4^th generation artists learnt at Ravi Shankar Institute of Music and Performing Arts (RIMPA) under the guidance and mentorship of 3^rd generation Pandit Barun Kumar Pal, senior most disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar and the worldwide pioneer artiste of HansVeena. 

The series commenced with Sitar recital by Shri Deboyjyoti Mukherjee, 4^th generation and disciple of Pandit Barun Kumar Pal who was initiated into Hindustani classical music and the Sitar at the age of 7 by his father.  At the age of 18, he became a disciple of Pandit Barun Kumar Pal.  On 16^th February, he played the morning raag - Ahir Lalit and on 20^th February, evening Raag Tilak Shyam and Raag Yaman Manjh.   

Yet another upcoming flautist, Shri Pravar Tandon, disciple of Pandit Barun Kumar Pal who started learning to play the flute at the age of 11 from Pt. Bholanath Prasanna ji in Allahabad and subsequently with his son Sri Sapan Prasanna ji presented Raag Bairagi Todi, a morning raag on 23^rd February.  On 27^th he presented evening Raag Jansanmmohini.

On 27^th March, disciple of Pandit Barun Kumar Pal, Shri Ramanan Venkatraman made a mesmerizing presentation of Raag Parameshwari on HansVeena. Ramanan is popularly known for his mellifluous confluence of varied genres of music, while retaining the essence of Hindustani music.  He has founded a performing arts institute by the name of Sadhana.