Kolkata music festival celebrates guru-shishya tradition

Rakesh Chaurasia, the nephew of Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia playing the flute on the second day of the ITC Sangeet Sammelan music festival.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Kolkata’s ITC Sangeet Research Academy celebrated Hindustani classical music from across India with stalwarts, including Shubha Mudgal and Rakesh Chaurasia, regaling captivated audiences. This five-decade-old stage has commemorated the guru-shishya tradition of art passed on from teacher to student. 

The 53rd ITC Sangeet Sammelan 2024 showcased a wide range of vocal and instrumental traditions, from the melodious notes of the sitar and the sarod to the rhythmic depths of the tabla and the expressive sound of the sarangi. It also represented an unparalleled coming together of acclaimed greats and rising stars. 

Artistes Sanjukta Biswas and Sabina Mumtaz Islam, who performed a duet on the second day of the event, started their journey with the ITC Sangeet Research Academy in 1996 as students, and now share the stage with their gurus. “This is a historic stage. There are no artistes in India who have not performed here, including stalwarts such as Ustad Rashid Khan, Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar, vocalist Arun Bhaduri, Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty, and others,” Ms. Mumtaz told The Hindu.  

Shubha Mudgal, Indian singer and composer during her performance at the ITC Sangeet Sammelan music festival
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Saradindu Dutta, executive director and trustee, ITC Sangeet Research Academy, said that the festival sought to bring various genres to the same platform. “Our journey is all about nurturing scholars from across India. They stay here, learn here, all free of cost. The gurus also stay here, and together they foster the guru-shishya traditions of learning music over the years,” he added.  

Another organising member present at the event said the biggest reason the Sangeet Sammelan had been drawing listeners packed to the brim for decades was that most members of the audience were at different stages in learning music themselves.  

The timeless beauty of the Dhrupad, Khayal, and ghazal traditions, and the intricate tapestry of ragas, talas, and gharanas, were celebrated and uplifted at the gathering in which audiences sat throughout the night in the winter cold to listen and pay homage to their favourite artistes. 

Through these events and learning experiences, the organisers wish to preserve the rich heritage of classical music across the country.