Pandit Nayan Ghosh
Born in 1956 in Mumbai, Nayan Ghosh Ji is acclaimed in India and around the world as one of India’s foremost musicians, with an unusual dimension- the only maestro with superlative command on two diverse instruments, the Sitar and Tabla. As a highly respected guru and a world class performer, his contributions to bring out the true essence and soul of Indian music were priceless.
Son and disciple of the 20th century legendary Tabla Maestro Padma Bhushan Pandit Nikhil Ghosh and nephew of Shri Pannalal Ghosh, known as “Father of Hindustani Flute”( a famous Bansuri player and composer), Nayan Ghosh Ji has inherited rich legacy from his ancestors and carries its dignity and grace that is rare.
Pandit Sandeep Dev
Pandit Sandeep Dev, the great tabla maestro, was born in Kolkata into a renowned family where music was a part of household chores. By the grace of birth, he had the blue blood of a royal family.
A student of Pt. Nanku Mharaj, the legendary tabla maestro of Varanasi Gharana. Taking him as his real guru and one stop solution for all his
requirements, he started practice tabla under his aegis over the years. In the course of time he comes in contact with well-respected Pandit Kanthe Maharaj and Pandit Anokhelal. Many high-esteemed vocalist, musician, tabla, sarod, Sarod, Sitar, Violin, and Flute player used to come to his residence from almost all parts of India.
Rabindranath Lahiri - Baba
I owe my heartfelt gratitude to my beloved Baba and Guru Shri Rabindranath Lahiri for a life fully devoted to the selfless dissemination of the deepest elements of Indian Classical Music. Indeed, the wonderful example of his life’s mission has been the inspir I ation and impetus for my efforts to bring the finer notes of Indian Music to the people of all backgrounds.
Just before the partition of India, when he was just in his teens, Shri Rabindranathji came to West Bengal from what is now Bangladesh, leaving everything behind. At the same time he graduated from Ashutosh College (Calcutta University) equally developing his inborn musicality through Ustad Mohammed Ali Ahmed Khan (sitar) also taken vocal taleem from Pt. Nagendranath Datta and Ustad Fuljuri khan (sitar) . His musicality was well reputed, acknowledged and he was soon invited to become the court musician of RaniGanj Rajbari under the patronage of Maharaja Kuwar Jiwanlal Malia. During that time he was closely associated with such stalwarts such as Ustad Munnawar Ali Khan, Ustad Yunnis Hussain Khan, The beenkar the great Ustad Dabir Khansaheb . Later he was a gandadandh disciple of Ustad Dabir Khan (direct descendent of Mia Tansen) of the Senia Gharana. Seeing his dedication and devotion towards his Guru through music, Ustadji was deeply touched by Rabinji (Ustadji called him Rabin) . In these year, he performed in many prestigious conferences and shared the stage with many of India’s greatest artists such as Kumar Birendra Kishor Roy Chaudhury, Amiruddin Dagar, and Anwari Begum (at the Seni Sangeet Samaj on August 9th 1959). Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Samaj organized a grand festival on June 22nd, 1953, inviting Rabindranathji along with all time great masters like Ustad Dabir Khansaheb, Ustad Keramatullah Khan, Ustad Sagiruddin Khan and Pandit Ravi Shankar.
With such a strong musical foundation and grooming, he soon became a great musical presence in the entire Raniganj region and the influence of his work here can be seen to this day. It is because of his efforts to bring classical music to the common people and the sheer numbers of his students that today there is the strong musical atmosphere in virtually every household in Raniganj. Some of his most outstanding students are Pulak Lahiri, Sangeeta Lahiri, Shankhachur Lahiri, Durgadas Karmakar, Deepak Mukherjee and many more.
Pratima Lahiri - Ma
My mother, Pratima Lahiri, was one of the most devoted students of Shri Rabindra Nathji. Today she remains a pillar of love and support for all of the work of her three children, so that we might continue to carry on our father's great legacy. She is the greatest inspiration for me, her unconditional love for us unbelievable.
Pulak Lahiri - Dada
Shri Pulak Lahiri, is chief mentor and the Principal of the Shruti School of Music (Mumbai). At first glance, one might notice his unassuming and soft spoken manner. Yet when one hears his sitar, one can truly appreciate the great richness and depth of his musical understanding, and when one sees the heights that Shruti has reached, one can appreciate the grandness of his creative vision and later continued under his father’s senior-most Guru bhai, Pt Santosh Banerjee. To deepen his grasp of the Gayaki Ang (vocal style), he then took the guidance of the great stalwart of the Rampur Saheswan Gharana, Ustad Ghulam Akbar Khansaheb. Since coming to Mumbai some years ago, he has been under the adept guidance of Pt. Arvind Parekh, senior disciple of Ustad Vilayat Khansaheb. As a result of his extensive talim and his own musical research, Pulak dada's musical approach reflects an extraordinarily fine balance between the tantrakari (instrumental) and gayaki ang. As a performer he has graced the stage at many prestigious venues in India and abroad.
Sangeeta Lahiri - Didi
Sangeeta didi was initiated into the intricacies of Hindustani classical Music at the age of three by her father, Shri Rabindranathji. Since then, she has undergone advanced training under Pt.Chinmoy Lahiri and later, for an extended and intensive period, under the highly esteemed Ustad Ghulam Akbar Khan of the Rampur Saheswan Gharana. Her singing abilities were further honed under the tutelage of the traditional thumri exponent Smt. Brijbala Devi of Muzaffarpur. In addition, her associations with great maestros like Pt. Yashwantbua Joshi, Pt. Mukul Shivputra , Ustad Aslam Khan and Pt. Nayan Ghosh, have all been extremely fruitful in helping her to develop a distinctive perspective of raag and taal.
Sangitaji has performed across India, gracing the stage at such prominent venues as the Doverlane Music Conference (Kolkata), Nazrul Manch (Kolkata), the Gandhi Maidan Thumri Festival (Patna), Sur Sringar Samsad (Mumbai), Shruti Festival 2008, Gangubai Hangal Foundation (Hubli), Sitar Ratna Rahmat Khan Utsav (Dharwad), the National Festival of Music & Dance (Kerala), and many others. A graded artist for All India Radio, she has recorded for many major projects such as the world music album "Mysterious Awakening,” (HMV Sa Re Ga Ma) and more recently for the 2009 popular album “SaReGaNa,” in a piece composed, arranged and directed by her brilliant husband Debasish Bhattacharjee – one of the rising music directors in Mumbai today. As a Guru as well, Sangita didi is blessed with a musical maturity far beyond her years. She has already become a sought after Guru by many established professional musicians seeking to solidify their musical foundation and expand their knowledge.
Debasish Bhattacherjee - Brother in Law
My great friend Debasish is a real human being. I consider he is a gifted musician and a talented music director, arranger and music programmer in Mumbai today, especially he is very regular face in advertisement (Jingle) world.