Indian raagas inculcate values: Maestro Ajoy Chakrabarty
Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty says India’s classical music has a philosophy of its own.
Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty, a torch bearer of Patiala Gharana, a legendary vocalist and a founder of learning school for Indian raga-music based in Kolkata, 'Shrutinandan,' is in the city to perform and conduct a two-day workshop on Indian vocal music organised by Saptak Archives and Saptak School of Music. Chakrabarty was invited to conduct such annual workshops by the late tabla maestro Nandan Mehta."This is the right time to inculcate the values of Indian ragas in the new generation and preserve our precious heritage," said Ajoy. He is the most revolutionary guru who teaches music with a new concept and a unique methodology that fuses tradition with modernity. He practises a new science of music training based on technique of learning Indian classical music that combines heritage and technology. Chakrabarty recites a couple of mesmerising and fresh compositions having new musical properties, to offer a novel perspective of raga to about 200 and more music connoisseurs, performers and students who plan to attend the workshop. Panditji will be accompanied by his students Indranil Bhadudi on tabla and Brijeshwar Mukherjee, a vocalist. Chakrabarty, who visits the city at least twice a year, said, "Ahmedabad is my most favourite destination for performance and teaching after my native Kolkata." According to Pandit Chakrabarty Indian raga music is not only about mastering vocal techniques and producing exact notes in tune; it has to do with taal (beats) and laya (tempo) at the same time. Accompanying instruments such as tabla, harmonium and tanpura should go along in unison. Indian classical music is a philosophy. One has to go beyond forms and structures to get to its core.Pandit Chakrabarty was trained by the late Ajit Kumar Chakrabarty, his father, and subsequently received training from late Pannalal Samanta, late Kanaidas Bairagi and Dr. Amiyaranjan Bandopadhyay, and guru Jnan Prakash Ghosh. Ustad Munwar Ali Khan, also gave him advanced training of Patiala Kasoor gharana.