My Gurus/Teachers

Inspiration often arises quietly, in moments of silence or through encounters with sound…

My eternal gratitude and Praṇām (obeisances) go to my four Gurus. I feel intimately connected to them. Their shared knowledge, lived insights and deeply rooted wisdom continue to guide me, permeate my work and resonate in everything I am blessed to share with others.

They trained me traditionally according to the teacher-student principle (guru-shishya-parampara). They gently opened the doors to different North Indian musical traditions (Gharana) for me. My lessons focused mainly on two musical styles: the meditative Dhrupad, embodying stillness and depth, and the creative Khayal, which celebrates freedom and creativity.

Though no words can truly capture the depth of my indebtedness, I offer my heartfelt thanks to my first vocal Guru, Shri Mohan Chandra Joshi from Almora, for his infinite patience and enthusiasm in teaching a novice.

True to his Vocal Guru, Sangeetacharya C.S. Pant from Almora, he introduced me to the philosophical and spiritual aspects of singing. He not only taught me the fundamentals, but also provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the most common genres of Indian Vocal Music. His caring support, offered with quiet devotion and gentle compassion, carried me through thick and thin and extended even to the everyday challenges I faced throughout my entire period of study in India.

My second Vocal Guru, Shri Sachin Bandopadhyay from Kolkata, introduced me to the nearly silenced Bengali Vishnupur Dhrupad-Dhamar singing tradition, a treasure that continues to resonate within me. With dedication, he taught me numerous compositions rich in subtle nuances, elegant beauty and inner balance.

With sincere thanks, I am deeply indebted to the renowned Rudra Veena Master Ustad Mohi Bahauddin Dagar from Mumbai for giving me the rare opportunity to learn this highly esteemed Rudra Veena (stick zither) in the Dagar Dhrupad style. With his exceptional mastery of the Rudra Veena, he opened a sacred gateway to the subtle world of microtones, drawing me deep into an absorbing and mysterious journey.

During my stays at the Gurukul in Mumbai, I had the privilege of being in the presence of his Guru and uncle the Dhrupad Master Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar. His brilliance as a Vocal Master was a profound enrichment for me, for which I am deeply humbled. His extraordinary ability to perfect the vocal range with the utmost precision has profoundly shaped my vocal development in microtonal terms.

The inspiration and multifaceted approach of my second Veena Guru, Pandit Rajshekhar Vyas from Udaipur, significantly influenced my path. His nuanced understanding of the Rudra Veena’s construction opened new horizons for me. Building on my intensive deepening in vocal music and Rudra Veena within the Dagar tradition, his guidance added a subtle dimension that refined my perception of sound in a wholistic way.

My warmest thanks also go to the families of my Gurus, my fellow students and all my friends for their loving support along my path.

Miniature painting: Anonymous (Udaipur); Personal Collection (edited).

Background: “Flower of Life Infinite Pattern Sacred Geometry“; Douglas James Butner, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons; (edited & Image insertion: 2024 The Year of the Dragon by Hafize Daniel).