The Indian Embassy’ auditorium reverberated with soulful music on the evening of 22nd October 2014, as the two maestros Shree Amitava Majumdar on Sarod (an Indian string instrument) and Pandit Shiv Shankar Ray on tabla (an Indian percussion instrument) wowed the packed auditorium with their masterful strokes on their respective instruments.

It was delight to the ears and when the program came to an end it was with heartfelt contentment and appreciation that one left the auditorium, thanking deep within the heart the maestros for their out of this world performance and HRISHAV the brain child of Mrs. Banani Bose, who brought the maestros to the shores of Kuwait with able support from music loving sponsors.

H.E. Shree Sunil Jain was welcomed on the stage by the Guru couple Mr. Manoj Bose and Mrs. Banani Bose for lighting the lamp.

After the traditional lighting of the lamp H.E. Shree Sunil Jain spoke very few words filled with heart felt greetings on the occasion of Diwali and welcomed the artists and thanked them on behalf of Indian community in Kuwait coming to Kuwait

Bouquets were presented to the dignitaries on the stage by traditional dressed girls.

Dr. Anantha Priya Viadya then took over and first spoke of HRISAV the institute founded by Mrs. Banani Bose in Kuwait to propagate the semi classical and classical Indian music. HRISHAV is affiliated to University of Chandigarh and each year about one hundred students are trained and are made to appear for the exams. The students’ age group vary from 6 years to 60 years. It is also instrumental in bringing music maestros of Indian origin to the shores of Kuwait. Shamayita a student of HRISHAV also co-compered the show and shared how when she first entered the HRISHAV was overwhelmed with tranquility and peace and from then on never looked back. The theme of the evening announced by the compeers was Music For Peace. The two maestros Shree Amitava Majumdar and Pandit Shiv Shankar Ray were then formally welcomed by the compeers and bouquets and mementos were presented to the two maestros who then began the program.

Shree Amitava Majumadra spoke briefly welcoming the audience to the program. He said he was greatly pleased to come to Kuwait and thanked everyone and other cultural associations for extending warm welcome.

The first segment was a solo by Shree Amitava Majumdar. He played (Raag: Bageshree, Alap, Jor & Jhala, followed by Vilambit Teental Gaat and Drut Teental). The gradual increase of pace and pitch was truly soul stirring. One could visualize the holy river ganges right form its origin falling drop by drop in the chilly Himalayas and forming a puddle and slowly forming a stream and gradually picking up pace and then turning into a rapid flowing river with culmination into the sea. Truly a wonderful peace rendered by the maestro. All the members of the audience went into a trance. The subdued sighs of excitement expressed by some members of audience during the rendition said it all. At the end of the piece the maestro bowed his head in humility to a thunderous ovation he got from the members of the audience.

The second piece was (Dhun: Mishra Kirwani in Keharba taal) and Pt. Shiv Shankar Ray superbly supported Shree Amitava Majumdar. The artists were themselves in a trance as they went through the rendition and took the members of the audience along with them. At the climax both the maestros played their instruments in such unison that audience could hear only a unison of sound- harmony of sounds that truly took away the hearts of people.

After a short break Pandit Shiv Shankar Ray spoke briefly on the depths of Indian classical music. He said there cannot be any sandwich course or crash course on Indian classical music and anybody who wish to learn this music should be dedicated and devoted to this form of music to learn its depths and its intricacies.

Shree Amitava Majumdar took audience by surprise in the second segment of the program when he stringed some famous Hindi film sings in the classical style. (Mere Naina Sawan Bhado, Ye Duniya ke Rakhwale, Darde Disco, etc.). He said the purpose was to show the audience that any music has its basis on classical raaga. At the end of the program there was a thunderous standing ovation given to the two maestros for their splendid performances. The two maestros in their characteristic style humbly bowed their heads and stood with folded hands. Truly a great devotion to the music.

The compeers then thanked the artists profusely and the audience as well.

A wonderful day and a memory that shall live long in the lives of the attendees.

Maestros’ Recital At the Vaidyas’ Home

The thirst to listen to more from the maestros was so much that a second program was held in the home of Shree Sameer Vaidya a disciple of Shree Manoj Bose for those few who yearned to listen more on 24 October’14.

The first segment of the program was recital Shree Manoj Bose accompanied on tabla by the maestro Pandit Shiv Shankar Ray who was ceremoniously respected by Shree Manoj Bose by touching the maestro’s feet, on harmonium by Mrs. Banani (wife of Shree Manoj Bose) and on tanpura by Shree Sameer Vaidya, the host. The rendition of Shree Manoj Bose was ( raag: Chayanat, in Vilambit Ektal followed by Drut Teen taal…). It was followed up exceedingly well by Smt. Banani Bose who played the harmonium herself while rendering the song (Gaye Ganpati in Keharba, Need Se in Tibra, etc).

Now the most thrilling moment came when Shree Amitava Majumdar entered the hall amidst a standing ovation from those who were present. He said, ‘Indian classical cannot be separated from other forms of music even like disco numbers. Without the basic raagas as available in Indian classical music as their main base, no other music can come into existence.” He then went on to render (Raaag Jhijhoti, Alap, Jor & Jhala follwed by Drut Teen tal…) ably accompanied by Pandit Shiv Shankar Ray. It was a mesmerizing evening in Sameer Vaidya’s home and all those present gave a standing ovation to the maestros.

The guru couple Mr. Manoj Bose and Mrs. Banani Bose were thanked profusely for bringing such great maestros to Kuwait. The Vaidya couple Shree Sameer Vaidya and Dr. Anantha Priya Vaidya were profusely thanked for their hospitality and for arranging the maestros concert in their home. As Dr. Anantha Priya remarked, “It is Godess Saraswathi who has descended from heavens in to Vaidyas’ home”

It is good that brief bio of the two maestros be known to all the readers. Hence please read on:

Shri Amitava Majumdar

Amitava Majumdar, one of the leading Sarodia's of this generation, has gained recognition both at home and abroad for his virtuosic performances on Sarode. His playing is marked by faithfulness to classical form of ragas (derived from long and intense study of Hindustani Classical Music) embellished by improvisational dexterity that stimulates both the mind and the heart of the audience. His rigorous training in Sarode from early childhood has instilled in him keen understanding and ability to form original insights into the universe of ragas. Amitava, being attracted and inspired by the magical effect of music of great Sarode Maest