Pandit Bhajan Sopori
‘Legendary Santoor Maestro and Music Composer’
Pandit Bhajan Sopori (born 1948 in Srinagar, Kashmir; birth name - Bhajan Lal Sopori) is more than an individual – a performer and composer par excellence, musicologist, teacher, writer, poet, and an extraordinary human being – he is a complete institution in himself. Making waves out of his instrument, and regarded as the cultural bridge of the State of Jammu & Kashmir and the rest of the country, Pandit Bhajan Sopori is hailed as the “Saint of the Santoor” and the “King of Strings”.
Pandit Bhajan Sopori was born in Kashmir into a family of musicians of the fabled ‘Sufiana Gharana’ of Kashmir (the exclusive traditional Santoor family of the country). The mystic master is the bearer of a rich musical legacy and was initiated into Santoor playing by his grandfather Pandit S. C. Sopori and later by his father Pandit Shamboo Nath Sopori (hailed as the father of music in the State of Jammu and Kashmir).
Pandit Bhajan Sopori, the Legendary Santoor Maestro and Music Composer, has been the pioneer in establishing the Santoor on national and international platforms as a complete solo instrument. The quiet and unassuming maestro has come long way since he created history by being the first person to play the Indian Classical music on the Santoor way back in the early 1950s. In his five decades of dedicated work he has explored various dimensions of the Santoor, carrying out many path-breaking innovations. He has increased the range of the Santoor from the conventional one-and-a-half to more than 3 octaves, balanced the ‘Kalam’ (strikers) with ‘boles’ and attached the ‘Tarab’ and ‘Tumba’ for enhanced tonal quality, etc. These innovations combined with his strong base in traditional ‘Raga-Sangeet’ allow for a systematic exposition of the Raga combining both the ‘Gayaki’ and the ‘Tantrakari Ang’ (style) in his recitals, demonstrating all the essential stylistic nuances of Hindustani Classical Music such as Meend, Glides, Gamak, Boles, including the 'Dhrupad Ang' with the accompaniment of the Pakhawaj. His recitals are known for their high degree of technical virtuosity combining highly intricate ‘layakari’, legendary ‘chhandkari’, speedy ‘taan’ patterns running through three octaves and a melodious ‘alaap’. He has thereby expanded the scope of the Santoor as a classical instrument and formally established the ‘Sopori Baaj’ in the realm of Indian Classical Music for which he is hailed as the “Saint of Santoor” and the “King of Strings”. It is also entirely to the credit of the Sopori Family that Hindustani Classical and Light Music acquire legitimate space in the State of J&K.
A highly learned person, Pandit Bhajan Sopori, has a double Masters degree in Indian Classical music, specializing in both the Sitar and the Santoor, besides having a Masters degree in English Literature. He has also studied Western Classical Music at Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Pandit Bhajan Sopori combines a profound knowledge of music and musicology and has carried out immense research on Naad (sound) and Naad Yoga. A pharmaceutical company released one of his highly commended albums on sound therapy - “Naad Yoga on the Santoor”. He has also composed music for films, commercials, documentaries, serials, operas, chorals, etc. and has been the youngest ever composer of the National Orchestra of India - Vadya Vrinda. He is the only classical musician to have composed music for almost 5000 songs in almost all the languages.
Pandit Bhajan Sopori has led the revival of Sufism to spread the message of humanism amongst the masses, especially the youth. He has composed the works of most of the legendary Sufi saints of the country and also composed Naats, Vedic and Sanskrit Chants. Many of the Persian, Arabic and Sanskrit phrases have been set to melody and rhythm for the first time ever by him. He has also composed and introduced three new Ragas: Raga Laleshwari, Raga Patwanti, and Raga Nirmalranjani.
Pandit Bhajan Sopori has composed various patriotic songs of India which have been received as master pieces and major musical hits of the country like ‘Bharat Bharat Hum Iski Santaan’, ‘Hum Honge Kaamyaab’, ‘Vande Maataram’, ‘Naman Tujhko Mere Bharat’, etc. He has also recomposed and revived the INA songs like ‘Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna’, ‘Vijayee Vishwa Tiranga Pyaara’, ‘Kadam Kadam Badhaye Jaa’, ‘Bharat Ki Beti’, etc. for national integration and also composed anti-terrorism songs like “Savdhan”, and “Mere Jannath Mere Kashmir” for the National Network. His compositions bear the distinctive stamp of his virtuosity and erudition and have featured some of the most eminent classical musicians also playback singers of the country. His classical version of ‘Saare Jahan Se Achha’ and instrumental version of ‘Vande Maataram’ are recognized pioneering efforts.
To bring the youth in the Kashmir Valley in the mainstream he composed a collection of prayer and patriotic songs, sung by large public choirs comprising of almost 6000 youth and school children as a Common Prayer in the Valley. Further, he has also groomed the talent in the Valley and presented them at various forums across the country.
To further his quest of promoting music as a medium of peace and harmony, Pandit Bhajan Sopori has traveled widely and performing extensively at all the prestigious festivals and conferences in the country and abroad, propagating Indian Classical Music and culture all over the world and going to the remotest of places to create awareness and following for Indian music. In this pursuit, he has hundreds of disciples in the country and abroad.
Pandit Bhajan Sopori has used his Santoor and his compositions to highlight the concept of oneness and foster unity enshrining the idea of national integration, humanism and peace amongst the common man and the youth in particular.
For his enormous contributions, he has received numerous awards including the prestigious:
Padma Shri (one of the highest civilian awards of India),
Sangeet Natak Academy Award (highest performing award of the country),
J&K State Award (highest civilian award of J&K State),
National Flag Honour of the Arab Republic of Egypt,
Delhi Ratan Award,
Delhi Telugu Academy Award,
Beenkar Award (Title honour),
Sangeet Vibhuti Award (lifetime achievement award),
Raag Sagar (lifetime achievement award),
Sangeet Ratna Award (lifetime achievement award),
Shree Bhatt Kirti Award (lifetime achievement award),
Gama Maharaj Aaward (lifetime achievement award),
Sharda Samman(lifetime achievement award),
National Dogri Award,
Akashwani Annual Awards,
National Shiromani Award,
Punjab Sakha Award,
Kala Yogi Award,
Abhinav Kala Award,
Shree Bhatt Kirti Award,
Munnu Guru Sangeet Award,
Shama Award
Sumadhur Hansdhwani Samman,
Distinguished Leadership Award,
Golden Jubilee Celebrations Award by All India Radio Srinagar - for contribution to Kashmiri music,
Kashmir Overseas Association Award (USA) - for contribution towards preserving art & music of Kashmir.
Kashmir Society KOA Award for his contribution to the Kashmiri music and community service
And many more…
https://www.facebook.com/panditbhajansopori
Ustad Akram Khan
Born into a family of well-known musicians,
Akram Khan hails from the famous Gharana of Tabla calls Ajrada Gharana one of the main Gharanas (style) in the field of music. Since his childhood he has been trained under the guidance of Ustad Mohd Shafi Khan, who was his great grandfather and also he was fortunate to learn from the great Ustad Niazu Khan and also his father Ustad Hashmat Ali Khan.
Akram Khan is the 7th ((seventh) unbroken generation in his family, who is carrying forward the art. From his childhood he was acknowledged by the great masters of Tabla. He is also fortunate to accompany his father Ustad Hashmat Ali Khan in various parts of the world to spread the name of Ajrada Gharana. In 1991, for the first time he performed in the USA at Kennedy Center and the Lincoln Center. Since then, he has been participating in prestigious festivals across the globe.
Akram Khan has done his graduation in B.Com (Bachelor of Commerce) from Meerut College. He has also completed his Sangeet Visharadh from Chandigarh, Prabhakar and Sangeet Praveen from Allahabad. He has been honoured by All India Radio, Delhi felicitating him top grade and outstanding from ICCR.
In 1993-94 he was appointed as visiting lecturer to University Of Washington, Seattle, USA. Throughout the year, Akram Khan taught history of music and gave lectures, and demonstrations. He was one of the faculty members. He has disciples all over in India as well as abroad who have learnt the art of Indian Music and culture under “Guru-Shishya” Parampara. Akram Khan was also fortunate to be part of the 50 years of Independence which was celebrated in Australia with Pt. Bhajan Sopori. He was also fortunate to be part of celebration, of 60 years of parliament house in New Delhi. providing tabla accompaniment for Pt. Debu Chowdhuri Ji, In front of hon’ble members of parliament including hon’ble’ Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji.
Akram Khan and his father UstadHashmat Ali Khan established, Tabla Academy Of Ajrada Gharana. The new generation is receiving training under his guidance, His aim is to share his experience and explain the finest quality of the art of Tabla, for upcoming generations.
His recordings are available in Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi for scholars.
Akram khan is honoured to provide Tabla accompaniment to all the great masters of our country including new generations, like Ustad Vilayat Khan, Pt Ravi Shankar, Pt. Rajan and Sajan Mishra, Pt. Jasraj, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Dr. L. Subramaniam, Ustad Sultan Khan, Pt. Debu Chowdhari, Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma, Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Pt. Birju Maharaj, Pt. Bhajan Sopori, Pt. Tejindra Majumdar, Shri. Shubhendra Rao. Dr. M.s Gpoalkrishnan. Pt. Rajinder Gangani. Deepak Maharaj. Shri. Ritesh & Rajnesh Mishra and many more.
Akram Khan has given solo recital for Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan, Saptak Ahmedabad, Mumbai, ITC Kolkata, Delhi. Shankar Lal festival, Vishnu Digambar Jayanti, Indo Occidental Symboises. Sangeet Natak Academy Agartala, Spic-Macay to name few.
He has also provided tabla accompaniment for Miss. Ariane Gray Hubert from France, a wonderful pianist and Mr. Gil Sholat from Israel who is also a renowned pianist player.
https://www.virasatfoundation.com/album/ustad-akram-khan/
