Flitting Like A Nightingale From Kashi To The World Stage

The best music comes direct from the heart. this year’s padma shree awardee for classical Hindustani music, Dr Soma Ghosh, has passionately delivered historic performances with maestros like Bharat ratna ustad Bismillah Khan, Bharat ratna Bhimsen Joshi and pt Birju maharaj. Her malleable voice lends itself mellifluously to different Gharanas of music, enthralling audiences.

- Soma Ghosh

She has the rare distinction of being the first woman musician to perform a jugalbandi with her foster father and mentor Bismillah Khan before the parliament of India. after attaining name and fame in traditional Indian classical music, soma has come forward to give back to society with her unique concept to preserve endangered Indian instruments, Gharana styles and traditions by establishing ‘sangeet Gram’ in the name of her mentor ustad Bismillah Khan on the pattern of Banaras Hindu university (BHu). she has submitted a detailed proposal to the modi government for support and funding, now being examined by the ministry of culture. irrespective of whether any help comes from the government, she is determined to see the materialisation of her visionary project, designed to revive vanishing traditional music instruments and gharanas.

Soma was in lucknow for a series of performances planned all over the world to commemorate the memory of her mentor, legendary shehnai maestro ustad Bismillah Khan. His centenary celebrations have been organised under the banner of her NGO ‘Madhu Murchhana’ with government sponsorship. the up sangeet natak academy also joined hands for a concert on 26 september as part of a tribute to the great shehnai maestro who spent most of his life on the banks of the Ganga in Varanasi. in the midst of her hectic schedule, soma Ghosh shared her future roadmap with Mudit Mathur.

My mother Archana Chakravarthy belonged to the Senia Gharana of music. When she was in the family way, she started teaching music in Varanasi. So, in a way, I feel my journey to this world began then!