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From Tehelka Archives
November 15, 2001

‘Children are the Who was your guru?

As I said earlier, I initially trained
under Pandit Rajaram, followed by Pan-
audience that I search for’ dit Bholanath. But it was under Guru
Annapurna Devi, daughter of Ustad
Allaudin Khan, that my music achieved a
new depth — essentially, the characteris-
When did you realise that music performance. Your mother wouldn’t feel tics of the Maihar Gharana.
HARIPRASAD CHAURASIA, India’s most as satisfied receiving a certificate as she
renowned flautist and Padma Vibhushan would if you give her a hug and say she’s Why did you choose to learn the
awardee tells shivranjini krishnamurthy a great cook. flute from a surbahar exponent
that Indian classical music is under no instead of a flautist?
threat because ‘anything created by god is What kind of support did you receive I realised that music seemed incomplete
here to stay’ from your family? without stringed instruments. It was a
I come from a wrestlers’ family, and niche that these instruments had creat-
EDITED EXCERPTS FROM AN INTERVIEW • my father wanted me to continue the ed for themselves in the world of music.
tradition. But I had different plans — of I wanted to find the same individual-
proving myself in the world of music. ity for the flute, so I learnt to play the
was your world, and that’s where My father had no clue about my practic- flute from a great surbahar player,
you would excel? ing vocal music, and, later, the flute. My Annapurna Devi.
I’m still in the process of realising that. two brothers and sister had a certain
I’m a student, and the learning pro- With people increasingly
cess never ceases. But, otherwise, switching to rock and pop
I started my musical pursuit when music, do you see a threat to
I was 15 under the guidance of Pan- classical music?
dit Rajaram. Of course not. Anything created by
God always exists, and will always
You started as a vocalist: why did be bright. It is so bright that for-
you switch to the flute? eigners have started chanting Hare
I was 15 when I began learning Rama Hare Krishna in Indian tem-
vocal techniques. But, within a year, ples. Don’t you remember John
I switched to playing the flute, as my Higgins, who was so overwhelmed
vocal chords weren’t suited for sing- by Indian classicism that he came
ing. My guru, Pandit Bholanath, sug- to South India to learn and sing?
gested singing through the flute, so Remember the Kumbh? All of
I started playing the flute. I trained Hollywood came down to India for
under him for eight years. a dip in the same Ganga that they
accuse of being dirty.
Having come from a non-musical
background, how difficult was it You’ve been performing for
to establish yourself in the world young audiences for a while
of music? now through the Society for
It was very difficult, indeed. I got the interest in music, and they were very Promotion of Indian Classical
initial break in 1957, when All India Radio supportive during my formative years. I Music and Culture Amongst Youth
(AIR), Cuttack, hired me as a musician. In used to fake a reason, saying that I was (SPIC MACAY). Have the youth
1962, I was transferred to AIR, Bombay. going to the library to read the news- influenced you?
But my performing career really took off paper, and would then practice playing Oh, the children are just great. They’ve
after 1965, when I left AIR. the flute. I initially worked as a stenog- loved me, and, more importantly, they
rapher with the state government while enjoyed my art. This is the audience that I
How does it feel to get such vast continuing my training as a wrestler. It search for. You cannot enjoy the art if you
recognition and awards? wasn’t until I got a job at the AIR in Cut- already have knowledge of it. You then
Oh! It is really a great feeling. I was tack that my father came to know about end up being a critic. If you are a good
thrilled to receive the Padma Vibhushan my classical music training. He was cook yourself, you would never enjoy
from the Government of India. But what shocked and cried bitterly, but he under- anybody else’s food.
I cherish most are the personal compli- stood that I had my foot in an altogether
ments I receive after every concert or different world. LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

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