|
 Like father like son' goes the old expression, but
what do they say about a daughter who follows in
her father's footsteps? Daughter of celebrated Hindustani (North Indian) classical
singer Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty, Kaushiki Chakrabarty
won the BBC World Music Award for Asia/Pacific in
2005.
Born in 1980 in
Calcutta Kaushiki , was seen to reproduce any
musical and rhythmic phrase even at her very tender
age of two. Being an able teacher, her mother Smt.
Chandana Chakrabarty took care of her "taalim"
in vocal music as the first guru (mentor).
Subsequently Kaushiki had the rare fortune of being
the youngest "ganda-bandh" disciple (as
per Gurukul norm) of all time great Guru
Padmabhusan-Deshikottam Jnan Prakash Ghosh when she
was ten.
As a young effective performer
Kaushiki has earned accolades from almost all
renowned maestros of India. She was blessed with a
standing ovation at the end of her performance at
the Habitat Centre Auditorium in Delhi, India by
Ustad Alla Rakha Khan, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ustad
Asad Ali Khan and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.
Of late, Kaushiki had the
occasion to give a concert at the programme in
celebration of 50 years musical life of Pandit
Jasraj in Kolkata. Jasrajji was so moved that he
prompted an announcement on the stage that he finds
in Kaushiki the one who will keep the lamp burning
as being the worthiest successor of the classical
vocal music tradition of India after the veterans
like him. |
