Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 29: Classical ‘Sitar Recital’ programme, organised by Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, under its Horizon Series, mesmerized audience at the Auditorium of Government College for Women, Parade Ground here today.
Featuring Prof (Dr) Padmini Tikoo, a well known Sanskrit scholar and sitar maestro of the State, the programme was presented by ICCR Jammu in collaboration with Government College for Women, Parade, Jammu. Welcoming the distinguished gathering, the Regional Director ICCR Jammu, Balwant Thakur spoke at length about the activities and programmes of ICCR which the Council has organised in Jammu in last three years.
Aimed at showcasing the best of the talents of the region, ICCR provides a platform under it’s ‘Horizon Series’ and presents the artists in highly professionally devised and designed programmes. He thanked Dr Renu Goswami, Principal of the College for giving ICCR an opportunity to promote classical music.
Introducing Dr Padmini Tikoo, Balwant Thakur informed that she started learning music from the age of five from her mother, a learned instrumentalist and professor of music. Later, received training in sitar from Dr Ramdas Chakravorty, a renowned sitar Maestro of Banaras Hindu University. Dr Padmini has the credit of being the first performing artist teacher of the State having Doctor of Music (D. Mus) degree awarded in 1986 by Banaras Hindu University.
Today’s concert started with presentation of lecture- cum- demonstration in which she explained to the music lovers the history of the sitar as a classical instrument. A talented sitar player of Banaras Gharana, her style of sitar playing has become reference point for sitar players of the present generation. In her performance, Ms Tikoo presented Raga Ahir Bhairav in the way of Alap, Jodh, Jhalla with Maseetkhani and Razakhani gats in Teental. This was followed by Dhun in Bhairavi. Her fingers command on strings and their many rapid turns with varieties of rhythmic strokes in the recital of a rag left the listeners amazed and spellbound. She was accompanied on table by yet another known Tabla player of the State Neeraj Verma. Sunil Kumar and Indu Bala accompanied her on Tanpura.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included KL Verma, OP Shakir, Anupma Sharma, Renu Sehgal, Seema Sharma, Romila Gularia, Jasmeet Kaur, OP Sharma, Bindu Sharma and RK Tikoo.
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