Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 29: Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages today paid a floral tribute to Vachaspati Sharma, veteran Musician (Sitarist), in a function held in K L Saigal Hall, Jammu.
While paying tributes to the legend, Dr Aziz Hajini, Secretary, JKAACL said that remembering the great artist, popularly known as Sitarist Vachaspati through the performance of local artists is the real tribute and may continue the following the path and the footsteps for the development and preservation of music and classical music in particular in the Jammu region.
TK Jalali, VK Sambyal, Rajinder Raina, KL Verma, Vijay Attri, Vinod Gupta, Dr Kamal Sharma, Suman Rana, Sunaina, Ravi Sharma, Kamal Shrama, Hardeep Singh Deep, Raj Ghai, Prof Nirmal Vinod, Yashpal Yash were also present and paid their tributes to the great artist of the region.
The vote of thanks was presented by Dr Arvinder Singh Amn, Additional Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages while proceedings of the programme were conducted by Anil Ticku, Assistant Cultural Officer, JKAACL
The artists who paid tribute through their performances, include: Savita Bakshi (Sitar), Hakam Singh (Dilruba), Rakesh Anand (flute) and (voilin).
Vachaspati Sharma was born on 13th May, 1935 in Jammu. He was initiated into Music at the age of 3 years by his Guru/father Pt Durga Dutt, who founded Durga Sangit Academy about 70 year back. He got Master Degree in Music(Gold Medalist) in 1963 and then specialization in Sitar under internationally acclaimed Sitar Maestro Pt Ravi Shankar for four years (1949-1953). He participated in major music conferences frequently in the country and abroad. He established Sangit Kala Kendra at Jammu to popularize Indian Classical Music in general and Sitar in particular. He joined Education Department and served as Lecturer in various Colleges till 1964 .In March 1965 he was selected as Senior Instructor (Sitar) in Institute of Music and Fine Arts, Jammu and retired as Principal, Institute of Music and Fine Arts, Jammu in November 1993. He was also selected by the Indian Council for Cultural Relation, New Delhi as Sitar Teacher for Indian Cultural Centre, Guyana (South America) in July 1979 Again he was selected for Indian Cultural Centre, Surinam, South America 1996 and continued till 1990.
He also remained Dean Faculty of Music and Fine Arts in Jammu University and Kashmir university.
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