Vidushi Shanti Hiranand: Shanti Hiranand is one of the foremost exponents of thumri-dadra & ghazal gayaki. Her performing career spans several decades, starting from 1947, and she continues to be a regular performer at music festivals in India & abroad as well as a regular broadcaster. The senior-most disciple of Begum Akhtar, she is a true representative of her guru’s legacy & style.

Prof. Saleem Kidwai: Saleem Kidwai is a medieval historian from Lucknow and taught history at Ramjas College, University of Delhi, for many years. As an independent scholar at present, his interests include Mughal politics & culture, the history of tawaif-s, gay studies & North Indian musical traditions.

Shri S. Kalidas: Son of the late artist & thinker J. Swaminathan, S. Kalidas witnessed the growth of Indian modernism from close quarters, while he simultaneously trained in Hindustani classical music formally under Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and other great masters. He has worked as a writer & senior editor on culture & music with a number of leading national newspapers & magazines.

Ms. Vidya Rao: Vidya Rao is a singer, writer & editor. A thumri-dadra exponent, she is a disciple of the late Vidushi Naina Devi, Vidushi Girija Devi & Vidushi Shanti Hiranand. She has been Visiting Professor at the School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi & Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Advanced Study, Jadavpur University, Kolkata.

Shri Irfan Zuberi: Irfan holds a Master of Philosophy degree in Sociology of Music from the Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi. He learnt Tabla from Ustad Chand Khan of Delhi gharana and Dagarbani dhrupad from Ustad Rahim Fahimuddin Khan Dagar. In 2009, he co-founded the NaadSaagar Archives & Documentation Society for South Asian Music apart from having worked at the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. At present, he is Project Manager, National Cultural Audiovisual Archives, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.

Shri Navin C. R. Khilnani: As a full-time volunteer at SPIC MACAY, Navin was involved with the setting up of the Digital Heritage Laboratory at IIT, Delhi & the production of international feature documentary film ‘Call of the Maestro’ (2010). In 2009, he co-founded NaadSaagar Archives & Documentation Society for South Asian Music and is its Chief Operating Officer.

Ms. Anusha Ravishankar: Anusha has curated & organized international theatre festivals for adults & children at Ranga Shakara, Bengaluru while also working as a sound designer for independent theatre productions. She has worked as a journalist, humanitarian aid professional, and has also trained for many years in Bharatnatyam.

Ms. Vardhna Puri: Vardhna is currently pursuing doctoral research at Lady Irwin College, University of Delhi & works in the development sector. She has worked at the Aga Khan Foundation as the Coordinator of the Early Childhood Curriculum Development programme in Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti. Her areas of interest are gender studies, culture & child development. In addition, she is a freelance photographer.

Shri Iqtedar Alam: Iqtedar is an architect based in Delhi. He is presently working as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture & Ekistics, Jamia Millia Islamia. He was earlier involved with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, India where he was working on urban improvement schemes and cultural revival projects in Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti. His interest lies in ethnomusicology, symbolism & visual studies.

Artists –

Vidushi Shubha Joshi (Thumri-Dadra & Ghazal) – Actively performing for the last 35 years, she received her training under the Bhendi Bazar gharana vocalists Pandit Pandurang Amberkar, Pandit Ramesh Nadkarni and Master Navrang. She has also learnt ghazal & thumri-dadra from Ustad Taj Ahmed Khan and Smt. Ninu Mazumdar respectively. Recipient of the Maharashtra Rajya Purskar in 2008, she has also been a playback vocalist and a top-grade AIR artist.

Ustad Mohammed Ahmed Warsi Nasiri Qawwal & Group (Qawwali) – Ustad Mohammed Ahmed Warsi Nasiri learnt qawwali from his forefathers. He received a majority of his training from his father Ustad Abdul Shakur Khan. Warsi sahib has traveled and performed qawwali widely in India, especially at the shrines of the Chishti silsila.

Shri Sudeep Bannerji (Ghazal) – Shri Sudeep Bannerji is an accomplished singer & recording artist with in-depth training in thumri-dadra and ghazal gayaki tradition under Vidushi Shanti Hiranand. He has recorded several solo albums and also done playback for Hindi films.

Vidushi Shanti Hiranand (Thumri-Dadra & Ghazal) – Shanti Hiranand is one of the foremost exponents of thumri-dadra & ghazal gayaki. Her performing career spans several decades, starting from 1947, and she continues to be a regular performer at music festivals in India & abroad as well as a regular broadcaster. The senior-most disciple of Begum Akhtar, she is a true representative of her guru’s legacy & style.

Other Participants –

Shri S. Kalidas screened his documentary film ‘Hai Akhtari…’ (1994)

Shri S. Kalidas has been an active participant on the Indian arts scene for well over three decades. Son of the late artist & thinker J. Swaminathan, Kalidas witnessed the growth of Indian modernism from close quarters, while he simultaneously trained in Hindustani classical music formally under Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and other great masters. He has worked as a writer & senior editor on culture & music with a number of leading national newspapers & magazines.

Dr. Md. Zahidul Haque, Ms. Aamna Seher & Shri Masroor Haideri, who recited selected ghazals of Jigar Moradabadi, Faiz Ahmed Faiz & Shakeel Badayuni.

Dr. Md. Zahidul Haque is presently working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Urdu, University of Hyderabad. With books and several articles published in national and international magazines and journals to his credit, he has been awarded by the Bihar Urdu Academy for his book Inamullah Khan ‘Yaqeen’: Ahad aur Shairi.

Ms. Aamna Seher from the Osmania University has a keen interest in literature and expresses herself in the form of ghazals and short stories. She has participated in many national as well as University level mushairas.

Mr. Masroor Ahmad Haideri is a PhD research scholar in the Department of Urdu, University of Hyderabad. With a keen interest in classical Urdu poetry, he is working on Mirza Qurban Ali Baig Saalik, a renowned poet of nineteenth century and a disciple of Mirza Ghalib.

Accompanying Musicians –

Ustad Ghulam Sabir Khan (Sarangi) – He learnt the Sarangi from his grandfather Ustad Rafique Ahmed Khan and his father late Ustad Siddique Ahmed Khan who were great maestros of Sarangi. He has also learnt some techniques from Sarangi maestro Padma Shri Ustad Sabri Khan. He is the 5th generation in a musical lineage that dates back to about 250 years.

Shri Kishor Pande (Tabla) – An experienced performer, he initiated his training with his father Shri Vinayak Pande as a child. Later he received training from Pandit Suresh Deshpande and Taal Yogi Pandit Suresh Talwalkar. He has performed widely in India & abroad.

Janab Nawab Ali (Tabla) – Having started his training as a child, he received his training from Ustad Wahid Khan and Ustad Bundu Khan. He has been performing professionally for many years in Delhi and on the All India Radio.

Janab Salamat Ali (Harmonium) – From the illustrious Kirana gharana, he received his training from Ustad Hafizullah Khan and maternal grandfather Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan. A vocalist himself apart from playing the Harmonium, he has performed widely in India & abroad.

Venue Partner – University of Hyderabad – The University of Hyderabad (UoH), one of the major institutions of higher education in India is largely devoted to postgraduate studies and is widely known for its excellence in research and for its distinguished faculty.

Artists –

Smt. Pooja Goswami Pavan (Thumri-Dadra & Ghazal) – Dr. Pooja Goswami Pavan is a Minneapolis based performer, composer, teacher & scholar of Hindustanimusic. She was born in a family of musicians & received her early training in Hindustani classical vocal music from her father Shri Surendra Goswami. Currently she receives training in khayal gayaki from her elder brother Dr. Shailendra Goswami. Pooja is also trained in semi-classical music by the eminent vocalist Vidushi Shanti Hiranand.

Smt. Sunanda Sharma (Thumri-Dadra) – Receiving her training from the highly revered Dr. Vidushi Girija Devi, vocalist of Benaras gharana, she developed a forte in khayal, tappa, thumri-dadra and chaiti while also expanding her talent and repertoire to include Punjabi folk, Sufi & other devotional styles. She is a visiting teacher at SOAS and Royal Academy of Music in London since 2000.

Vidushi Prabhati Mukherjee (Thumri-Dadra & Ghazal) – A disciple of Begum Akhtar and Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, she received her training with the influences of both Kirana and Patiala gharanas. She has been performing for several years and has developed her unique style of singing which is a confluence of the varied training she has received.

Janab Nazeer-Naseer Warsi Qawwal & Group (Qawwali) – Nazeer Ahmed Khan Warsi & Naseer Ahmed Khan Warsi from Hyderabad received their training in music from their father Ustad Zaheer Ahmed Khan Warsi & grandfather Padma Shri Ustad Aziz Ahmed Khan Warsi. They are recognized specially for their traditional sufiana qawwali, ghazal, thumri, bhajan and classical bandishes. They have jointly received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for their contribution to qawwali.

Other Participants –

Shri Saeed Naqvi – Saeed Naqvi has been a reporter & foreign correspondent for over four decades covering major national & international conflicts. His writings, lecture tours & short films focus on India’s composite culture. His documentaries are on Indian Peace Keeping Forces and the Indian diaspora in unexpected lands.

Shri Askari Naqvi – A lawyer by profession, he is also a connoisseur of Urdu shayari and Hindustani classical music.

Accompanying Musicians –

Ustad Ghulam Sabir Khan (Sarangi) – He learnt the Sarangi from his grandfather Ustad Rafique Ahmed Khan and his father late Ustad Siddique Ahmed Khan who were great maestros of Sarangi. He has also learnt some techniques from Sarangi maestro Padma Shri Ustad Sabri Khan. He is the 5th generation in a musical lineage that dates back to about 250 years.

Pandit Dharam Nath Mishra (Harmonium) – He has been actively performing since 1972 and has had musical collaborations with Vidushi Girija Devi, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and Pandit Jasraj to name a few. He has also performed in collaboration with Kathak & Bharatnatyam exponents.

Janab Amjad Khan (Tabla) – Awarded the title of Taal Mani, he has trained chiefly under Ustad Latif Khan and Ustad Manju Khan. He has performed widely in India & abroad.

Local Partner: Sanatkada – A platform to bring together NGOs, self help groups & groups of organized crafts people from across India, who have worked over years to revive and restore the traditional crafts of their region while providing a sustainable livelihood to the artisans.

Venue Partner: Bhatkhande Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya – An esteemed study center of Indian traditional music, a one of its kind music university in India with courses in Vocal Music, Instrumental Music, Melody Instruments, Percussion Instruments, Dance, Musicology & Research in
Applied Music.

Ms. Vardhna Puri – Vardhna is currently pursuing doctoral research at Lady Irwin College, University of Delhi & works in the development sector. She has worked at the Aga Khan Foundation as the Coordinator of the Early Childhood Curriculum Development programme in Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti. Her areas of interest are gender studies, culture & child development. In addition, she is a freelance photographer.

Ms. Anusha Ravishankar – Anusha has curated & organized international theatre festivals for adults & children at Ranga Shakara, Bengaluru while also working as a sound designer for independent theatre productions. She has worked as a journalist, humanitarian aid professional, and has also trained for many years in Bharatnatyam.

Shri Irfan Zuberi – Irfan holds a Master of Philosophy degree in Sociology of Music from the Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi. He learnt Tabla from Ustad Chand Khan of Delhi gharana and Dagarbani dhrupad from Ustad Rahim Fahimuddin Khan Dagar. In 2009, he co-founded the NaadSaagar Archives & Documentation Society for South Asian Music apart from having worked at the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. At present, he is Project Manager, National Cultural Audiovisual Archives, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.