|
|
|
Internationally Recognised
Indian Santoor Player
- Professor, Music Department -
Govt. Girls’ P. G. College of Excellence, Dashera Maidan, Ujjain
Dr. Varsha Agrawal, Santoor Player Ujjain India
| Dr. Varsha
Agrawal is the one and only female artiste from India who has
received international recognition for her brilliant
performance on Santoor.
She is a
dedicated Santoor player who
displays remarkable genius. It is really a great pleasure listening to
her performance.Her audience is always spellbound when she reaches the
zenith of expression during her performance.
Santoor is a rare
musical instrument of Kashmir and
to find a female artist playing it is a rare sight.
Jhalawar is the place where the
childhood memories of the great Sitar player, Bharat Ratna Pt. Ravi
Shankar have been fondly cherished. Dr. Varsha, grand daughter of
renowned Physician of Rajasthan Dr. Kalyanmal Agrawal, belongs to
Jhalawar.
|
|
Her Music & Education
in
Santoor
Dr. Varsha has polished
her art by strenuous training and ‘Riyaz’ and has won
appreciation from audience all over the country. She started learning
Vocal & Tabla at an age of six from Shri Elahi Bakshji Jhalawar & Shri
Girdhari Lalji Dangi, Ajmer (Raj.), since then she has been learning
Vocal,
Tabla & Santoor under the able guidance
of Pt. Lalit Mahantji Ujjain who is a renowned Tabla Artist of
Banaras Gharana and a leading disciple of Padmavibhushan Pt. Kishan
Maharajji, Varanasi and Lt. Pt. Riz Ramji Desad, Mumbai of Delhi Gharana.
|
|
|
|
She has also done Sangeet
Bhusan, Sangeet Prabhakar Vocal, Sangeet Alankar (Tabla), Master of Arts
(Vocal) in First Division with merit.
At present Dr. Varsha is the ‘Gandabandh’
disciple of renowned Santoor player, Saint of Santoor, king of strings Padm
Shri Pandit Bhajan Sopori ji.
|
Performances & Associations - Dr. Varsha Agrawal
She is associated with AIR and Doordarshan.
Her interviews & performances have been telecast on Sahara Samay T.V.
Channel. A number of ragas on Santoor have also been telecast on Doordarshan from Pt. Ramakant Pathak.
She has got top grade on the feature written by
her for AIR. She was awarded Ph.D. on the subject of ‘Hadoti Ki Lok Gathavo
Ki Gayan Parampara’.
Dr. Varsha Agrawal has been performing all over India for various
prestigious organization such as SPIC MACAY, Delhi Sangeet Natak
Academy, J & K Art & Culture, Sojte Saaj by ICCR, OSHO National birthday
celebration at Panchkula (Haryana), Vikramotsav, National Programme of
Sankalp (Delhi), Sahitya SAngeet Kala Parishad, Uma Sanjhi Mahotsav,
S.C.Z.C.C., Rubaru, Anushruti-9, Parangat Mahotsava, Lt. Sri Vasant Rao
Deshpandey Smriti Sangeet Samaroh, Nagpur, Prachin Kala Kendra, Chakradhar
Sangeet Samaroh, Raigarh, Sur Arpan, Bharat Parva, Raj Bhawan Governor House
Madhya Pradesh. She has performed abroad at various places like Bannacay,
Phoenix, Mauritius, Durban, Lenasia, South Africa etc. and has received
heavy applause.
Teaching Experience
-
She has been recognized as a guide for Ph.D.
research work in Music by Vikram University, Ujjain and many students
are doing research under her guidance.
-
Currently, she is working as Professor in
Music Department, Govt. Girls’ P. G. College of Excellence, Dashera
Maidan, Ujjain. Affiliated to Vikram University, Ujjain. Ujjain is a holy
city famous for lord Mahakaleshwar Temple. It is the Sikshasthali (seat of
learning) of lord Krishna.
-
Many Bandishes, research Papers have
been published by her in Sangeet Masik, Shodh-Samvet, research link etc.
|
Awards
-
Dr.
Varsha has been awarded with “Hari Om Trust Prize” in 1988 at
Hyderabad
-
Research link award 2003-04
-
Kala Vidushi Award 2007,
-
Samrat Vikramaditya Samman 2008.
|
|
Recognitions
Dr. Varsha Agrawal is the First Eminent Women
Santoor Player. She has also rendered her performance for Akashvani as well
as Doordarshan. She has also performed special programme for Simhastha held
at Ujjain. She is having excellent knowledge and interest for Rajasthan Folk
Music also. She has performed her Santoor Vadan in most reputed musical
organizations situated in the country.” Shri Harendra Kotia, Station
Director, All India Radio, Indore
Not just her spellbinding music, but lasting impression. Dr. Varsha Agrawal
from Ujjain, one of the few celebrated santoor exponents, especially among
women instrumentalists, what comes forth are strong yet subtle observations.
Hindustan Times (Around Town) Chandigarh, 13 Dec. 2004
Varsha Agrawal from Ujjain on Santoor enthralled the audience with her
performance. The Kashmir Times, 8 Feb. 2005
It was my great pleasure to see a young lady
Dr. Varsha keeping sticks (kalam) in her fingers and playing with an
absolute command over the instrument Santoor which is rare. I feel she is
capable enough to achieve the purity of ragas, keeping her individual
versions of long accepted tradition. This makes her more promising in the
sphere of santoor performances in general. In her recitals she blends the
tradition with modernism through her personal innovation of style. Anil
Sharma Station Director, Doordarshan Kendra
Santoor Player Varsha Agrawal echoes the beauty of her instrument.
HT, Chandigarh
Santoor maestro mesmerises. Each performance is a test for any artist.
Chandigarh Tribune October 13th, 2007
Contact Dr. Varsha Agrawal
C/o Shri Lalit Mahant
Morsali Mandir, Dabri Peetha,
In front of Prakash Talkies, New Road,
Ujjain (M.P.) 456 006 INDIA
+ 91 94250 91805, + 91 734 2560805, Fax: + 91 734 2564215
drvarshaagrawal@yahoo.com
If you are a
rising star or know a Rising Star who is making a mark in the field of music -
Write to us at
contact@musicalescapades.com and showcase
your accomplishments
www.musicalescapades.com
Note:
The information on this page has been provided by the budding artist featured here.
Disclaimer :
The artists showcased here are in no way associated with
Musicalescapades.com. We are not responsible in any way for any
communications that take place between these artists and any third parties
(visitors to this website.) Please communicate with them at your own risk.
|
|
|
