Girija Shankar Chakraborty: Sincere Contribution of a Doyen towards Hindustani Music

Hindustani Classical Music evolved from Indian Classical Music which appeared in a number of Classical and Semi-classical Forms during the medieval period in northern India. Initially, the Classical Forms and later on some Semi-classical Forms under Hindustani Music were considered as Court-music and the same being patronized by the Kings, the Nawabs, and the Zaminders of our country. Gradually the trend of this music expanded to the eastern region of India. Raga being an integral part of Classical music and the prevailing Cultural Tradition of our country, both Classical and Semi-classical music have enriched the repository of Hindustani Music through the form of Cheez or Bandish (composition) as certain Classical and Semi-classical genres by the noble contribution of the Court-musicians and the Gharana exponents. Girija Shankar Chakraborty of Bengal was born in the mid of nineteenth century A.D. and made a permanent and indispensable position in the world of Hindustani Music since the second decade of the twentieth century A.D. Besides being a Performer and a Trainer he served other various roles for the spread and development of both the Classical and the Semi-classical genres and ultimately has left a permanent significant impression in the minds of music lovers. This paper explores Girija Shankar's excellence in the field of Hindustani Music which will prove his distinctness from other contemporary music professionals of Bengal.