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Dhrupad to get a home in Bhopal

By Lalit Shastri

BHOPAL, OCT. 29. The Gundecha Brothers, Umakant and Ramakant, today announced that the Dhrupad Institute being set up by them here would be the first of its kind in the country devoted to sustaining and promoting the rich heritage of Dhrupad in the Gurukul tradition.

The Gundecha Brothers told newspersons at a press conference here that the Dhrupad Institute would be inaugurated by renowned classical singer Pandit Bhimsen Joshi on November 4.

Throwing light on Dhrupad, Umakant Gundecha said it is the oldest surviving style of Hindustani classical music. The nature of Dhrupad is spiritual, he said adding that Mian Tansen, who belonged to Madhya Pradesh, was one of the nine jewels closely associated with Akbar.

The Gundecha Brothers said that ten students would be enrolled at a time and the endeavour would be to turn them into performers. They will receive a scholarship, along with boarding and lodging facilities. The teaching system would be so designed to give the students ample opportunity to spend their maximum time in the company of their gurus -- either listening to them or learning from them.

The Institute will also offer general courses for learning Dhrupad. It would also offer research facilities and conduct music appreciation courses, seminars and workshops on music. The Gundecha brothers said they were contributing about 40 per cent of the cost involved in building this Institute. The rest would come from well-wishers from India and abroad. They said that most of the initial funds for this institute were collected through their performances in countries like France, Australia, Holland and the United States of America.

Speaking on this occasion, the Marketing Head of Airtel, Manish Bhatt, said with the inauguration of Dhrupad Institute, Bhopal would be placed among those cities where classical Indian Music has found nurturing hands.

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Dhrupad to get a home in Bhopal

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