A seasoned delight
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Continuing the series on accompanists, meet Vishwanath Misra, an unassuming pillar of the Kathak establishment in Delhi.
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Vishwanath Misra. Photo: R.V. Moorthy
`I joined Kathak Kendra in 1965,' recounts Vishwanath Misra, even as his well-preserved looks seem to belie the statement. Appointed as a tabla artiste at the National Academy of Kathak, Misra is also a vocalist and sarangi player. "I learnt tabla from my father, and later from Pandit Santa Prasad, who was my grand uncle," he recounts. A musical lineage meant that it was but natural that the young Vishwanath should also make a career in music. Younger brother of the eminent vocalist and percussionist Channu Lal Misra, he says he owes him a debt of gratitude too. "I have learnt a lot from him, both in tabla and in singing." Even the sarangi was part of the family. "I learnt to play the sarangi from Bade ji," he explains, adding, "He was my mama."
Lineage notwithstanding, hard work is what makes a musician, and Misra is no exception. Not one to fret over comparisons between accompanists and solo musicians, he is proud to be associated with the Kathak Kendra, pointing out, "There are any number of schools of Kathak. But there is none to compare with Kathak Kendra, which has produced a large number of great artistes. I have seen three generations of gurus here. Of course it is true that the great people of yesteryear like Pandit Shambhu Maharaj are no more, but still this is a vibrant centre."
Misra, who has taught at the cultural centres set up by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in Guyana, Trinidad and Jakarta, says though he was offered the opportunity to teach at Kathak Kendra, he preferred to be an accompanist.
"I am at the service of anyone who calls me over to a class to play for the students. I would like to be available to help the young dancers. I am very proud of how our students are progressing," he says.
Genial words from a man who has played with the all-time greats: Siddheshwari Devi, Girija Devi, Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Jasraj, among the vocalists, and Birju Maharaj, Uma Sharma and Shovana Narayan among dancers. But then these dance stalwarts have practically grown up before him, he smiles.
He particularly loves to work with children, says Misra. "I used to play in Reba Vidyarthi's class for many years. She is a wonderful teacher of children. Besides teaching them the fine points of Kathak, she also teaches them the manners, the tehzeeb, that goes with being a classical artiste," he points out significantly.
ANJANA RAJAN
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