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Photo: Anu Pushkarna

pride of place Pandit Bhajan Sopori.

Even after being accorded with numerous awards, santoor maestro Pandit Bhajan Sopori lets out a nervous laugh, akin a schoolboy, when you congratulate him for yet another accolade – the highest civilian award of his home state Jammu and Kashmir, conferred on him recently in Srinagar. Recognition, small or big, does matter to him, says the Padma Shri. For he feels, at least, someone somewhere is noticing his work. “Logo ne humein hamesha dil mein rakha hai aur maine bhi logon ko hamesha dil mein rakha hain. But when you see the Government taking a note of it, you feel good. When it counts even musicians’ contribution to the well being of the society, to my work of giving a cultural boost to the people of that State, you feel happy,” says Pandit Sopori. Particularly so, points out Pandit ji, “As for the first time, this award has conferred on a musician.”

His continuous work in Kashmir Valley, he feels, is showing its true colours now. “You should now go to Kashmir. You will see the difference. Kashmir is not just known for apples and carpets. There are so many concerts happening. Young people are taking an interest in the State’s culture. Many musicians are going there to perform, many are coming here for concerts. I myself organise so many concerts,” says the veteran, celebrated for his singular Sopori baaj. “For some two-three years, Kashmir was really in turmoil. But since 1994, cultural activities restarted in the State,” he adds. “Of course, there are always two ways of looking at things. If you want to look at only the negative side, then you will see only violence in Kashmir,” he remarks.

Having started on the santoor at the age of 10, this talented son of Pandit Shamboo Nath Sopori, relates, “We started from minus.” There was no trace of any music industry for classical compositions then in Kashmir. “And now, there are thousands of disciples, either of my father or mine.” Dedication and the will to continue with one’s work towards spreading music come what may, he feels, has always helped him in remaining focussed, and he suggests the same to youngsters. “Just do good work, don’t just work for media attention. If you have talent, you will get recognition,” he states. Youths in this country, he feels, are immensely talented. “We just need to pick them and give a platform. That is what I try to do with my organisation, Sama Paka,” he says. Offering an instance, he talks about his recent concert at an NDMC school in Gole Market area where two kids from a basti nearby sang so sonorously with him. “Ishwar ne kya sur dhala hain un dono batcho ko. Is desh mein talent ki kami nahin,” he states.

Having brought santoor to people outside Kashmir, Pandit ji holds the enviable position of being the first to play Indian classical music on the string instrument way back in the 1950s. To his credit are as many as 5000 songs in many languages out of which 3000 alone are either in Kashmiri or in Dogri. Come November 18, two more audio albums are getting added to this collection. One on Hindu devotional songs and the other on Muslim devotional songs. “My son Abhay is working on an album too. It should come out end-November,” he adds, wrapping up the conversation with that same childlike smile that he started with.

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