Connoisseurs of Indian music and culture Ustad Karamatullah Khan Memorial Music Society (UKKMMS) has been one of the most sought-after music festivals since its inception 40 years ago. UKKMMS is an organization for the promotion, preservation, and propagation of Indian music and its budding artists. It was established in the ‘80s as a personal endeavor of Ustad Sabir Khan, his son, and disciple, to keep the name, the tradition, and the legacy, that dates to the 11th century, alive, a gharana that the legendary Ustad Karamatullah Khan had left behind after his untimely demise in 1977.
This year the society has extended their domain beyond Kolkata by organizing a two-day Indian Classical Music and Dance Festival on 23rd and 24th of April 2022 in New Delhi.
In a candid conversation Ustad Sabir Khan avers, “A millennia old legacy, left by legendary Indian percussionist Ustad Karamatullah Khan and carried forward by me under the name of UKKMMS, forays into the future of music and dance academia, art, and culture. Missions to preserve, promote and propagate Hindustani classical/world/folk music and dance. This year marks a new chapter for the institution as it expands its vision across different cities, into Blockchain Technology as well as drafting sound policies for better health and livelihoods of Indian Artists. Hence, it aims to start from the heart of India, New Delhi.”
Day 1 of the music festival would feature
1. Ustad Waseem Ahmed Khan (Vocal) – Waseem Ahmed Khan’s lineage is enviable. An exponent of the Agra Gharana, Khan is a direct descendent of the stalwarts who created this stylistically unique and rich repertoire. The Agra style is heavily influenced by the dhrupad gayaki (vocalization).
2. Forty Fingers of Farukhabad Tabla quartet by Ust. Sabir Khan and sons – Following the family tradition of 900 yrs, Ustad Sabir Khan has initiated his three sons from childhood into the art of Indian classical music. Ustad Sabir Khan has pioneered with his sons several inventive, enticing, and interesting compositions in set rhythmic time cycles with appropriate accompaniment on Sarangi/ Harmonium.
Day 2 of the music featival features:
1. Smt. Samraggi Ghosh (Kathak) – Samraggi Ghosh groomed herself as a kathak as well as a kathakali performer. She has performed extensively in places like London, Germany, and Australia to name a few. She has performed in all major conferences in India.
2. Pandit Partha Bose (Sitar) and Pandit Santosh Nahar (Violin)
Partha Bose is acknowledged as one of the most respected sitar maestros in the world of classical Indian music. Initiated to the Sitar at age 6, Partha went through intensive training in the truest traditions of Guru Shishya Parampara under the tutelage of Pandit Monoj Shankar of the Maihar Gharana.
Dr. Santosh Kumar Nahar comes from a family of traditional musicians, the Mishra Gharana of Bhagalpur. His guru was his father Prof. Prahlad Prasad Mishra himself a vocalist and Director of the Institute of Music in Patna. His violin guru was Shri T. M. Patnaik.
Venue: Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre Lodhi Road, New Delhi.