The Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development (ITRHD) has adopted a few villages in Azamgarh district that have rich heritage of classy craftsmanship, like the one specialising in pottery and another in the handloom. Hariharpur is a heritage village with a difference. Here, practically every family has a tradition of a musical lineage. Some of the legendary musicians, such as, the late Pt. Shamta Prasad (Gudai Maharaj), Pt. Sharada Sahay, the ancestors of Pt. Birju Maharaj and Pt. Chhannulal Mishra are all from Hariharpur.
The total population of Hariharpur is reported to be around ten thousand. There are around forty Brahmin families (all Mishra) in Hariharpur. The others large groups are of Yadavs and scheduled castes. The interesting feature of the Mishra families of this village is that all of them are descendants of some or the other famous musician, carrying forward the tradition of teaching and learning music. All the boys learn to sing classical as well as folk music or the knack of playing tabla or sarangi from their fathers, uncles or grandfathers, from an early age. The girls are not given any formal training as such in music. However, due to constant exposure, they too pick up the knowledge and art of music.
The annual Azamgarh Festival of the ITRHD showcases not only the artistic pottery and the lovely handloom sarees and dress materials of the heritage villages but also the precious heritage of music from Hariharpur. The two-day Azamgarh Festival presented recently by the ITRHD at the Alliance Francaise, showcased a number of young musicians from this heritage village along with stalwarts like Pt. Rajan-Sajan Mishra on the inaugural evening and Pt. Bholanath Mishra, the next day, who also came originally from Hariharpur.
It was amazing to see nearly 20 young boys from Hariharpur, comprising even the ones who provided tabla, harmonium and sarangi accompaniment; giving classical vocal recital in raga Yaman with the introductory aalap and a bandish adorned with dugun, tigun, tihai and taans, followed by a tarana; just like the professional ‘gavaiyyas’, who used to perform in smaller towns of eastern U.P. in the olden days. The initial inhibition of performing in a big city like Delhi, visible in the beginning, transformed gradually into pride and self-confidence, by the time they reached the concluding traditional bhajan.
‘Taal-Yatra’ the next evening, featured nearly the same number of young percussionists playing tabla, pakhawaj et al, with equal confidence. The impressive performance by the renowned vocalists like Pt. Rajan-Sajan Mishra on the inaugural evening and Pt. Bholanath Mishra the next evening, hailing from the same village; must have been an inspiration for the youngsters to work hard on their chosen path.
These young musicians, belonging to the old musical lineage of the Benaras gharana; sing and play tabla and sarangi with sufficient proficiency and some of them, can of course, perform on concert stages even in big cities, provided the initiatives like the ITRHD keep this musical tradition of Hariharpur alive. Since the lure of outside world, at times, distracts them away from their musical tradition; many of them are leaving Hariharpur and seeking greener pastures outside. This precious heritage, one is afraid, if not revived and nourished, exploring avenues to impart proper training and performance opportunities to these budding musicians; could fade away into oblivion.
Music in the Park
Another event in the Capital, Music in the Park), offered homage to late Vidushi Girija Devi by Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia and her senior disciples Malini Awasthi and Sunanda Sharma; was redolent with her melodious memories. It was jointly organised by the SPIC MACAY, Takshila, NDMC and the IGNCA jointly as a Tribute Concert “Naihar chhooto ri jaye’ at the Nehru Park.
Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia
Pt. Rajan-Sajan Mishra remembered her warmth and hospitality reminiscing a chance meeting with her far away in the U.S. and her affectionate gesture of inviting the homesick duo for a quick bite of ‘chiwda-matar’, the Banarasi cuisine, she cooked herself for them. Vinod Kapur, who conceived the Girija Devi Puraskar to revive the Purab Ang Gayaki; spoke of the lasting impact of her very first concert he ever heard some 50 years back, that initiated his passionate love for classical music. A large number of her admirers, bracing the cold, poured in for the open air memorial concert, .
Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia, accompanied on tabla by Pt. Ram Kumar Mishra; offered his musical tribute "remembering his departed elder sister, whom he lovingly called Appaji"; with a mesmerising recital in raga Bihag. The sonorous alap-jod filled the stillness of the serene night with the soulful notes of the raga that had all seven shuddha swaras with merely a whiff of Teevra Madhyam like a pleasing perfume. The medium and drut compositions in Rupak and Teen taal reached the raga to its climax in jhala. His prayerful offering concluded with a melodious dhun in Dadra.
