Three Hindustani classical musicians have been denied visas to attend a three-week tour of the U.S.
Dhrupad singers Sanjeev Jha and Manish Kuimar, known as the Bihar Brothers, and who were to be accompanied by pakhawaj percussion musician Ramesh Joshi, were denied visas after an interview at the U.S. embassy here on Tuesday.
They were scheduled to perform in Columbia, New Jersey, California, Washington, Illinois and Massachusetts from November 2 to November 23.
Tickets have been sold by the organisers — the Dhrupad Music Institute of America — and air tickets had already been booked by them and the Gundecha Brothers who are the gurus of the Bihar Brothers.
Mr. Jha told The Hindu that they were interviewed by an American officer who asked them to explain what dhrupad was. “I said that it is the oldest form of classical singing in India. He also asked our band’s name and the instruments we play. We explained that there is no formal band name and that Manish and I are singers while Ramesh is the pakhawaj player,” he said.
Mr. Jha added that they submitted the list of places they would perform at. “He [the officer] did not check other documents. He just said, I am sorry you can apply next time,” Mr. Jha said. A U.S. Embassy source said that any applicant was free to reapply after being rejected.
Earlier this year, the Gundecha brothers, Umakant and Ramakant, toured the U.S.
